Missed payment

unsurprised

Ok first post, so go easy!

My wife has an old Natwest credit card that she rarely uses. It was unused in the last few months of 2012. Before that we suddenly stopped getting bills via post, but there is no online bill either. We can go online and check the balance/statement, but there is no email or post notification.

Anyway, she used it to buy my birthday present last month, but we have missed the repayment date. She forgot about it and I forgot to check the online balance (as its been 0 recently).

2 questions:
1/ Will this effect her/our credit files?
2/ Can we contest this? To my knowledge, we received no notification of paperless billing. Not that we seem to get an online bill anyway.

Thanks in advance.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

Firstly happy birthday for last month, and welcome to the forums

If the timing was unlucky, you may be reported as 1 down at last month end. If the rest of your credit is squeaky clean, I would doubt it would have a material effect

On the second point, you might have a chance - it seems to rather depend on who the lender is, and if your previous record is good. If you've paid the amount already, I think this will help

And I am sure this will come up in conversation, but I hope you and they make sure your bills are set up in a robust way so you'll get them (or a notification) going forwards

stephane_2

You can view your full statement online as long as you have registered the card online.
1) Short term....yes...long term...not at all
2) You can contest it I suppose....but to be honest it your full responsibility not to be on top of things.
Also, you'll probably also get a late payment fee.
Strongly advise that you set up a direct debit for minimum payment....this kind of issue would not happen

stclair

It may be worth registering for text/email alerts to prevent the same issue in future.

http://www.natwest.com/personal/online-banking/g3/credit-card.ashx

Normally the payment has to be approximatly seven days late or more to register as a missed payment on your credit file.

unsurprised

Thanks for info. Ill probably cancel the card as we dont use it much. Ill attempt to contest it. More bothered about credit file than late payment fee, but it sounds like it wont do too much damage.