Mis-sold Credit Card???

monkeygrinder

Hi, I was a little unsure of where to post this query to. I hope this is an approprate place, so I'll begin....:o

I have a Credit Card with the Halifax - no debt on it thankfully but that was not always the case.

I applied for the credit card in branch. I hadn't gone in with the intention of getting a credit card, I had just gone to the counter to withdraw some money.
While at the counter I asked if I could have 'proper' debit card, as I had a Solo debit card and this was not accepted at the local Asda petrol station - the cheapest in my area.

The lady behind the counter said that an upgraded debit was not available to me, but I could apply for a credit card and sent me to speak to one of her colleagues.
I (foolishly) after speaking to her colleague applied and was accepted for a credit card. I have between now and then got myself into debt with the credit card (Boo!) and recently got myself out. (Hoorah!)

I know and accept I am responsible for the way I used/abused the credit card, but I am wondering if the way I was coerced into applying for the card constitutes mis-selling. And if so what are my options?

Thank you for reading, it is probably the longest post I have ever made on a forum!

a4a

Do you really believe you were 'coerced' into applying ?

If so, you could always have cancelled it before you used it !

kai666

It was you that asked for a 'proper' card, which they gave you, and yet you think they coerced you into taking it, and spending all the money?

a4a

What are you hoping to achieve by suggesting misselling?

You've borrowed money (and successfully repaid it), so you've had the full use of it, it must have come in handy, otherwise presumably you wouldn't have used it.

Do you think you should be compensated for something?

monkeygrinder

Yes, I could (and with hindsight) should have cancelled it. I didn't.

Perhaps "coerced" is an inappropriate word to use.

However, I would like to know the reason behind refusing the upgraded debit card (possibly seeing me as a risk?) and then the thought process behind suggesting that applying for a credit card would be a good idea.

As I stated in my original post, I know and accept there was only one person who used the credit card - me.

I do though wonder if the way in which it was suggested by Halifax staff that I apply for the credit card could be construed as irresponsible?

thebritishbloke

You may have had a certain type of bank account that didn't have any other type of debit card available to you. For example when contactless rolled out, they only released it to certain account customers first.

a4a

monkeygrinder wrote: »

Yes, I could (and with hindsight) should have cancelled it. I didn't.

Perhaps "coerced" is an inappropriate word to use.

However, I would like to know the reason behind refusing the upgraded debit card (possibly seeing me as a risk?) and then the thought process behind suggesting that applying for a credit card would be a good idea.

As I stated in my original post, I know and accept there was only one person who used the credit card - me.

I do though wonder if the way in which it was suggested by Halifax staff that I apply for the credit card could be construed as irresponsible?

Maybe they thought they could make more money out of you with a CC and you accepted it. Thats commercialism.

Whilst lenders do have a responsibility they can't be criticised for wanting to make money. If they felt you could afford a CC, then they are perfectly entitled to offer it to you.

I'm not quite where you are going with this. Do you feel cheated by having to pay interest on what you borrowed?

PeacefulWaters

If you'd got a full current account you'd have chosen to go overdrawn.

That's far more expensive with Halifax than any of their credit cards.

All the branch staff did was identify an alternative way of providing you a service. I've had dozens of credit cards over three decades. Never paid a penny in interest. It's all about your own choices.

photome

OP

Have you cancelled the card now?

As for misselling, You asked for a card.

chattychappy

There is no general legal protection against what you might call "misselling". It is for the customer to determine the suitability of products that they are buying.

The law does recognise "misrepresentation" - essentially you might have some remedies if you bought something because you were told something that wasn't true.

With PARTICULAR kinds of products/services, a higher duty is placed on sellers to determine suitability. It is these products/services that are capable of being missold. PPI is an example.

monkeygrinder

chattychappy wrote: »

There is no general legal protection against what you might call "misselling". It is for the customer to determine the suitability of products that they are buying.

The law does recognise "misrepresentation" - essentially you might have some remedies if you bought something because you were told something that wasn't true.

With PARTICULAR kinds of products/services, a higher duty is placed on sellers to determine suitability. It is these products/services that are capable of being missold. PPI is an example.

I take it that credit cards are not one of these particular products where a higher duty is placed on sellers?