Credit Card late payments
Got a credit card from Sainsbury's cos they offered 12 months interest free at a time when I was trying to clear my University debts. At the end of the 12 months there was something piddling like £35 on it which I duly forgot about.

A couple of months later I got a letter from them saying that I had failed to pay 2 months' late fees and they were dropping my credit limit from £4k to £1.5k. I looked it up online and indeed, they had charged me two consecutive months late payment fees at £25 a pop. Don't get me wrong, I know its my responsibility to clear my debts and suffer the consequences if I don't, but I found it a little annoying that they tried (and failed) for two months to take the minimum payment without checking with me. You know, "Sorry to bother you sir, but did you realise that we're unable to take money from your account and we'll have to charge you a penalty?". Turns out having spoken to them that despite me thinking to the contrary, they didn't have my Direct Debit details, hence the problem. However, in the midst of this paper trail I got another letter saying I still hadn't paid up (lots of inter-departmental communication there) so they'd reduce my credit rating to £100. Well, cheers. Its really worth having a credit card with a ton on it, isn't it?

Long story short, I paid up, told them to get f**ked and moved to a different company. Beware, Sainsbury's bankers, they'll take your money without checking, the cheeky bastards...
(titusyouclown, Fri 16 Feb 2007, 13:32, Reply)