Debenhams Credit Card

chriscoll

I have had a Debenhams Credit Card for years and as with all my credit cards pay the full amount off each month. Since Santander have taken over for payments I have received two late payment letters for which I have had to pay £12 on top of the interested added (the latest one was 54p interest but £12 letter!) The first one was early this year and when I contacted them and told them as far as I was concerned the payment should be taken direct from my bank they agreed to drop the £12 but insisted I pay the interest.

My concern is are they allowed to charge £12 for a letter to tell you your payment is overdue. Previously (in the old days) you would get a second statement with the overdue amount and interest added to it. Fair enough!

Delree

It's not £12 for the letter, it's a £12 late payment fee. This is a standard charge all credit card companies levy when you pay late (or they deem you to have paid late). Check your t&cs.

Gromitt

No, but they are allowed to charge:

£12 for a late payment fee,
£12 for a over limit fee,
etc.

So the letter costs nothing. You'll pay the fee regardless of whether you receive it or not.

msallen

chriscoll wrote: »

I have had a Debenhams Credit Card for years and as with all my credit cards pay the full amount off each month. Since Santander have taken over for payments I have received two late payment letters for which I have had to pay £12 on top of the interested added (the latest one was 54p interest but £12 letter!) The first one was early this year and when I contacted them and told them as far as I was concerned the payment should be taken direct from my bank they agreed to drop the £12 but insisted I pay the interest.

If you pay the full amount each month you do not pay interest, so I think you're getting confused somewhere along the way.

Dirk_Gently_2

chriscoll wrote: »

I have had a Debenhams Credit Card for years and as with all my credit cards pay the full amount off each month. Since Santander have taken over for payments I have received two late payment letters for which I have had to pay £12 on top of the interested added (the latest one was 54p interest but £12 letter!) The first one was early this year and when I contacted them and told them as far as I was concerned the payment should be taken direct from my bank they agreed to drop the £12 but insisted I pay the interest.

My concern is are they allowed to charge £12 for a letter to tell you your payment is overdue. Previously (in the old days) you would get a second statement with the overdue amount and interest added to it. Fair enough!

Why did you get late payment charges? Did you pay late?

You don't just have to pay the full amount off each month - you have to pay it by the due date as well.

jenjen88

How are you paying your Debenhams card off? Payments in store can take up to 5 working days.

POPPYOSCAR

chriscoll wrote: »

I have had a Debenhams Credit Card for years and as with all my credit cards pay the full amount off each month. Since Santander have taken over for payments I have received two late payment letters for which I have had to pay £12 on top of the interested added (the latest one was 54p interest but £12 letter!) The first one was early this year and when I contacted them and told them as far as I was concerned the payment should be taken direct from my bank they agreed to drop the £12 but insisted I pay the interest.

My concern is are they allowed to charge £12 for a letter to tell you your payment is overdue. Previously (in the old days) you would get a second statement with the overdue amount and interest added to it. Fair enough!

This does not make sense. Are you saying you have a Direct debit set up to take the full amount each month?

datlex

you can manage your Debenhams card account online. This includes setting up direct debits and making payments. It takes less than a minute to make a payment.

chriscoll

Thanks to all for their replies. It is my fault but I thought I had set up a direct debit as I have one for my other credit cards which I pay off the full amount each month. I was convinced I had set this method up for all my cards so when I received my bill for £20(!) which I had spent to keep the card open, I just ignored it thinking it would be paid direct from the bank. I phoned and explained this but got nowhere. I have just cancelled the card, I think it should have been clear from my records that this was an oversight and dealt with accordingly. I don't think they deserve the custom.

fozmcfc

They'd already cut you some slack by refunding one of the £12 payments, despite the fact were at fault. You clearly, even after that didn't bother to check whether a DD was set up, absolutely incredulous.

Some companies simply can't win.

chriscoll

Well thats telling me! I thought I had checked (put it down to age!) I even spoke to someone on the phone about it earlier on so honestly thought I had set it up (I have for all my other cards). There will be no problems in future as I will stick to the ones that are paid by DD.