Lloyds TSB

Thomas_A._Platts

Hi all,
My Wife has a TSB Master Card on which she has a spending limit of £7800. She very rarely uses the card. Last year she had not used the card but was charged £35 for the priviledge of having such a card.

She was advised by a "Friend" that if she made one transaction then she would not be charged the £35 fee. With this in mind, she used the card for some clothes to the value of £35 - she was however, charged the £35 fee for the card.

She then phoned the bank, to be told that the charge was for low users of that card. She then asked, "how much should be spent to avoid such a charge? She was informed that decisions of this nature is very much dependent on the individual concerned! My Wife again asked, "how much must I spend to avoid this charge? The reply was, I don,t know!

Can Lloyds TSB get away with this type of behaviour?


Regards

benf90

This charge was introduced in the last 12-18 months or so. I remember seeing it in the news and then shortly afterwards being advised by LTSB of a change in my cards T&Cs.

I don't know the actual answer to the amounts etc, but I'd think it's more likely to be a % of the credit limit rather than the same amount for everyone.

If the card isn't used very often then it may be best to just close it. Your wife could look at taking out a cash back card if she hasn't already got one.

Or, if they still want the card to be open (the £35 is an annual charge I think so it won't be applied for another 12 months or so anyway) then maybe look at reducing the credit limit?

CannyJock

benf90 wrote: »

If the card isn't used very often then it may be best to just close it.

Worth calling their CS department first and seeing if they will make you an offer to keep the card - like a 0% period?

Article on the subject written by Clariman, very useful: http://www.makesenseofmoney.co.uk/a_extend.html

scoot65

I also have a Lloyds TSB MasterCard. Does anyone know at what point do Lloyds class an individual as an "infrequent card user". Or, to put it another way, roughly how many times does the card need to be used to keep it "active" in Lloyds' eye? Once a month? three times a month?

Thanks ....

jonesMUFCforever

You will be written to first if they are considering charging you giving you ample opportunity to either use the card regularly or close it.