Santander have ruined my credit report - help needed

ROXY4010

Hi all,

Really hope someone can help me out here... I switched to Santander credit card when they took over A&L and I have had on going trouble with my credit card. I had to put about £1300 on the card due to car repairs and at the time this was interest free for 18 months, I was paying the minimum payment as I was only part time at work and couldn't really afford to pay this off but it looks like I have been charged interest in this period, is this right if I had paid the minimum? (I am currently waiting for a statement from Santander from the date I opened the credit card as it isn't clear online) in March 2012 I set up a direct debit for the minimum payment, although this was active I constantly got phone calls from Santander asking me for money and the late payment fee, I said I have set up a direct debit, they said it takes 28 days for this to become active, so I paid and then this happened again and again and again! telling me the same thing, so after 4-5 months, they had racked up late payment fees and interest on my account and I told them this keeps happening every month and they could even see that a direct debit was set up but couldn't understand why it wasn't coming out, I managed to get a couple of late payment fees back but that was it but I had to pay 2 months worth of payments. Oct/Nov last year they tried to get money off me again and again I explained there is a direct debit active and they said it had been cancelled? I didn't cancel this so who did?? no one else has access to this account so it must of been someone at Santander. My credit card now seems to have £1964 on it and I think alot of these are fees (I am currently awaiting accurate figures) I have been trying to get away from this company but I can't as my credit rating is poor because of them, what do I do? they have now forwarded my account on to a debt recovery company and I agreed with them I would pay £60 a month before 8th of the month which I have done but they are still charging me a late payment fee of £12 each time plus interest of £35 each month which is ridiculous and I feel I will never get it paid off, what do I do?!

Appreciate your responses

Rach

dunstonh

at the time this was interest free for 18 months, I was paying the minimum payment as I was only part time at work and couldn't really afford to pay this off but it looks like I have been charged interest in this period, is this right if I had paid the minimum?

What did the terms of your special offer say?

I dont know what yours was but normally its balance transfers that were interest free. Not purchases. Although that happens sometimes. You need to check. Not ask us.

in March 2012 I set up a direct debit for the minimum payment, although this was active I constantly got phone calls from Santander asking me for money and the late payment fee, I said I have set up a direct debit, they said it takes 28 days for this to become active, so I paid and then this happened again and again and again!

you should raise a complaint on that basis. Whilst the first one does take a while to set up, it shouldnt keep happening.

they said it had been cancelled? I didn't cancel this so who did??

only you, the originator (santander) or your bank can cancel it. If you didnt and they say they didnt then have you asked your bank if they did?

they have now forwarded my account on to a debt recovery company and I agreed with them I would pay £60 a month before 8th of the month which I have done but they are still charging me a late payment fee of £12 each time plus interest of £35 each month which is ridiculous and I feel I will never get it paid off, what do I do?!

When they say 8th of the month that means in their hands and cleared by the 8th of the month. When are sending it to them?

You need to raise a complaint with Santander over the direct debit but equally, some of this is your fault for letting it fester. You also need to pay the money to the recovery company in time to avoid charges.

jamesd

Was the direct debit also coming from a Santander account?

If yes, Santander own both sides of the problem and you should make a complaint asking them to fix the problem and tell you how much they want you to pay to cover any monthly minimum payments that were underpaid due to the direct debit problem.

If it's only a Santander card you really need to ask them and the bank the DD is coming from for more information about why each direct debit payment attempt failed.

Credit card companies do tend to reinstate 0% offers once it's clear that the customer has been trying to make payments. It's usually a standard term that you lose the 0% offer rate as soon as there's a late payment or over credit limit situation.