Default fee and credit report

Calleja

Hi all,


I have a credit card which I use for day-to-day purchases and pay off in full each month.


I recently went over by £50 due to buying a carpet - I realized within a couple of days and immediately transferred money to cover it.


Up to now, my credit report was perfect - I have never defaulted on anything in my life. The annoying thing is, I am due to remortgage and was hoping to start the application process soon...


I have been advised on the mortgage forum this won't look good, but given my good credit history, isn't the end of the world.


However, I found an article online which says many banks will consider refunding charges if you ask (customer retention and all that). The charge isn't huge (£12) - but if I ask for it to be refunded and it is, will this look better on my credit report? Or make no difference whatsoever?


I think I know the answer, but thought I would ask it anyway!


Thanks for your help!

[Deleted User]

The fee refund in itself will make no difference - except for making you £12 richer. It's the marker which is key.

You may have got lucky and it wasn't applied given the short timescale.

If it was, you could phone up and grovel and see if they will remove it.

bengalknights

Which bank was it as usually the card would decline if you are over limit

However 90% of times phone call will suffice and they will generally wave charges

Calleja

Thanks both. It was Tesco Bank.


Interesting point about the payment being declined - that's exactly what I thought would happen if I tried to go over my limit, not that they would allow it! As I say, in my 20 years of using a credit card, I've never been in this situation before.


So getting the fee waived won't make a difference - fair enough.


Regarding the 'marker', from what you say, it sounds like just because I've had a fee charged, it doesn't necessarily mean that the marker will have been applied? And if it has, I may be able to get Tesco to remove it? So I should just keep checking my credit report and if I see it, phone Tesco and grovel? I guess this is all I can do at this stage.


Thanks again.