Then be afraid ...They might be after you next...

Just recieved a call from a large national bank (currently advertising on TV with a group of energetic dancers) reminding me that we owed an amount on our credit card.

This card has a large credit limit as most other months, there is a lot of money going through it for work expenses. I have NEVER missed a payment and for cash flow purposes always pay off in full. (Paying interest is for suckers).

I don't know much about telephone debt collection but I do know that it tends to work by annoying people into paying.

The amount in question £12, the time 8:10 am.

Have a paid ? Yes (although they wanted debit card details over the phone there and then while I was cleaning my teeth)

Am I annoyed ? Yes - They also have the card returned in the same envelope

The price of a customer £12.......

Are you sure that this was actually the card issuer phoning you and not some sort of social engineering scam trying to get your card details?

i dont let myself have a credit card......so much trouble......so easily avoided....for now

Are you sure that this was actually the card issuer phoning you and not some sort of social engineering scam trying to get your card details?

Well they did know how much I owed but for that reason I didn't offer debit card details.

As I said, I was cleaning my teeth at the time, wife comes in and says "phone call asking for you", my manner was probably "very blunt"

although they wanted debit card details over the phone

This sounds verrrrrry dodgy. I'd recommend you call your credit card company and double check it was actually them that called you.

If it wasn't then put a stop on your debit card with all haste!!

Doesn't sound right to me - so you did owe them £12? I don't think they work like that - my business cretit card is debited automatically each month - don't even have to think about it - i get a statement prior to the debit them telling me how much they will debit. If i didn't pay the full amount they'd simply charge me interest and add it onto the next months bill.

If i have taken a call from the bank before i have asked them to give me a number then i have phoned up my branch to check that the call is kosher then returned their call - i have even checked letters that my bank have sent with my local branch before phoning them up - on the basis that they have asked for my account number - my way of thinking is that if they are phoning me or sending me a letter they would know my account details anyway and not need to be asking me what they are.

Check with your branch.

babs

Doesn't sound right to me - so you did owe them £12? I don't think they work like that - my business cretit card is debited automatically each month - don't even have to think about it - i get a statement prior to the debit them telling me how much they will debit. If i didn't pay the full amount they'd simply charge me interest and add it onto the next months bill.

If i have taken a call from the bank before i have asked them to give me a number then i have phoned up my branch to check that the call is kosher then returned their call - i have even checked letters that my bank have sent with my local branch before phoning them up - on the basis that they have asked for my account number - my way of thinking is that if they are phoning me or sending me a letter they would know my account details anyway and not need to be asking me what they are.

Check with your branch.

babs


They knew my account details - knew how much I owed, there is no d debit minimum amount going out, I found it makes book keeping awkward. It was a genuine oversight

The point is (if it was them) they have made an enemy and I have closed the acccount - so as I said the cost of a customer is £12

The credit card company like a Polo ;) , did this to us for £14 last month, it was them they admitted it and it was a "computer error" as the payment wasn't even due.

I would be cautious of them phoning at 8:10 though.

The credit card company like a Polo ;) , did this to us for £14 last month, it was them they admitted it and it was a "computer error" as the payment wasn't even due.

I would be cautious of them phoning at 8:10 though.


No the one with the same name as a town about 35 miles away from here

That sounds well dodgy! I wouldnt tell anyone over the phone how much I owe on my credit card! Thats my business and no-one elses! :roll:

Another thing.... surely they wouldnt be hassling you over £12 debt? They make their money from you running up a debt, so they're hardly going to want you to pay it off and thus not charge you interest...

Sounds very fishy to me...

That sounds well dodgy! I wouldnt tell anyone over the phone how much I owe on my credit card! Thats my business and no-one elses! :roll:

Another thing.... surely they wouldnt be hassling you over £12 debt? They make their money from you running up a debt, so they're hardly going to want you to pay it off and thus not charge you interest...

Sounds very fishy to me...

Maybe you have hit the nail on the head Caprice - they aren't going to make much money from 12 quid in interest are they - maybe it is too much trouble for them to send out reminders and stuff

(But to repeat - They KNEW how much I owed - I DIDN'T tell them)

I don't get this. You owe the bank £12, and they've asked for it back?? Why are you annoyed?

If you haven't paid your credit card bill one of two things happen in my experience.

1 They either never tell you and the following month you receive a fine and a request for double payment
2 They call you and ask do you realise you have not paid this month and can you, so that you can pay without receiving a fine.

It seems to me they are trying number 2 so that you dont have to pay a fine?

Is that a good thing or bad thing? To me its a good thing......

Did you take the person's name, job title, location and direct phone number and then ask to speak with their line manager to find out what the heck they were playing at?

In your enviable position, I too would return the card, I trust by Recorded Delivery so that it cant be misappropriated en route.

I had about 3 grand on my visa at one point :(

But it was a right laugh getting to that much:)

Now i don't even have one:thumbsup:

I've had credit cards with Halifax and American Express and both would do this if I forgot a payment. As somebody mentioned it's a way of getting your payment. I'm sure you'd far rather they do this than charge you £20 late fee!! If you owe them the money I can't see why it's a complaint. I admit though you shouldn't give them your details, say can you phone the customer helpline official number later just in case.