Currys Finance and HFC

***Mr D*** · 14-01-2008, 17:57

Just a heads up warning.

I purchased some goods from curries at blackburn and took advantage of there 6 months interst free option.

Now the bill to clear came today, So I rang them, earlier than the deadline to make payment.

Now I wanted to pay using my credit card as with christmas and all that funds arnt great, so what do HFC say.

NO we do not accept payment by credit card?????????

What/Why was my responce and after 5 phone calls to both currys (as they didnt advise me at point of sale) and HFC I am none no wiser so I begin my campain.

My opinion is they want me to be late and incure credit charges which for a £260 debt would increase to £521.

Any of you bankers on here have a explanation as to why there wouldnt accept a credit card?

hedman2003 · 14-01-2008, 18:21

Presume it's because they would have to pay some comission to the credit card company.

Surely it should form part of the original agreement or it should indicate that there is say a 3% charge if paying by credit card

What ripoff percentage would they charge if you didn't pay by the specified date!!!!!!!!!!!!

cmonstanley · 14-01-2008, 18:23

yes hfc stands for hard for customers..

katex · 14-01-2008, 18:56

Thought you could now draw cash from most credit cards ?

And don't mean debit cards.

derekgas · 14-01-2008, 19:00

They want you to default, that way they make more money, and this, hey are good at, I would have issues with them not telling you about card payments when you applied.

***Mr D*** · 14-01-2008, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Thought you could now draw cash from most credit cards ?

And don't mean debit cards.

Yes I could, but then I would have cash withdraw fees applied.

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

They want you to default, that way they make more money, and this, hey are good at, I would have issues with them not telling you about card payments when you applied.

About £521 total APR 29.9% orginal debt £260.

I can sort this no problem, but there will be some people who couldnt.

But its more a principal matter for me, I dont see how/why they should get away with this, without advising the customer prior and at point of sale.

I have emailed both curries and HFC, I have also spoken to a solicitor, I awaite notification as to when it was advised to me or where on the agreement supplied at the point of sale it states this information.

entwisi · 14-01-2008, 20:47

If they did not make clear that credit cards are not accepted then they have to take it. You are making a legal offer of payment in a format that they accept(you might need to double check their T&Cs in detail to ensure tha it doesn't explicitly state not). Write to them registered saying that you have made an offer to make full reparations for the outsanding amount and if they don't accept you will deem the agreement paid in full.

lancsdave · 14-01-2008, 20:54

From what I have read on other forums they also charge you £25 if you pay too early

derekgas · 14-01-2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***Mr D***

Yes I could, but then I would have cash withdraw fees applied.

About £521 total APR 29.9% orginal debt £260.

I can sort this no problem, but there will be some people who couldnt.

But its more a principal matter for me, I dont see how/why they should get away with this, without advising the customer prior and at point of sale.

I have emailed both curries and HFC, I have also spoken to a solicitor, I awaite notification as to when it was advised to me or where on the agreement supplied at the point of sale it states this information.

I think the law is on your side here, as entwisi says, because they are not allowed to mis-sell you finance or insurance deals without the full t's and c's, some of the car credit people did it with payment protection insurances and got severely rattled off the trading standards.

***Mr D*** · 14-01-2008, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

If they did not make clear that credit cards are not accepted then they have to take it. You are making a legal offer of payment in a format that they accept(you might need to double check their T&Cs in detail to ensure tha it doesn't explicitly state not). Write to them registered saying that you have made an offer to make full reparations for the outsanding amount and if they don't accept you will deem the agreement paid in full.

Thats my point, now Im saying it should of been advise at point of sale.

In there time to pay letter it says no credit or debit card accepted, only cheque, Bacs or some other awkward way. I have asked them to provide proof of where it states it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

From what I have read on other forums they also charge you £25 if you pay too early

Thats the one even when its payed on time the charge applies, must check if they advised me of that to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

I think the law is on your side here, as entwisi says, because they are not allowed to mis-sell you finance or insurance deals without the full t's and c's, some of the car credit people did it with payment protection insurances and got severely rattled off the trading standards.

So do I and Im one to stick it out even though I will pay on time and do it the way they want (Probably) I will question there selling practaces.

If they show me im wrong and it was put in writting I will hold my hand up, but it will make me think twice about purchasing anything for a retailer that uses HFC.

nikkival · 14-01-2008, 22:34

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I don't think you can use a credit card to pay off other credit, for example I can't use my Mastercard to pay my Visa bill & vice versa, it has to be a debit card. The easy way round it is to draw the cash off your credit card and pay them off with that.

claytonender · 14-01-2008, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkival

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I don't think you can use a credit card to pay off other credit, for example I can't use my Mastercard to pay my Visa bill & vice versa, it has to be a debit card. The easy way round it is to draw the cash off your credit card and pay them off with that.

Some Credit Card will allow you to transfer a balance from another card (or even pay money into your bank account) at a special cheap rate of interest for a set length of time. Most however charge a balance transfer fee of about 3%. Also some credit cards supply you with cheques so yoy can pay off other debts etc by cheque.

nikkival · 14-01-2008, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by claytonender

Some Credit Card will allow you to transfer a balance from another card (or even pay money into your bank account) at a special cheap rate of interest for a set length of time. Most however charge a balance transfer fee of about 3%. Also some credit cards supply you with cheques so yoy can pay off other debts etc by cheque.

Yes, I know you can arrange to do that - I used to balance transfer every time the offer ran out, but this is a special arrangement & offer by the credit card company who wants your balance & potential interest payments. The cheques are just another form of drawing cash from your credit card to either pay yourself or others with.

What I've not said very well is that if you ring up to pay either your monthly payment or more with another credit card, they will not take it, it's debit cards only. It may well be that this is why HFC will not accept the payment, plus as someone has already mentioned they would have to stand the retailers commission charge.

My aunt used to be a bank manager so I'll ask her if she can shed more light on this HFC issue when I see her tomorrow.

MikeSz · 15-01-2008, 09:04

Interesting one - as far as I am aware (and having some experience with the Consumer Credit Act) there is nothing to stop you paying by credit card, although I seem to remember that there is an issue with using credit to pay for credit in some circumstances. That said however, there would be nothing to stop you say using a mastercard to pay of an Argos store card for example.

Contract law can be extremely complex and is often decided on the terms agreed between the parties. Try not to think of this as offer/acceptance, rather think of it as you making an effort to satisfy your part of an executed agreement (by making payment). I will double check if there is anything in the Act that may have a bearing on using a credit facility to pay for a credit facility but in the meantime, check your terms and conditions. Even in the worst case scenario, all is not lost, terms and conditions can be struck out by a court if you can argue that they are unfair.

MUMMIBOO · 15-01-2008, 11:16

I always thought you couldnt pay credit with credit, humm but then whos to say you dont have paid up credit on the card then you wouldnt be paying with credit it would be your own cash! eee i dont know.