Lloyds TSB Credit Card overlimit by 73p, £12 charge to go on next statement (1,643%)

[hacksaw]

Hi everyone,

 

Recently I went overlimit on my Lloyds TSB credit card by only 73p due to interest. They said I will be charged a £12 fee on my next statement. This represents a charge of 1,643%.

 

How did this happen? Well, I called them about two weeks ago asking about my balance transfer interest. I took advantage of a "0% for 6 months" offer. My balance transfer was made in mid-July and my first statement date is in early August 2010.

 

Two weeks ago I asked them when the balance transfer offer would end; they said on my next statement (not this one), giving two reasons: (1) My last statement stated estimated interest £3 and (2) That balance transfer interest would not be charged in partial months (only complete months). I had about £9 available credit so I thought I'll be fine. It turns out I was misadvised by the so-called customer service advisor I spoke to. Interest is about £10 so I went overlimit.

 

The worst thing about it is when I called them recently to tell them that I was misadvised, they said they couldn't find a record of the phone call. I can't remember exactly when I called them two weeks ago, and I didn't even take the name of the lady I spoke to. I called an 0800 number from a BT/TalkTalk line, so I don't even have a record of the phone call. I should have taken her name and noted the date and time of the call - my mistake.

 

In fact, they are in breach of the agreement. The last sentence in Condition 5.2 says "We will put a message in your statement to remind you when the introductory promotional period ends" Guess what? They didn't!

 

There are no other charges or PPI.

 

Should I do a subject access request? Would I be able to claim the £10 SAR cost from them? Any other advice to help solve this problem?

 

Thanks in advance.

[hacksaw]

Problem solved. They refunded the entire interest amount and they said they will not take the fee. When I complained over the phone at the time, I told them that I would complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service and that will cost them £400.

[hacksaw]

I feel that I've been tricked and cheated. I naively thought the problem was solved only to find the overlimit charge has been put on this statement taking me over my limit on this statement because of this charge. This cycle is going to continue and every month I will have to make a complaint to get this charge reversed. How annoying. To summarise:

 

8.2.11...........73p over limit, no overlimit charge

8.3.11 ..........Complaint made by phone; Interest refunded in full for previous month, not overlimit

8.4.11...........£2.23 below credit limit before charge + £12 overlimit charge = £9.77 overlimit

 

I've had enough of the incompetence of Lloyds TSB staff. I'm going to turn the tables so to speak and send them a notice of breach of agreement telling them that they are in breach of Condition 5.2.

[Kitten1]

I've complained to my credit card company about the charges levied on my account too. I missed a payment because I had just had a baby. Got charged. Then went over my limit by being charged, so got charged for being over my limit. I am now £120 over my limit, thanks to charges. I haven't used the card for months!! I have now requested my charges be refunded...... They owe me over £200 atm.....

 

Keep complaining and keep it in writing Hun. The only way we can do anything about this is by constant complaints xx

[The Mould]

Hi everyone,

 

Recently I went overlimit on my Lloyds TSB credit card by only 73p due to interest. They said I will be charged a £12 fee on my next statement. This represents a charge of 1,643%.

 

How did this happen? Well, I called them about two weeks ago asking about my balance transfer interest. I took advantage of a "0% for 6 months" offer. My balance transfer was made in mid-July and my first statement date is in early August 2010.

 

Two weeks ago I asked them when the balance transfer offer would end; they said on my next statement (not this one), giving two reasons: (1) My last statement stated estimated interest £3 and (2) That balance transfer interest would not be charged in partial months (only complete months). I had about £9 available credit so I thought I'll be fine. It turns out I was misadvised by the so-called customer service advisor I spoke to. Interest is about £10 so I went overlimit.

 

The worst thing about it is when I called them recently to tell them that I was misadvised, they said they couldn't find a record of the phone call. I can't remember exactly when I called them two weeks ago, and I didn't even take the name of the lady I spoke to. I called an 0800 number from a BT/TalkTalk line, so I don't even have a record of the phone call. I should have taken her name and noted the date and time of the call - my mistake.

 

In fact, they are in breach of the agreement. The last sentence in Condition 5.2 says "We will put a message in your statement to remind you when the introductory promotional period ends" Guess what? They didn't!

Said charge applied is excessive and disproportionate, in any event they are in breach, as you say, write a short letter to inform that you are not paying said charge and refer Lloyds to the above condition. Then, change your bank to another not related to the Lloyds Banking Group.

There are no other charges or PPI.

 

Should I do a subject access request? Would I be able to claim the £10 SAR cost from them? Any other advice to help solve this problem? You can SAR if you want to, the fee of £10 is not refundable, however, they have said that there is no record of said telephone conversation and, if it is on record, they will delete it when they collate they info for your SAR. Change banks, Lloyds are amongst the worst, you cannot trust them.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I hope that will help you somewhat.

 

Kind regards

 

The Mould

[hacksaw]

Thanks for replying everyone.

 

I haven't had problems with Lloyds TSB in the past. Natwest and Barclays are much worse and I would never bank with them again.

 

I sent the letter yesterday mentioning their breach of Condition 5.2 and saying the charge is unfair, extortionate, etc and asking them to refund it. But the annoying thing is that next month I'm going to be charged another £12 and I have to waste more time writing them a letter and asking for a refund.

[hacksaw]

Hi

 

Just to update everyone that Lloyds TSB have now refunded the overlimit charges and have also made an Ex-Gratia payment of £30 onto my card!

 

Although the amount I complained about is small, it just shows that you can obtain compensation and refund of charges if you persevere.

 

Thanks to CAG for the templates.

[rebel11]

Well Done Hacksaw,

If it's unfair, which it clearly is, it's worth doing regardless of the value, be it 1p or £100.