Halifax £Nil available balance

enthusiasticsaver

Candyapple wrote: »

Where did this 'minimum payment' figure of £250 come from? Especially if your balance was £700. Is it written on your statements?

If payments have been missed in the last few months the minimum payment will include these to bring the account up to date.

MrHazard

Candyapple wrote: »

Have you checked all 3 of your files to see how the information may differ?

[FONT=&quot]The free versions to check your credit files are below:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Experian: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Equifax: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]www.clearscore.com[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Call Credit: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]www.noddle.co.uk[/FONT]

Are there lots of late payment markers as in 1, 2, 3, 4 etc for when you originally missed the payments and before you joined Stepchange?

You may not have been given a default per se, but the account itself has been in default since you ran into difficulties a few years back and entered into a debt management programme with Stepchange. There is a difference.

Where did this 'minimum payment' figure of £250 come from? Especially if your balance was £700. Is it written on your statements?

Thanks Candyapple. I've only used Noddle and Clearscore so far and neither of those show a default on the card, though I understand what you're saying about being "in default". There are late payment references, arrears and arrangement to pay markers, however, yep.


The minimum payment is from a couple of missed minimum payments I believe, as enthusiasticsaver alluded to!

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

I would suggest you contact them again to clarify but obviously at the moment the card is still blocked. As you defaulted on a stepchange arrangement previously this may have been referred up to credit control and it may take someone else other than the person you spoke to say yea or nay. If you need that £250 to live off then ask if they can refund it.

Personally given your previous debt problems I would not use credit for day to day expenses and continue using cash until you are debt free. If you still have a DMP for other debts you should not be using credit anyway. Have you checked all three credit files to see if there are any defaults showing on it? Candyapple has kindly given you the links above.

Thanks enthusiasticsaver, understood. Fair advice! I'm no longer in a DMP with Stepchange, but I do still have this card and one other (which currently has an arrangement in place) to pay. Depending on what they say when I call I may need to get that refunded then in that case and then live off the cash!

Candyapple

What happens if you call them and they refuse to refund you the £250? Do you have access to other funds to tide you over?

I'd be interested to see how Halifax respond to this, please keep the thread updated with any outcome

enthusiasticsaver

Yes, I would be interested too in finding out whether Halifax unblock your card or if not refund the £250 payment. I personally would not like to think they misled you to get the payment as lenders have a duty of care so if they knew this was the only money you had available they would be failing in this.

Given your credit difficulties I would strongly urge you not to be dependent on the credit cards as I would imagine they may start upping interest rates so if you are not in a position to clear them this may cause you more difficulties. Stick to cash for now.

maxximus75

Unfortunately if your online account shows NIL credit and your statement shows your credit limit, on top of slightly reducing your credit limit, Halifax has cancelled your account.

MrHazard

Candyapple wrote: »

What happens if you call them and they refuse to refund you the £250? Do you have access to other funds to tide you over?

I'd be interested to see how Halifax respond to this, please keep the thread updated with any outcome

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Yes, I would be interested too in finding out whether Halifax unblock your card or if not refund the £250 payment. I personally would not like to think they misled you to get the payment as lenders have a duty of care so if they knew this was the only money you had available they would be failing in this.

Given your credit difficulties I would strongly urge you not to be dependent on the credit cards as I would imagine they may start upping interest rates so if you are not in a position to clear them this may cause you more difficulties. Stick to cash for now.

Thanks both. So I've called them up and they have informed me that they cannot unblock the card as once you enter a repayment plan they essentially cancel the account, despite it still showing as open. They acknowledged their colleagues mistake in what they informed me and have agreed to refund the payment that I have made.

Probably for the best, as I can now use cash and set up a new repayment plan for this card that's affordable for me.

maxximus75 wrote: »

Unfortunately if your online account shows NIL credit and your statement shows your credit limit, on top of slightly reducing your credit limit, Halifax has cancelled your account.

Thanks bud, this is the information that I needed - couldn't find anything on this online! But yep, you were spot on.