Bizarre Problem with Post Office credit card

System

It probably just forwards all correspondence to Dublin.

It gives the impression that the company is run by the Post Office and from London, England. Not that it's really Bank of Ireland and run from Dublin, Ireland.

Onawingandaprayer wrote: »

Seems to be no way to put things right. Was told to WRITE to 'Clerical' at Post Office Cards in London. Have done so, but no response. Problem is all calls made to their Call Centre in Ireland whilst correspondence is with PO Box in London. Strange set-up.

Smodlet

On a related but slightly tangential note, Onawingandaprayer, could you possibly do me a huge favour and check the T's & C's? Please do not put yourself out or spend a lot of time on this. I have tried to find the blurb on their website but failed to do so, so far. Have a horrible feeling I've safely destroyed mine in a fit of security consciousness. I seem to recall a paragraph stating something like, "If you use our card as part-payment for a purchase for the added legal protection afforded by a credit card, we will be liable only for the proportion/amount paid for by our card."

I am fairly certain this is in contravention to English and Welsh law, to say nothing of "St. Martin of MSE's" lessons on his telly program and elsewhere. Is is not supposed to be the case that you can pay 1p on a credit card and the rest in cash and still be covered for the whole amount under the credit card's legal obligation to safeguard your purchase? Of course, this card is actually provided by the Bank of Ireland so maybe English law does not apply, except I am sure it said it does.

Onawingandaprayer

Smodlet wrote: »

On a related but slightly tangential note, Onawingandaprayer, could you possibly do me a huge favour and check the T's & C's? Please do not put yourself out or spend a lot of time on this. I have tried to find the blurb on their website but failed to do so, so far. Have a horrible feeling I've safely destroyed mine in a fit of security consciousness. I seem to recall a paragraph stating something like, "If you use our card as part-payment for a purchase for the added legal protection afforded by a credit card, we will be liable only for the proportion/amount paid for by our card."

I am fairly certain this is in contravention to English and Welsh law, to say nothing of "St. Martin of MSE's" lessons on his telly program and elsewhere. Is is not supposed to be the case that you can pay 1p on a credit card and the rest in cash and still be covered for the whole amount under the credit card's legal obligation to safeguard your purchase? Of course, this card is actually provided by the Bank of Ireland so maybe English law does not apply, except I am sure it said it does.

Luckily I had my fine toothcomb handy! On my T&Cs, dated 29th March 2015, I can't find any mention of part-payment. It says 'you will receive free purchase protection cover to protect items purchased with your credit card against loss or damage for 90 days.' Later on it says up to a value of £2,000.

Hope that helps

Smodlet

Most kind and much appreciated, Ona. Maybe it was a nightmare I had but I could have sworn it was in there. Then again, I can feel the marbles getting looser every day

callum9999

Onawingandaprayer wrote: »

Maybe a clue, Calum9999, in my original post. Can't really see the point in spelling it out again, as you're clearly just feeling snippy - funny how some people on these forums are so helpful and yet some...

I'm meant to understand that you don't want any help in sorting out the situation because you wrote "not expecting anyone to come up with any bright ideas really, just wondered if this rings any bells with anyone"? You just wanted someone to say "yes, it rings a bell" then not expand any further?

I can only hope this rather pathetic response to a simple non-judgemental question was a mistake because you're in some kind of strop or didn't read it properly... Don't worry, you have my word that I will never attempt to help you again though.

Smodlet

I believe there is a condition which causes people to take things too literally, in which case, we should not judge.

eskbanker

Smodlet wrote: »

On a related but slightly tangential note, Onawingandaprayer, could you possibly do me a huge favour and check the T's & C's? Please do not put yourself out or spend a lot of time on this. I have tried to find the blurb on their website but failed to do so, so far. Have a horrible feeling I've safely destroyed mine in a fit of security consciousness. I seem to recall a paragraph stating something like, "If you use our card as part-payment for a purchase for the added legal protection afforded by a credit card, we will be liable only for the proportion/amount paid for by our card."

I am fairly certain this is in contravention to English and Welsh law, to say nothing of "St. Martin of MSE's" lessons on his telly program and elsewhere. Is is not supposed to be the case that you can pay 1p on a credit card and the rest in cash and still be covered for the whole amount under the credit card's legal obligation to safeguard your purchase? Of course, this card is actually provided by the Bank of Ireland so maybe English law does not apply, except I am sure it said it does.

Yes, the protection usually referred to on MSE (and elsewhere) is section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which does indeed offer protection of the full value of an item if any part of it is paid by credit card (assuming the item is over £100).

As this is law, Post Office cards can't override it with Ts & Cs and because their services are provided to UK consumers by Bank of Ireland UK they are subject to English law.

The 90 day purchase protection against loss or damage that Onawingandaprayer refers to is a separate matter unrelated to your statutory consumer rights under section 75.

redpete

sleepymans wrote: »

Id advise you to go through their complaints process, as shown on their web page. I had a tiny issue with the spelling of my middle name....they quickly apologised, put it right and popped a sweet £50 into my account. Satisfied.

But what would the complaint be about? That they correctly failed the security check based on the information that the OP gave them?

Smodlet

Thank you, eskbanker, that's what I thought. If I ever find my paperwork and it actually says what I thought it said, I will call them on it. Cheers!

Onawingandaprayer

redpete wrote: »

But what would the complaint be about? That they correctly failed the security check based on the information that the OP gave them?

Er, no. That they (so far) seem to have no system in place to amend my secure information. I've phoned, I've written, can't really see what else I can do, bar travelling to Armagh.