Halifax Clarity card statement

joho

Yesterday I received the most awful, threatening statement from the Halifax because I had missed a minimum payment.

'YOU HAVE FAILED TO MAKE A MINIMUM PAYMENT. Failing to make your minimum payment can mean that you have broken the terms of this credit agreement and could result in us taking legal action against you. It could lead to your having to pay additional costs and make it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future.'

I'm not soft or fainthearted but I thought this was just horrible. Imagine some poor old dear getting that through the post?!

But best of all can anyone guess the princely sum they are threatening me over?

























58p. FIFTY EIGHT FLIPPING PENCE!

And when I complain they will say it is a computer generated letter, bla bla bla. I was considering moving from RBS to Halifax, but not now!

Edit: I think I will pay 59p and then they have to send me statements syaing I'm in credit!

YorkshireBoy

I'd be more concerned by the inevitable late payment marker that will find it's way to your credit report, rather than how others would be affected by receiving such a 'template' note on their statement.

aleph_0

In what way have they threatened you? Everything they've stated is factually correct. A marker will be on your credit file for the next 6 years showing you failed to make the minimum payment. This will be taken into account by other lenders.

Why does the amount matter? If I was Halifax, I would be concerned that a customer hasn't taken their agreement seriously. Showing you aren't taking it seriously now would concern them that you might do a similar thing when the amount owing is much higher. Reminding you of your obligations seems like a good idea.

If you find the terms of the credit agreement you signed up to too scary, then it's probably best you don't take out a credit product.

chattychappy

Wording seems OK to me. Hardly "horrible".

If they made it softer then people would later complain that they hadn't been given clear enough warnings that they'd broken the terms and that it was therefore "unfair" they'd been flagged with a late marker and/or had their card blocked.

If they started making concessions cos it's only £1, then you'd get people moaning that they underpaid by £1.01 so they were "discriminated" against cos they were only 1p "over" and got charged/reported.

Don't underestimate "old dears". My mother is an "old dear", in a wheelchair and just out of a 4 month stint in hospital. She managed most of her finances online using first a laptop and then a tablet + 4g stick. When she did miss a payment she wasn't spooked by the message on the statement. Just rang them up, told them she was an "old dear" in hospital, and they refunded her. Late marker - no problem. Indeed she was late.

In the case of the £12 late charge, I doubt whether these are enforceable when the CC does nothing more than put a note on a statement and the amount is relatively small. For the time being, it remains standard practice - and common practice for the charge to be refunded back on request for a first offence.

joho

Wow. Thanks for the replies.

I do take it seriously, but I think there should be a common sense point where a human being steps in and stops a letter like this going out. I never never missed a payment before on this card and usually clear it in full, having held it for 5 years now.

And I still DO think the letter is horrible and threatening.

And chattychappy, good on your mum. There will always be an exception. My mum would probably be quite upset at a letter like this.

dzug1

joho wrote: »

but I think there should be a common sense point where a human being steps in and stops a letter like this going out.

What is there to prompt this hypothetical human being to step in?

The computer by the sound of it

So how should it be programmed?

joho

dzug1 wrote: »

What is there to prompt this hypothetical human being to step in?

The computer by the sound of it

So how should it be programmed?

I am not a computer expert so I have no idea. Thanks though.

opinions4u

'YOU HAVE FAILED TO MAKE A MINIMUM PAYMENT. Failing to make your minimum payment can mean that you have broken the terms of this credit agreement. As it's a piddling little amount, we won't be taking legal action against you. But your credit file will now show that you haven't looked after the account properly and this may make it more difficult for you to obtain credit in the future.'

Would that be better?

lisyloo

If you want humans to step in to avoid offending your sensibilities, then I think you should be charged. I certainly don't think it should be a cost that carried by all customers, who either manage their accounts or aren't over-sensitive.

cajef

joho wrote: »

but I think there should be a common sense point where a human being steps in and stops a letter like this going out.

So you think they should employ someone to check every letter the computer coughs up before they send it?

Computers don't know the difference between 58p, £5-80p or £58.

eskbanker

joho wrote: »

I think I will pay 59p and then they have to send me statements syaing I'm in credit!

Paying a penny more than your minimum payment seems somewhat unlikely to put you into credit!

And as per a post further up, it would be worth putting your indignation to one side and getting back to them to eat a bit of humble pie to see if they'll waive the subsequent charges that they're likely to be entitled to levy - you obviously see this as a heavy-handed overreaction but ultimately they're in the right here....