Late payment on the credit card but don't understand why

[Z064life]

My bank (hsbc) called me today telling me I had made a late payment on my credit card.

I am usually well within my credit limit and never have to take action to clear the balance. I don’t understand why it was late this time. The lady said I should setup a direct debit and did so, so I should never be late ever again. But it still doesn’t make sense? She did tell me what the outstanding balance was for (all the purchases I recognise).

I am quite paranoid so I am worried if this will effect my credit card rating. This is my first late payment in the 5 years I have had my account and I don't waste my money (e.g. smoke, drink, gamble, so no expenses). The lady on the phone said no but in the future if it happens again then possibly, but on the internet, the consensus is your first late payment will tarnish your record. Also, I once went into my overdraft (-negative £100), but came out of this within a few months (my overdraft was due to be reviewed in the middle of the next year).

I have a HSBC branch very close to my work, I guess I could ask them these questions (they might say go to my account holding branch)?

Thanks

[mas99]

are you sure you've made a late payment?

Did they say anything that proves that they were your bank and not just someone who now has all your bank details?

[mrsxllifts]

They may be trying the 'It takes five days to clear the account' trick?

[Z064life]

mrsxllifts said:

They may be trying the 'It takes five days to clear the account' trick?

What's that?

There is an awful amount of information/threads on this number. Some say it is genuine and from HSBC, some say it is fraud. As it is difficult to tell, I have gone with the safe option. I don't necessarily need to give out my details to be victim to fraud.

I became suspicious how they knew my name and number so even though I only gave my very basic information, I have told HSBC (the real HSBC!) to destroy both my cards. There was no real proof that the number/person is from HSBC, like if I call HSBC themselves.

If the number/person really is from HSBC, then I have lost a lot of confidence in my bank and don't trust them with my money.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Simple rule, never ever give out bank/CC details to anyone who calls you.
Get a number, check it out, then call it if it's legit.

[Z064life]

BigAlinEmbra said:

Simple rule, never ever give out bank/CC details to anyone who calls you.
Get a number, check it out, then call it if it's legit.

Exactly what I thought. That's what all the banks say.

[Piglet]

Z064life said:

mrsxllifts said:

They may be trying the 'It takes five days to clear the account' trick?

If the number/person really is from HSBC, then I have lost a lot of confidence in my bank and don't trust them with my money.

Why?

What information did you give the person who rang you? If you just gave your bank account details (account number, sort code, etc.) then there is little risk - this information doesn't allow any one to access your account and is the information shown on every cheque that you write. People seem to have got really caught up about bank details but in reality this isn't a huge risk as long as the rest of your security (pin etc.) hasn't been compromised.

IF it was fraudulent (and surely HSBC can tell you if one of their people rang you and IF you have a late payment?) they usually want a different credit card number to take a payment from rather than direct debit details they will then scam that credit card as well as the original one. It happened to a friend of mine years ago, his card was used fraudulently, he queried the payment and got a call to "make a payment from another card in good faith". He was bright enough to tell them to take a hike!

[GregE240]

Z064life said:

I am quite paranoid so I am worried if this will effect my credit card rating. This is my first late payment in the 5 years I have had my account and I don't waste my money (e.g. smoke, drink, gamble, so no expenses).

Well, just to let you know, my Experian report shows a yellow blob from a few months ago where I was 2 days late with a payment - I had applied for a new CC to transfer a balance on to and had got a knock back, so I wondered why. This blob could be the only reason.

Anyway, I paid off that particular balance off in full this month so I'm hoping the two actions will cancel each other out.

[Z064life]

GregE240 said:

Z064life said:

I am quite paranoid so I am worried if this will effect my credit card rating. This is my first late payment in the 5 years I have had my account and I don't waste my money (e.g. smoke, drink, gamble, so no expenses).

Well, just to let you know, my Experian report shows a yellow blob from a few months ago where I was 2 days late with a payment - I had applied for a new CC to transfer a balance on to and had got a knock back, so I wondered why. This blob could be the only reason.

Anyway, I paid off that particular balance off in full this month so I'm hoping the two actions will cancel each other out.

Is it possible to make one late payment and then fully make up the negative effect this would have on my credit rating? E.g. if there is one person with not one late payment or negative event in his or her credit rating, and another person with one late payment (ie me), could I get my credit rating to the level of person 1 (no tarnished record).

Also, the late payments go away after 2 years according to some sites. Is this true?

Thanks

Edited by Z064life on Thursday 12th March 09:41

[Dupont666]

Think my credit is fked then......

My CC repayments didnt exceed the minimum needed (by 50p-£1) and they sent no statements (apparently sent 3, I got first one yesterday demanding all money)and claimed to have rang me (which is the preferred method i have stated on my account) no less than 20 times.... They said they have rang me on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th...... 20th Feb.

I asked them the number they rang and was told my number, they tried to bk me for ignoring HSBC, etc.... the lass on the other end got a real mouth full off me about how they could get through when they wanted to sort out my shares account and sort out SD/DD into it and have done on the 5 occasions they needed too, yet the CC side of HSBC couldnt get through even once...

I suggested the call centers were not working as they should and they should stop doing multiple calls to many people and taking the first one to pick up and do a personal call.... I then got a little more abuse about how would i know things like that in HSBC and thats not how it happens, blah, blah, blah.... I stopped her in her tracks when i pointed out i had just left HSBC after 8 years of service there and helped design the fking system they use so bloody well do know how it works. (I may not have sweared at her)

In the end all charges on my CC have now been dropped and im looking for a new CC company.

Anyone know any good cheap APR ones at the moment?

[mcflurry]

A single marker on your credit record will have little impact.

It's when you start getting high numbers, and markers for repos and defaults that the problems start, and credit becomes available only from Kneecapping and the Heavies Ltd

[Z064life]

The latest in the saga is I went to my local hsbc branch and they said the call was genuine so cancelling my card was not required! :@

I tested my card on the atm to see if it has been cancelled and it was destroyed (didn't work). The ATM kept my card (which there is a warning it may do to active cards). Is it safe for the atm to keep my card?