Variable strategy
Sir,
My current two-year fixed-rate mortgage deal with Halifax came to an end in January. In previous years Halifax has written two months in advance to notify me that the arrangement is about to end.
When I enquired before Christmas why I had not received such a reminder this time, I was politely told that it is “not legally obliged to inform customers and it no longer sends this notification”. I was told that I should receive a letter up to a week before the arrangement comes to an end.
An excellent strategy by Halifax to capture additional revenues. I wonder how many people who were accustomed to receiving a reminder before the end of their fix – thus giving them adequate time to act – are caught out by this short notice and have to pay a month’s mortgage at the standard variable rate.
Advertisement
Yours faithfully, ANGELA HODGSON, West Yorkshire
Noxious gas
Sir,
British Gas contacted me recently to say that I had not paid my gas bill and would be disconnected. I told it that I had paid and had my bill stamped as such by the bank. I contacted the bank, which found that, owing to an error, the payment had not gone through. It apologised and said that it would complete the payment and inform British Gas.
Two hours later an aggressive British Gas agent rang to say that, as I had not paid, I would be charged £15 for disconnection and £15 for reconnection. She then said: “Oh, I can see it has been paid.” She did not apologise but merely asked: “Do you want to pay by direct debt?” I put the phone down.
Advertisement
Having been in business, I’m aware of the necessity of chasing unpaid bills, but I was always polite. Perhaps British Gas should retrain its staff.
Yours faithfully, MARGARET MCKENZIE, Rickerscote, Stafford