MBNA - Another one bites the dust (MBNA)

Member Name: Furbymyalgia

Product:	MBNA
Date:	17/08/00 (294 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Too easy to get the money

Disadvantages: Could end up in very serious debt

I was about to get married, the bills were mounting up, I desperately needed a credit card! I thought an angel had answered my prayers when I was sent a leaflet of MBNA through the mail - trouble was I am disabled, unable to work, and my husband is too unable to work because he is my carer..... I rang them eagerly to explain my situation that I didn't work etc...the nice lady on the other end of the phone said that it didn't matter, MBNA was different than other companies, they do not judge you on personal circumstances at all, providing that I have have a decent credit rating, I would be allowed a card.

Sure enough, a few days later after sending in my application (funny what you will do when you are depserate - lol) I received a note saying that I was entitled to a credit card, and had a credit limit of £500.00 to start off with. I soon used that up on the wedding.....
One of my payments went through a day late (although I had paid it before the due date, but they recieved it late) and I was charged then another £15.00 on my balance, which meant that I went above the credit too by about £5.00 and was charged a further £15.00 for going over the limit!

I rang MBNA, and basically was told that it doesn't matter when I payed for the bill, if they recieved it late at their end, then it is classed as a late payment. I asked what would happen say if the payment had been misplaced by the bank etc, and a customer paid them seven days in advanced like it suggests, and it still came through late because the bank misplaced it. She replied that the customer would still be charged until they looked into it!

However, after conversing with the lady for a while, she kindly took off the £15.00 charge, as it was a new account and my first months payment in 'goodwill.' She also warned me if it ever happened again for whatever reason they would not delay in charging me. I have never been late with a payment since, and have fo
und that they constantly increase the limit each three or four months. I will say they do notify you by letter, and they give you the option of phoning them if you no longer require the upgraded limit, but it is still very tempting.

I also found that more upgrades appear mainly just before the christmas period....a very big temptation for me as I have four children. I have taken the larger limit, but now I have decided to pay the amount outstanding off...although this will take quite some time. I will also be having no more to do with them, as they seem to use tactics to encourage users to upgrade their limit.

I wouldn't recommend anyone entering into a contract with this company, it is too easy. I know at the end of the day it is the users choice whether or not to take up their offers of upping the limit, - but it can be very tempting , especially for those on low income like myslef.

I also notice too that I get several letters regarding their 'preferred cutomer loan', making out that you have been specifically chosen as one of their existing preferred customers and they offer you a loan. I have not bothered with any of the loans offered, thankfully.

Please think twice before using this company for credit....you may find that you owe a huge amount of money in the space of twelve months.

Just a footnote: If you pay your bill through the Bank of Scotland it does go through more quickly than any other bank you may chose to pay at, because they are connected with the bank of Scotland.

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