On balance Dan has ended up happy

Jun 21 2009 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

BALANCE transfers are a minefield at the best times.

So I was pleased to be able to help Barclaycard customer Dan Nicholson.

He said he was charged £20 interest every month when he expected a rate of 0 per cent.

Dan told me how his interest-ing dilemma happened when Barclaycard claimed he had missed a payment.

He said: “I had a credit card I was paying interest on so I decided to get a new Barclaycard and transfer some of it onto that instead.

“It was supposed to be 0% interest for the first year so I signed up. But the next month’s statement claimed I had missed a payment, so they had charged me a late fee and started charging interest on the full amount.”

The late payment was refunded but Dan was still left with £20 per month interest charges.

He said: “Apparently their system will not allow them to re-set the rates.

“I would be very grateful if you could help me with this as it will now take me twice as long to pay back.”

I passed the complaint to Barclaycard who said the 0 per cent rate was withdrawn because the first payment had been missed.

But there was good news.

A troubleshooter got in touch with Dan, of Blyth, Northumberland, after I lodged the complaint.

A spokesman said: “I have arranged to reinstate the 0 per cent balance transfer offer with immediate effect and I have refunded interest charges amounting to £42.21.

“It is our aim to provide a full-class service at all times and I apologise Mr Nicholson found this not to be the case.”