post office credit card

sdarbin · 28 October 2016 at 11:09AM

I already had a post office credit card and when they offered a balance transfer to clear another card I took them up on their offer. I am well aware of the golden rules to follow and made sure I always pay the amount due, never late. They encourage you to use the website, which I did. They always ask you as you log on about statement and I always make sure I get paper statement as I need to know the date the next payment is due. If I don’t know, I might miss the payment date. The question they ask about statements is not straightforward and I ticked the box instead of removing the default tic the last time I was on their site. I must have been distracted and sure enough they did not send a statement and I missed a payment. Now I have paid but have lost my nought percent rate.
My mistake but due to a moment’s distraction I lose money. It really feels like they are waiting for you to make a mistake and the fact that the web site defaults to a setting each time I go on feels a bit of a con. Just a warning to others. I expected better from the post office.

GingerBob_3 · 28 October 2016 at 11:24AM

sdarbin wrote: »

I already had a post office credit card and when they offered a balance transfer to clear another card I took them up on their offer. I am well aware of the golden rules to follow and made sure I always pay the amount due, never late. They encourage you to use the website, which I did. They always ask you as you log on about statement and I always make sure I get paper statement as I need to know the date the next payment is due. If I don’t know, I might miss the payment date. The question they ask about statements is not straightforward and I ticked the box instead of removing the default tic the last time I was on their site. I must have been distracted and sure enough they did not send a statement and I missed a payment. Now I have paid but have lost my nought percent rate.
My mistake but due to a moment’s distraction I lose money. It really feels like they are waiting for you to make a mistake and the fact that the web site defaults to a setting each time I go on feels a bit of a con. Just a warning to others. I expected better from the post office.

Ring them up and explain what happened. Chances are they'll reinstate the deal. Then, go back to the website, sign up for paper statements, and then don't ever go back to the website. Defaulting you every time to go paperless is a cheap trick.

sdarbin · 28 October 2016 at 11:43AM

I rang them and they said the rules are the rules. Yes, I will never go back on the web site, so be careful.

GingerBob_3 · 28 October 2016 at 12:50PM

sdarbin wrote: »

I rang them and they said the rules are the rules. Yes, I will never go back on the web site, so be careful.

Many card companies would overlook this, especially if it's the first time it's happened. This is yet another reason to not use the Post Office credit card (which is managed by Bank of Ireland). Try and get another BT card and transfer the balance away from the PO card. Then don't use the PO card again apart from once a year for a minor purchase: let them pay for the privilege of having you as a customer.

On the more general point of the Post Office card; they have an onerous requirement - in some cases - to provide certified documents when applying to open an account. They are best avoided.