CreditCards Blog

Back in the summer MBNA sent us a letter to say they were moving the payment date of our account (I think it was a general letter, so it was the same for most people).

However, over the last few months this has become a joke. In September it was 7th of the next month (Oct 7th), which was fine as I always pay on payday - the last working day of the previous month.

Octobers was the 4th (Nov 4th). Now, that was a problem, as I do all my payments online. I paid on the last day of the month, but it takes 2 working days to get to them (not sure why if it's all online), which means it took 4 days as there was a weekend in between, so it didn't get to them until the 5th November - so we got a late payment charge.

Now for November, I'm absoultly fuming!!! They wanted the payment by 30th November. So technically thats two payments in the same month! It wouldn't be so bad but that's 120 in one month!!!!! Plus I've paid today (payday), and the 30th is Sunday, so it won't get there until Tuesday, so another late payment charge! (Why they want the payment by a weekend I don't know).

So basically they're probably going to ask for the next one about 21st Dec, or something stupid like that so I'll have to find some more money, as obviously we don't get paid again until end of Dec.

Has anyone else had this with MBNA, can I get them to set a date rather than monkeying us around like this, as we keep getting hit with charges because they keep moving the date?

Thanks Laura

MBNA have reduced the interest-free period from 56 to 50 days, but the statement date should be the same...is it?

Purplepixi,

I had exactly the same complaint that I posted earlier in November, over the last 6 months my statement due dates have changed by about a week. AS I was on a 0% BT promotion I copped a late payment charge, interest charge and they stopped the 0%, I manged to get them to rescind the late payment fee and re-instate the 0% which ends in Feb 2009 but no luck on the interest yet. This all smacks of the CC Companies taking advantage of people like you and me who always pay around pay day but by bringing forward the statemenet due dates they can screw more money out of us. I know you should set up a DD but I always pay over the top so don't like DD's unless I really have and then you have the hassle of remembering to cancel the DD.

I have written to MBNA but no response so far although their website says I should get a response within a certain time frame.

MBNA have reduced the interest-free period from 56 to 50 days, but the statement date should be the same...is it?

Yes, it is true, MBNA has progressively reduced the interest-free period over the last few years:

My statements:

2005 - November 17th - due December 15th,
2006 - November 17th - due December 6th,
2007 - November 17th - due December 6th,
2008 - November 17th - due December 3rd.

But I doubt that it has to do with ‘catching people out’ (the ’due-dates’ are clearly listed in the statement),
but with the need to earn more money by shortening the interest-free period.

(Simply, the revenue has fallen by all those people claiming their charges back.)

Same here.

I got a late payment a couple of months ago, my fault, I forgot. However I knew that the payment was usually due around the 16th, so I've set up a reminder to pay on the 11th.
Having gone online to pay today (11th) I see I have a late payment taken yesterday as payment due was the 10th - wtf!
Going back over statements this year the earliest was the 14th of month and the latest 18th of month. So the max variation was 4 days, 2 days either side of the 16th. The only exception was last month when it went to 13th - a gradual downward trend showing. I never noticed that because I'd already paid "early" because the previous month was the late payment mentioned above.
I've had no 'Important' letter saying that there is a change in payment dates and tbh I never even realised that it was not a static date. Why should it drift? I have another card and that is always due a week after month end.

I manage the card online because I am away from home most of the time. On the subject of online transactions a) MBNA could easily email to say I have not paid yet and time is running out & b) I have noticed that on recent occassions when I log in, there was no 'Payment due by' information on the account overview.

I think MBNA deliberately holds back from highlighting the risk of a penalty simply because they are going to benefit from it. Maybe that's cynical but to believe the opposite is naive.

I suppose the only way to protect myself from these sharks is to cancel the account or set up a minimum payment DD (yet another one) .

I will be asking for my money back, just on principle. :mad: