Help! Just discovered 16 months of MBNA charges despite monthly payments

theyoungones4

Hi there,

I'm still in shock after logging onto my MBNA credit card account online and finding they have charged me late payment fees every month since I set it up, despite me setting up a monthly direct debit. I had no idea because I got the card simply to purchase an expensive video camera. It was a 0% on card purchases for 16 months so I sensibly set up a direct debit to pay off more than the minimum amount each month. Then I set a date in my diary to transfer the balance once the 16 months was up and put the card away in a drawer. I've just come to look at transferring the balance and discovered that they've been charging me a £12 late payment fee each month plus between £36-£41 interest charges (I presume the 0% charges don't apply if you are late with your payments!) In total I've worked out I've been charged around £800 in interest (I wasn't expecting to pay) and late payment charges. I feel like such an idiot - I must have simply tapped in the wrong date when I set up the payments! I also feel completely duped and very distraught! These companies make you jump through hoops when applying for the cards and then keep nice and quiet when they start coining it in due to what is obviously a simple and honest error!
I HAVE been getting emails to say the statements are available online but I could never remember my account name without digging out the original letter so I never got round to looking at it. So much for trying to be clever (or even just plain sensible with my money!) Can I reclaim both the interest and the late charges?
Could someone please advise the best course of action.
Many thanks

nicholaswitchell

Deleted_Users4 wrote: »

Can I reclaim both the interest and the late charges?
Could someone please advise the best course of action.
Many thanks

So you've admitted in your post that it was your fault, and yet you want MBNA to shoulder your mistake?

The best course of action is to pay the charges and interest, realise you made a mistake and learn from it, and then move on with life.

leeroy2009

this needs moving to the credit card section, are you seriously saying mbna never once sent you a letter about all these underpayments? not one phone call off them either?


ps your credit file has just been seriously negatively affected by this too.

leeroy2009

yes get your post copied and pasted to the credit card section, then tonight get copys fo your credit report the £2 ones, and also sign up to noddle right now, you should be able to see your credit files instantly


also post exact dates, when you took out the card etc, as much info as you can, sadly this may be all your own fault though, and its going to take a lot of goodwill from mbna to help sort this sorry mess out.

leeroy2009

my above posts from the thread the op posted in wrong section.

YorkshireBoy

Deleted_Users4 wrote: »

I sensibly set up a direct debit to pay off more than the minimum amount each month.

No you didn't. You set up a standing order, and that's (one of many areas!) where you went wrong. A direct debit would have meant MBNA would be responsible for taking the payment when it was due.


I can't see MBNA doing anything to be honest. Had you called them the first time you missed a payment (ie when they told you on the next statement) you may have got something out of them...refund of £12 and interest of 1.9% APR going forward for example.


These deals are not 'set up and forget'...you still need to check things are working properly.

leeroy2009

when did you take this card out and put the camera on it, If its like over a year ago I cant belive mbna have not contacted you, defaulted you and set debt collectors on you, I cant believe they would let it just go like this.


is there any credit left on the card or have they been reducing it?

YorkshireBoy

leeroy2009 wrote: »

when did you take this card out and put the camera on it, If its like over a year ago I cant belive mbna have not contacted you, defaulted you and set debt collectors on you, I cant believe they would let it just go like this.

The payments were late (granted, each month!)...not missed totally, so maybe not classed as too 'serious' by MBNA.


Or maybe the OP moved house and didn't get the letters?


On the subject of communication, I've only ever had two credit cards that were paperless (both Egg, because it was the only option!). I want a piece of paper in my hand each month!...even if I then shred it 2 minutes later!

leeroy2009

the ops predicament is one of the worst ive seen in a long time.

theyoungones4

We're talking about a late payment of a few days each month. My bank statements (the ones I check regularly!) showed the payments were going out EVERY MONTH WITHOUT FAIL so it never occurred to me that they were going out late and I was being charged extra. Surely they have a duty to write to me about this?! I know I've been an idiot, but please TRY and show some sensitivity. I'm not a complete imbecile (believe it or not!)
I came on here because I thought people might actually post some helpful suggestions. We can all be wise after the event!

leeroy2009

i did offer you some help, by telling you to post in this section, answer some questions and get copys of your credit files.


you are at the mercy of mbna now, only they can help you, we can only advise.


sadly it looks like you didn't set up a dd, you set up a standing order.


and sorry to mae things sound worse, but i take it the 0% deal is coming to a end, and when it does i believe it will revert to 19.9% apr interest.


you need to be on the phone tomorrow to mbna, and start working out how to pay off the existing balance asap, of course mbna might put you back into the position you was when you put the camera on the card.