Credit card charges AAhhhhhh !!!

johnl_3

Hi,

I've a Co Op VISA card which I pay off in full at the end of every month.

Recently however charges have started to appear and I wonder if these are typical maybe of what some others on here have experienced?

I try and post off a cheque, First Class, as soon as I get my statements but on a number of occasions recently I notice that I have incurred late payment penalties. I always make a note of when I post the payments and as the statements show when payment was credited to my account I'm able to check how long it's taken.

Apparently this often takes up to 10 days - will this include a set period of time for the cheque to clear? I've no recollection of this happening before - only in the last few months.

When I phoned VISA and spoke to someone there all they could suggest, over and over, was to pay by direct debit. When I asked if it was now company policy for VISA to delay paying in cheques in order to solicit interest from the customer they conveniently didn't answer.

So I asked them if they would categorically deny that cheque payments were delayed on purpose - they refused to answer...

I have written to VISA and will wait to see what they say, meantime I'd be interested in any comments.

Incidentally one reason they gave for late payment was the Postal Strike - how convenient - I did ask if they had strikes once a month - every time I posted my cheque... :rotfl:

IF this issue has been raised before and I am in the wrong forums pse accept my apologies...

johnl

jonesMUFCforever

To be honest you have been given an alternative but you don't want to use it.
I think this conspiracy theory is in your head.
If you can manage to get online and you don't want to use direct debit why not pay online?
You could also take it down to your local branch and pay over the counter.

johnl_3

> you have been given an alternative but you don't want to use it

I wouldn't say I don't want to use it, just that I've always paid by cheque without any problems - I may well have to change - it's just that I don't like the way VISA are doing this.

tightbarsteward

I think they are are doing it on purpose. Banking & administering payments by cheque is more expensive than other methods such as direct debits. The credit card companies & banks need to claw as much money back asthey can after paying out millions in reclaimed charges.

I remember BT started charging people paying by cheque £5 at time a few months back. Claim your charges back & pay your monthly bills online, preferably on their own website with your debit card as you could leave it until quite near your due date to pay.