Late charges for missing "payment window" with Natwest CC

LittleAnimal

Hi all, I'm new here.

Last year I spotted four late payment charges on my Natwest credit card statement despite paying my credit card on payday as I always have.

I called them and they explained that their new "payment window", a range of dates each month within which the payment must be received, was missed and therefore I was charged £12-13 each month. Specifically, my payday was the 18th, but the chap on the phone said the new rule was that I had to pay between the 24th and the 14th of the following month, so technically I was paying too soon, and may also affect my credit score for missing the payment window.

Does anyone know if this is allowed, seeing as I saw no notification of this new rule, it sounds almost illegal to me and I want to try and claim it all back but don't know where to begin.

Cheers

Thrugelmir

If you pay early then it will be the previous statement month. If you wish to avoid late payment charges set up a direct debit for the minimum payment.

browneyone

Thrugelmir wrote: »

If you pay early then it will be the previous statement month. If you wish to avoid late payment charges set up a direct debit for the minimum payment.

Minimum payment via direct debit and then I make a card payment for the full amount on payday.

chattychappy

No "new rule". The rule has always been that a statement is generated (which you are meant to check) and you are supposed to pay the minimum shown by the due date.

If there was a sudden, signigicant and unexplained shift in the dates, then perhaps you would have a case of being treated unfairly.

nightswimming

Payment needs to be made between the time the statement is produced and the payment due date as stated on that statement. These dates may vary slightly each month due to weekends. Your best bet is to set up a direct debit so you never miss the window.

LittleAnimal

My payday was the 11th working day of each month, which varied slightly, but how come this hadn't affected me before? Had the same card (and job) for fifteen years.

grumbler

Check your statements, and you will see. They explain everything.
Each statement shows the statement date and the payment due date. The 'window' is between these two dates.
The statement date can vary or even drift gradually. The payment window is linked to the statement date.

[STRIKE]If you pay on the same date and the window moves, you can miss the window once. I don't see how this can happen consequently several months in a row.[/STRIKE]
EDIT: in fact, as the window is shorter than a month it is possible that several (all) payments miss the window.

solentsusie

You really need to keep track of your statements and the date payment is due. If it doesn't fit in with when you are paid you can always ask if they can move the payment date. Some card companies will do this.

Other than that you need to take responsibility for checking when you have to make at least the minimum payment to avoid a charge. Set up a direct debit to cover this as recommended in previous posts.

Good luck.

Caz3121

LittleAnimal wrote: »

Specifically, my payday was the 18th, but the chap on the phone said the new rule was that I had to pay between the 24th and the 14th of the following month, so technically I was paying too soon,

if they issue a statement on the 24th of the month for you to pay by the 14th then if you pay on the 18th you are late (or early for the next month)
they may have changed their statement run date eg possibly before it was statement and payment one week later so your 18th of the month payment would have been fine
The dates will be on your statements and it is up to you to check them

LittleAnimal

Thank you all for your replies. My solution was to pay some of the amount every week, online, but the debit solution sounds much easier.