Late Payment - Postal Strike

dave_frankum

I've just received my GM card statement, which included a late payment charge of £12 because they claim they received my cheque on the 29th October 4 days past the 25th deadline.

I checked my cheque book stubs and as always I sent the cheque off the day the statement arrived (8th October).

I rang GM to complain and got put through (after 10 minutes of waiting) to an Indian call centre. The guy on the other end implied it was my fault and I should paid another way last month. :mad: I've paid by cheque every month.

I've had an account with GM for over 10 years and never in that time made a late payment. ...
Fine, I said. I'll close the account. He said okay.
I said and I'd like to make a complaint. Sure. I'll put one on the file.
Then I said, "No, I want an address I can write to with my grievance, be sure I'll be sending one to the regulators."
He said, "Hold on, I'll get you an address".
He came back 5 minutes later and said,
"Ok, we'll credit your account with the £12".

Okay then... I won't close the account.
(... until next month, when I've got the £12 back.)

Credit cards companies must have stung a lot of loyal customers with these late payment charges. Customers who every month pay up in full as soon as their statement arrives.

There are lots of other credit card companies around, GM, and as my loyalty seemed to count for nothing, I'll take my business elsewhere.

Anyone else been stung ?!?

M_Thomson

dave_frankum wrote: »

I've just received my GM card statement, which included a late payment charge of £12 because they claim they received my cheque on the 29th October 4 days past the 25th deadline.

I checked my cheque book stubs and as always I sent the cheque off the day the statement arrived (8th October).

I rang GM to complain and got put through (after 10 minutes of waiting) to an Indian call centre. The guy on the other end implied it was my fault and I should paid another way last month. :mad: I've paid by cheque every month.

I've had an account with GM for over 10 years and never in that time made a late payment. ...
Fine, I said. I'll close the account. He said okay.
I said and I'd like to make a complaint. Sure. I'll put one on the file.
Then I said, "No, I want an address I can write to with my grievance, be sure I'll be sending one to the regulators."
He said, "Hold on, I'll get you an address".
He came back 5 minutes later and said,
"Ok, we'll credit your account with the £12".

Okay then... I won't close the account.
(... until next month, when I've got the £12 back.)

Credit cards companies must have stung a lot of loyal customers with these late payment charges. Customers who every month pay up in full as soon as their statement arrives.

There are lots of other credit card companies around, GM, and as my loyalty seemed to count for nothing, I'll take my business elsewhere.

Anyone else been stung ?!?

As you have internet access I can't understand why do you not pay your bills online? It saves the cost of a stamp and will cover you in event of a strike. If you had not had late payments before, then they should have refunded the £12 straight away, but the onus is still on you to get the payment there on time.

nearlyrich

The credit card company are not in the wrong if they charge you when the payment was late even if it was due to a postal strike. The postal strike was well publicised and like the previous poster said it's much easier to pay on line or by direct debit.

percylongprong_2

I paid my HBOS visa card late and got stung 12 quid too - my fault entirely.
I'd love to know how they arrive at £12 though - there was no letter or anything sent chasing the payment, just a note on my next statement and the £12 debit charge.

MABLE

dave_frankum wrote: »

I've just received my GM card statement, which included a late payment charge of £12 because they claim they received my cheque on the 29th October 4 days past the 25th deadline.

I checked my cheque book stubs and as always I sent the cheque off the day the statement arrived (8th October).

I rang GM to complain and got put through (after 10 minutes of waiting) to an Indian call centre. The guy on the other end implied it was my fault and I should paid another way last month. :mad: I've paid by cheque every month.

I've had an account with GM for over 10 years and never in that time made a late payment. ...
Fine, I said. I'll close the account. He said okay.
I said and I'd like to make a complaint. Sure. I'll put one on the file.
Then I said, "No, I want an address I can write to with my grievance, be sure I'll be sending one to the regulators."
He said, "Hold on, I'll get you an address".
He came back 5 minutes later and said,
"Ok, we'll credit your account with the £12".

Okay then... I won't close the account.
(... until next month, when I've got the £12 back.)

Credit cards companies must have stung a lot of loyal customers with these late payment charges. Customers who every month pay up in full as soon as their statement arrives.

There are lots of other credit card companies around, GM, and as my loyalty seemed to count for nothing, I'll take my business elsewhere.

Anyone else been stung ?!?

You only have yourself to blame. You could have easily set up a dd for the min amount and also paid online. Also the postal strikes were well advertised
so why should they refund the fee. Well take your business elsewhere and if the same happens with your new provider you will no doubt be throwing your credit card out of the pram again.

TAG

Have to agree with everyone else I'm afraid. I paid all our CC bills at the bank last month. Normally post them but thought better of it.

iceicebaby

I think knowing there was a postal strike it would have made sense to arrange an alternative methos of payment for the month

KTF

Proof of posting is not proof of delivery as they say.

Balls_Of_Steel

dave_frankum wrote: »

I rang GM to complain and got put through (after 10 minutes of waiting) to an Indian call centre. The guy on the other end implied it was my fault and I should paid another way last month. :mad: I've paid by cheque every month.

DD every month for the minimum, then pay extra if you have spare cash. A lot less hasle

Milarky

As you got your money back (and don't seem to have an issue with undue interest being charged as it isn't mentioned) and you have kept the account rather than closing it I can only endorse what others have said and would urge you to set up a bill payment or (better still) direct debit for the minimum or full statement amount. It will be the most worthwhile five minutes you can spend

dave_frankum

The point is it pays to complain. Got my £12 back.
Just thought it worth sharing if anyone else had been hit by the fee.

Won't bother in future....