Marks and Spencer Keep you safe

seacchers

I havent sent anything to them, their letter was october so almost four weeks now but I do expect something in the post soon.
unfortuanetly the balance is quite high and whilst i expect them to maybe close the account and demand for full payment, which I cant do, so i ask can I make the usual monthly payments ? or whats the normal procdeures for accounts being closed.
i might be lucky and hear nothing and just go on as normal
cheers to all who have answered
S

GingerBob_3

seacchers wrote: »

I havent sent anything to them, their letter was october so almost four weeks now but I do expect something in the post soon.
unfortuanetly the balance is quite high and whilst i expect them to maybe close the account and demand for full payment, which I cant do, so i ask can I make the usual monthly payments ? or whats the normal procdeures for accounts being closed.
i might be lucky and hear nothing and just go on as normal
cheers to all who have answered
S

They can close the account, but you can pay it off as you normally would, and shouldn't be penalised.

HappySeagull

We received the same letter this morning, having had the credit card for umpteen years.

My first thought was that this was a sophisticated phishing scam, so I was pleased to find this thread. Even so, we called a phone number we already had, rather than the different one on the letter.

Of course, the call centre staff have a script that simply repeats their "requirement" for this information, but they wouldn't/couldn't say why. It's certainly not to keep us safe, and there's no way I'm sending copies of passport / photo id / tax details to them in the post, let alone finding someone to certify them. Anyway, I've cut up my additional card.

Having opened a new bank account in the last few weeks, I know my credit rating is fine and that id verification can be automated. Ironically, I bet I could get a M&S credit card in my own name without providing those details.

Very odd that they don't state any consequence for NOT providing the info. So, I'm still left with the impression that it's a back-door way of trawling for information about additional card holders.

seacchers

thanks for the replies guys,
the ID is bad enough but to find someone to certify from their list is a tall order, I wouldnt want to take up my doctors valuable time and as for the rest on the list ,I wouldnt know anyone who held these posts
thanks
S

cranford

I received one of these letters a few days a go and initially thought it was a scam so phoned M&S up. I pointed out that we have had two card for over 25 years, they should already have plenty of history about us and I was not going to pay out £25 to a professional per certified copy. The person I spoke to said on sending in an invoice they would reinburse me, in which case the letter should have said that. They also said I could make an appointment at a M&S Bank and with the nearest one 25 miles away that is not an option. So I have binned their letter and wait to see what they are going to do.
After over 25 years and using our cards at M&S I wonder if they will risk loosing out business.

bigadaj

You are unfortunately relying on one bit of a large company speaking to another department, so I wouldn't be confident about your previous relationship having much influence at all.

There's plenty of other alternatives available so no great issue, both in financial services and retail terms.

meer53

cranford wrote: »

I received one of these letters a few days a go and initially thought it was a scam so phoned M&S up. I pointed out that we have had two card for over 25 years, they should already have plenty of history about us and I was not going to pay out £25 to a professional per certified copy. The person I spoke to said on sending in an invoice they would reinburse me, in which case the letter should have said that. They also said I could make an appointment at a M&S Bank and with the nearest one 25 miles away that is not an option. So I have binned their letter and wait to see what they are going to do.
After over 25 years and using our cards at M&S I wonder if they will risk loosing out business.

They'll write to you again and if you don't reply they'll give you notice that they'll be closing your accounts. They won't really be worried about losing your business.

EssexHebridean

Should anyone legitimitely have to provide certified copies at any time, it's worth knowing that the standing rate for a solicitor to do this is usually £10 per copy. Some do it for less, and most will give a discount for several copies being certified at a time.

Nebulous2

If you are in Scotland a local councillor will sign a document for you free of charge.

GingerBob_3

When you receive letters such as this from M&S, aka HSBC, standard practice is to roll it up into a tight cylinder and send it back to them with covering letter explaining why it's been rolled up.