Not really, Fester.

>>The agreement specified a card number and expiry date<<

The agreement may have included an expiry date (to help validate the card) but the expiry date has no force within the agreement itself. It merely indicated that the card was valid at that time.

Your card is still valid. So payments are still due, under the agreement that you made with the merchant.

Your agreement to pay was between you and the merchant. As such, the Bank has no authority to interpose itself into your contract.

The Bank, as a matter of courtesy to you, revalidated your card, which was part of the agreement between you and them. And part of that agreement too, would be words to the effect that "A cardholder may only cancel regular payments authorised to be made to your account by direction to the merchant"

That would seem to me to be the proper division of responsibility.

>>...payments continue for nearly three years past that date.<<

If you had wanted to cancel at the expiry date, you had every opportunity to do so. It's a little unrealistic to expect the Bank to read your mind.

Are you by chance a banker Pericles? You sound like on.

I was already somewhat unhappy with banks, or at least a couple of them.

Recently as I was getting some equipment on an ongoing basis, from the US & UK, I went to my bank & told them I wanted a totally separate account, with an eftpos card to be able to use safely on the net. With a relative recently caught by using a card for net purchases, I was not interested. I was assured they could do this.

I was horrified just a few weeks later on a phone inquiry on the new account to be given access to all my accounts. The complaints department then advised me it was impossible for them to give me a totally separate account.

They did not even offer an apology for giving me faulty information. As any reasonable person would expect, I no longer do business with that bank.

There was another that decided they did not want to supply the letters of credit for me for $1000 each in 6 different island nation capitals thousands of miles apart, but did not bother to tell me, leaving me to find out when I sailed into one. This despite me having 10 times that much on fixed deposit.

I have absolutely no reason to trust, or rely on any bank I have so far done business with. In my opinion, anyone who trusts a bank is a fool.

To all,
There have been a number of occasions when in business as a high end fashion and gift ware chain my staff have made simple but costly mistakes in their credit card billings.
On discovery I simply went back into the customers account and took the amount owing.
On other occasions I have actually returned overcharged amounts directly into the customers account.
It seemed to me at the time that I had more control over the customers account than they did.

I tried to cancel a Credit Card with the Commonwealth Bank some years ago. Now wasn't that an experience. I paid the full amount owing after they rang & found the total for me. Then I received a bill in the mail for 2 cents. I went to the Bank again & paid the 2 Cents & asked why the Card wasn't cancelled. I was told, "Credit Cards never expire, if someone used my Card in 10 years time the Account would automatically revive." I then got a 0ne Cent Bill I gave the Bank 2 Cents & then got a Bill to say I was in Credit for one Cent. I went to the Bank & cut the Card up in front of them. A few months latter I was sent a new Card. Sometimes you just can't win.

I am with a Credit Union. I've had too many problems with Banks & their Small Print.

I've never had a problem with the Credit Union. On two occasions I have had problems with on going payments. All I did was ask the Credit Union to stop any further payments & they did.

Just recently I had a problem with an expired Card. A Company sent me a letter of demand for the payment. I didn't know it was an ongoing account, there was nothing on the Website to indicate this. The Company said that it was normal practice for their type of Business. The Credit Union had not processed the payment as they had sent me a new Card with a different Number & expiry date. I contacted them & they said It was a safety system.

I tried to cancel the Account with the Company & they sent me a paper form to fill out. I did & sent it back. The letter came back "Unknown Address" I contacted them & they told me that the Bill would accumulate until I payed the full amount or cancelled the account. This is a respectable New Company in America not some shonky dealer.

Forget the Banks, join a Credit Union.

Nope, Hasbeen.

>>Are you by chance a banker Pericles? You sound like on.<<

Just a customer.

>>The complaints department then advised me it was impossible for them to give me a totally separate account.<<

Change your Bank. I have three completely separate accounts, with the same Bank, at the same branch.

>>There was another that decided they did not want to supply the letters of credit for me for $1000 each in 6 different island nation capitals thousands of miles apart, but did not bother to tell me<<

And you didn't check that they had been issued before you "sailed into one"? Careless.

I'm not sure of the significance of this, chrisgaff1000

>>On discovery I simply went back into the customers account and took the amount owing. On other occasions I have actually returned overcharged amounts directly into the customers account.<<

What exactly do you believe is strange about a) taking money that is legitimately owed and b) repaying money you have overcharged?

>>It seemed to me at the time that I had more control over the customers account than they did.<<

You had precisely no "control" over customer's accounts. From your description, you were simply rectifying mistakes made by your staff.

If you tried to exercise "control" by taking money that wasn't yours to take, you would find yourself in trouble.

What puzzles me is how people feel so free to blame others for problems entirely of their own making. If you can't get the service you need, go elsewhere. If ever my Bank started to play tricks on me, I'd be out of there like a shot. With the amount of interest I pay them each year, I am considered quite important.

There's no need to go through all that, JayB.

>>I tried to cancel a Credit Card with the Commonwealth Bank some years ago. Now wasn't that an experience. I paid the full amount owing after they rang & found the total for me. Then I received a bill in the mail for 2 cents. I went to the Bank again & paid the 2 Cents & asked why the Card wasn't cancelled. I was told, "Credit Cards never expire, if someone used my Card in 10 years time the Account would automatically revive." I then got a 0ne Cent Bill I gave the Bank 2 Cents & then got a Bill to say I was in Credit for one Cent. I went to the Bank & cut the Card up in front of them. A few months latter I was sent a new Card. Sometimes you just can't win.<<

Simply report the card as lost or stolen.

The Ts and Cs of most cards have you indemnified against fraudulent use, once you have reported it missing. Here's the clause in my agreement with my Bank.

"The Accountholder is not liable for:
(a) losses that are caused by the fraudulent
or negligent conduct of NAB’s employees or
agents or companies involved in networking
arrangements or of Merchants or of their agents
or employees;
(b)losses arising because the PIN, Card Account
Details or Card is forged, faulty, expired, or
cancelled;"

That would seem to cover it.

And the idea of actually going to the Bank and handing over two cents simply blows me away. Does anybody actually do that? Telstra have been sending me an "account" for six years, in which they declare that they owe me five cents. The thought of actually spending any time on chasing them up for it is laughable - especially as it costs them far more than five cents to send out a paper bill, through the post, regular as clockwork every month. Their problem.

Strewth. Why do some folk spend so much energy sweating the small stuff?