Halifax credit card - underhand dealings

honestorganics

Hi all

I don't know if anyone can help or has had a similar experience to me.

I took out a Halifax credit card in April with 0% on purchases and balance transfers until April 08. I received my statement on Saturday and noticed that I had been charged interest. I thought it must have been a mistake but when I called they said that the promotion had been withdrawn due to ONE late payment made in July! I had infact been paying interest since then and had not been made aware (Stupidly I had not checked my statements for interest as I assumed I would not be paying it until April 08). The interest rate is 21.9%!

The most ridiculous thing is that the same day I received a letter from halifax saying that in recognition of the way my account has been managed my credit limit has been increased to £2500!

When I pointed out the contradiction the lady on the phone said "Halifax is a business and needs to make money somewhere"! I explained that they would be making no more money from me as I would simply transfer my whole balance to a cheaper card and close my account.

Does anyone have experience of fighting back against this sort of thing. I want to write to the managing director but am not sure if it will make any difference.

Would be grateful for any feedback anyone can give.

Cheers,

Vicky.

noh

It's not underhand dealings. Their T+Cs state
"We may apply the standard interest rate during any special promotion period to any transaction if in any month you do not make at least your minimum payment by the payment date or if you exceed your credit limit at any time"
The fact that you were not aware is due to your own failure to read the T+Cs and your statements.
Your options are to ask them again to, as a gesture of goodwill, reinstate your 0% offer or as you say move your debt to another card.
Halifax have acted in accordance with the T+Cs so its not a case a "fighting back" you need to ask nicely!

Nigel

GeorgeUK

Agree with noh - ask them to reinstate the 0% as it was only 1 late payment

If they refuse, tell them that you want to speak to a manager about reclaiming your CC charges as they are "unlawful".

If they tell you you'll need to wait until the court case has been settled, point out that this only deals with overdraft charges, not CC charges.

(And if you're in Scotland - point out that this case is going through the English legal system. Not the Scottish one).

cruzier

I believe all credit card companies do this.

When my partner changed jobs last year, he was unable to pay for one month and because of that he lost out of the rest of his 12 months interest free.

I don't think its Halifax being dodgy.

youknowwho

so u r encourging the OP to start being arkward on the phine to the advisor? If he wants to get his charge bk, he will have to do it in writing like evrybody else!, and my advice would be to just ask for a refund cus it was ur firts late payment, they usually refund on the first one - if you ask nicely, if you take the other persons advice then you shouldnt get anything bk becuase of the attitiude, if you want a favour then you have to ask nicely, u have got much more chance of getting a result.And i'm, afraid that it does state quite clear;ly in the tand c's that if you default you will have your promo period removed. They wont re-instate that, bit you can ask for your fee to b refunded. The managing director wont do anything different, hfax have not done anything that you werent pre warned about. I would just learn from this and set up a dd.

honestorganics

Well, consider myself told off! I am a responsible borrower but family emergencies do unfortunately happen from time to time.

Thank you all for your advice. I am a very silly girl indeed and have set up a DD now. If they don't reinstate the promotion I shall just transfer to my other card, which is offering 0% on balance transfers - their loss!

youknowwho

sorry honestorganics, that rant was really meant for the other person who was just encouraging negative behaviour. You could ask halifax to reduce the rate in the mean time that ur on if they can, least that mite save u a few pounds b4 u xfer.

Iamthesmartestmanalive

honestorganics wrote: »

Well, consider myself told off! I am a responsible borrower but family emergencies do unfortunately happen from time to time.

Thank you all for your advice. I am a very silly girl indeed and have set up a DD now. If they don't reinstate the promotion I shall just transfer to my other card, which is offering 0% on balance transfers - their loss!

Not really
They have your balance xfer fee and they arent losing anything if your moving because your not getting your interest free:rolleyes: