MBNA can't refund credit balance

Brie

I'd had a 0% balance transfer coming to an end and realised that the last DD would be taken the day after the offer ended leaving me with the problem of paying a bit of interest.  OK 1 day interest for £250 wouldn't be much but it would annoy me.  So I paid the final £250 early to clear the balance. 

I suspected that they would still take the DD (their T&Cs say "we may take it") but wasn't bothered as I knew that I could get the money refunded.  I asked yesterday for this to be refunded and was told they couldn't accept the account details I provided even though it is the same account where the DD payments have always come from.  They asked that I provide a different current account - but I don't have an alternative.  So it comes down to being a flat "no we can't refund this". 

I have as a result raised a DD call back (or whatever you call it) from my current account to get the money back where it should be. 

Has anyone had a similar problem and were your bank able to help??

Yes I know I could just use the card for the next month but it's one that I've only used for stoozing for the last decade so don't carry it about.  Obviously that will be plan B if necessary.   

retiredbanker1

You could ask your bank to recall the direct debit - stating it has been taken in error or you might want to try MBNA again and speak to someone else with a bit of common sense?

Isthisforreal99

It's not been taken in error though has it? It was taken as per the T&C's so a little 'naughty' to be trying to invoke the DD indemnity.

Did you cancel the DD after the final payment was taken? That might be why they can't refund the credit.

Altior

Unnecessary risk of hassle to save a few pennies, but what's done is done. You could request a cheque, or fee free MT, or BT if you have another card with liability (and fee free offers). 

Naturelover22

I would wait a few days and ask again. I overpaid my MBNA card for months by SO or FP i can't remember. I paid off a balance transfer and then got confused by the 'credit' balance on the statement so kept paying it. When I realised it was about £200 in credit and phoned and they transferred it back to the same account.
Maybe your DD was still clearing in or they didn't understand you just wanted essential a refund?

Nasqueron

Just for future if it helps, either cancel the DD and make the final payment manually with sufficient time for it to take effect (at least 2 weeks seems to be common) or make all the payments so they're cleared the month before it expires. This does mean you lose a few pennies or pounds of interest but I do it this way, the final DD taken to clear the balance is always the month before the offer ends

mta999

Just a bit off topic but you may want to consider having a second current account for many reasons. Choose one that is not part of the banking group that your current one is with

You don't have to use it very much but have it there in the background 'just in case'

Brie

mta999 said:

Just a bit off topic but you may want to consider having a second current account for many reasons. Choose one that is not part of the banking group that your current one is with

You don't have to use it very much but have it there in the background 'just in case'

Why?  I have savings accounts as does my OH so access to cash isn't an issue.  

Think I'll try ringing them to get someone to sort it rather than doing it via chat.  Must admit I hate that you can wait forever between questions and answers as they are dealing with a dozen other chats all at the same time.  

Isthisforreal99

Brie said:

mta999 said:

Just a bit off topic but you may want to consider having a second current account for many reasons. Choose one that is not part of the banking group that your current one is with

You don't have to use it very much but have it there in the background 'just in case'

Why?  I have savings accounts as does my OH so access to cash isn't an issue.  

Think I'll try ringing them to get someone to sort it rather than doing it via chat.  Must admit I hate that you can wait forever between questions and answers as they are dealing with a dozen other chats all at the same time.  

As somebody who frequents these boards I would have thought you would have known that the general advice is to have more than one current account, as a back up should there be banking issues/failures with any particular bank.

Not to mention switching bonuses.....always good to have a 'donor account' ready to go.

Brie

Isthisforreal99 said:

Brie said:

mta999 said:

Just a bit off topic but you may want to consider having a second current account for many reasons. Choose one that is not part of the banking group that your current one is with

You don't have to use it very much but have it there in the background 'just in case'

Why?  I have savings accounts as does my OH so access to cash isn't an issue.  

Think I'll try ringing them to get someone to sort it rather than doing it via chat.  Must admit I hate that you can wait forever between questions and answers as they are dealing with a dozen other chats all at the same time.  

As somebody who frequents these boards I would have thought you would have known that the general advice is to have more than one current account, as a back up should there be banking issues/failures with any particular bank.

Not to mention switching bonuses.....always good to have a 'donor account' ready to go.

Yes but no.  I have lots of accounts with different banking groups so I think that's covered ok.  I just don't have more than 1 current account.   And I've never had the time or inclination to be a switch junkie!!

Isthisforreal99

Brie said:

Isthisforreal99 said:

Brie said:

mta999 said:

Just a bit off topic but you may want to consider having a second current account for many reasons. Choose one that is not part of the banking group that your current one is with

You don't have to use it very much but have it there in the background 'just in case'

Why?  I have savings accounts as does my OH so access to cash isn't an issue.  

Think I'll try ringing them to get someone to sort it rather than doing it via chat.  Must admit I hate that you can wait forever between questions and answers as they are dealing with a dozen other chats all at the same time.  

As somebody who frequents these boards I would have thought you would have known that the general advice is to have more than one current account, as a back up should there be banking issues/failures with any particular bank.

Not to mention switching bonuses.....always good to have a 'donor account' ready to go.

Yes but no.  I have lots of accounts with different banking groups so I think that's covered ok.  I just don't have more than 1 current account.   And I've never had the time or inclination to be a switch junkie!!

Fair enough, free money isn't for everyone I guess.