Tesco credit card late payment help please

Peanuts

Hi all,
I have just got my statement which shows that I have been late to pay last months bill by one day and have therefore been charged £12 plus £3 odd interest.
My statement was dated 24 Dec but arrived on 5 Jan. I paid the bill online on the 5th. The payment date was 8th and my payment arrived 9th.

I telephoned to complain as I had paid the day the bill arrived!!! I opened my account in July 2007 and was late with the first ever payment as the papers arrived whilst I was on hoilday. I received a refund for that but now tesco say they cant refund twice in a year!

Had a stroppy and rude guy on the phone and am now waiting another call within 48 hours!!

Well miffed - any thoughts?
Thanks

Martinslovechild

The policy for many of the big banks is a maximum of one refund per year.

My normal advice is to set up a direct debit. You can either pay the minimum payment or the full balance. Once the direct debit's been set up, it doesn't matter whether you're in Outer Mongolia or laid up in bed at the time when the payment becomes due, it will be paid.

Personally, I doubt that the bank will remove this second late payment charge, but I have found writing a letter far more powerful for these sorts of issues, rather than phone calls or emails. It might be worth sending them a letter -- but stick to the facts (e.g. explain that the statement arrived late) rather than having a rant. And set up a direct debit so that you don't make it to 3 late payments!

YorkshireBoy

Peanuts wrote: »

...any thoughts?

It sounds like you have the 'Clubcard', which has only 46 days interest free? You're never going to get more than a week to 10 days in which to make your payment.

Your statement is produced on the same date each month. Plan for it, especially during the Xmas/New Year period when you lose around 7 bank working days.

Set up a DD for the minimum payment, and make any top-up payments by other means.

If, for some reason you prefer not to use a DD, then get online access to your account so you can see your 'virtual' statement before it arrives. This will buy you an extra 4-5 days each month.

Gorgeous_George

Ring them again.

Ask for the refund again and if successful, take the opportunity to set up a direct debit to pay the balance or the minimum payment each month.

If they refuse to refund the £12, ask them to close the card with immediate effect. They may wish to keep your custom. They may offer a £6 refund, just say no thank you and proceed with the account closure. There are more cards available and more shops. Asda's card gives 2p off a litre of petrol I believe.


GG

CLAPTON

set up a DD
or get a card with more time to pay
or check out the balance online and pay online

Peanuts

Thanks for the advice.
Surely its still not on that the bill arrives on the 5th for payment on the 8th!!!
I would cancel the card but for the fact I am saving airmiles and tesco credit card helps with that

Peanuts

PS I have clubcard credit card - how do I access my account online??

YorkshireBoy

Peanuts wrote: »

PS I have clubcard credit card - how do I access my account online??

http://www.tescofinance.com/personal/finance/finance/creditcards/clubcc/summary-box.html (top right of screen)

poppy_f1

Peanuts wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
Surely its still not on that the bill arrives on the 5th for payment on the 8th!!!
I would cancel the card but for the fact I am saving airmiles and tesco credit card helps with that

unfortunately its not their fault that its been held up by the christmas and new year post

Gorgeous_George

It is not the OP's fault either and Tesco should show some seasonal goodwill.

Every little helps...

GG

Thomas_Crown

poppy_f1 wrote: »

unfortunately its not their fault that its been held up by the christmas and new year post

The OP stated that Tesco PF (RBS) posted the statement on 24th December & it arrived on 5th January. The Christmas rush at Royal Mail was over by Christmas Eve. I received a 2nd class letter posted that day, on Friday
28th December. (N.B. parcels stuck in delivery offices is a different matter).

One of the big problems with credit card/bank statements etc is that most of them are collected by TNT/UK Mail & then handed over to Royal Mail for delivery. For many years statements & certain other items other were handled by Streamline the ''junk mail'' division of Royal Mail.

Also remember that as individuals we have a choice of 1st or 2nd class post but large companies have about 8 different choices. The lower the price of the contract mail the slower the service/delivery! Just look at the envelope that your bank/credit card stuff arrives in, it may well have ''Mailsort'' or ''Walksort'' on it but never an actual stamp like we purchase at the Post Office.