Need advice for my mum

HugoandHudsonsmum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81913216#Comment_81913216

So I've just helped her after explaining everything and she now got the credit card she did ask me a question that I think I told her the correct answer too.

It said that she will get a statement with her balance once she has made a purchase after one calendar month with the minimum payment she needs to pay and by which date it needs to be paid and she asked me so I don't need to set up a direct debit then as I won't forget and I'll save enough money to pay the minimum payment and more so when I get my first statement and it tells me to pay say £5 minimum payment I could instead pay the £50 I can afford because then that would cover the minimum payment and extra or would I need to do two payments one for the £5 and then another for the other £45?

I said I think that's correct you can pay £50 off each month instead of just the minimum payment and the minimum payment is covered in the amount you pay if it over the minimum

JadedAngel88

Just wanted to add this in case it's useful for anyone else.

For difficulty talking on the phone there is the relay UK app, if your mum's phone is able to have apps, you have to use a number before the number you are calling and someone speaks your text. I use it as I have a paralysed vocal cord so find talking really difficult.

I know it's an app generally for deaf people but every little helps and I don't suppose they'd mind us non deaf using it.

elsien

Yes, she can do the minimum and the overpayment all in one go. She doesn’t need to do two payments.

molerat

A direct debit for the minimum payment should really be set up irrespective of what you intend to do as that way you can't forget it, "things" & life have a habit of cropping up / getting in the way when you least expect them and missing the minimum payment could work out expensive.

HugoandHudsonsmum

Hi all

So she's had her first statement and she has a question she decided she didn't want to do a direct debit as she won't forget and has already written out a payment plan of which date she pays what and how much and she'll have the balance payed off by June the 15th as that is when she gets her pension. Her first statement says the first payment is due 2nd of may does she have to wait till then or can she pay it on the 15th of April like she wants to?

And she can pay this month £70 off does she pay the full 70 or does she have to pay a different payment for just the minimum with it saying next payment due 2nd may?

elsien

She can pay any time between the date of the statement and when the payment is due. The due date is the latest at which she should pay without incurring charges.
So she can pay the £70 in one go between the statement date and 2nd May.

The only other thing she would need to be aware of if she makes any other extra interim payments before the statement comes out is that would count as going to the previous months bill instead and would not cover the minimum payment for the following month.
If she’s only planning to pay the regular one payment a month that won’t be an issue.

HugoandHudsonsmum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957540#Comment_81957540

Thanks she only gets her workplace pension at the moment her state pension begins at the end of next month so this month it would only be the £70 on the 15th of April which is after her statement went up on the 7th and before the due date of the 2nd of may.

However next month she was going to pay to pay £60 on the 15th of may and then on the 24th of may £270

So should she wait and do only one payment on the 24th instead of two payments in may?

Grumpy_chap

And even though the limit is £700 and she only uses £499 to get her chair she'll only have pay back the £499 while in the 0% interest period? 

[Image removed by Forum Team]

So, if she only had the card to make one purchase - the £500 chair - how did she get to have a statement balance of £660?

Is there an element of good intention not being followed in practice?

HugoandHudsonsmum

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957639#Comment_81957639

Not that it's any of your business what the final amount is that she's paying off but the £500 was sale price and by the time I took her the following weekend the sale had ended we searched around different shops including our nearest British heart foundation but there was nothing that she could sit in comfortable with her rib pain so we went back to DFS and after delivery and taking old chair away it came to 660 and she spent 2.85 on something else that I shouldn't have to even explain. I only put the screenshot there to show the due date thing.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957700#Comment_81957700

Sorry if my comment caused offence - none was intended.

I was just concerned, in the context of the thread, of you and your mother having limited exposure to CCs and the possibility that she had purchased the chair and then seen it as easily available money so spent more elsewhere that she might not have spent otherwise. None of us would want to see a post in a few months time along the lines of having a CC for one purchase only but got in the habit and unable to clear the card.

Glad your mother has the chair that will suit her needs and hope she enjoys it.