How to get a refund on store and credit cards
⚠️ CREDIT LIMIT CLAIMS — WAKE UP, WARRIOR!
🧠 INTRO: WHEN CREDIT BECOMES A TRAP
You got a store card, a catalogue account, maybe a shiny credit card. Cool, right? But then they kept pumping your limit. Higher. And higher. Until BOOM — you’re stuck paying off nonsense you couldn’t even afford in the first place.
This wasn’t random. Lenders *knew* what they were doing. And if it jacked up your debt and buried your finances — guess what? You’ve got a legit complaint. And we’re about to go full BEAST MODE on it.
📣 STEP INTO THE RING: MAKE THAT COMPLAINT
This ain’t a polite little moan. This is YOU calling them out. You want a refund on the interest for that unaffordable chunk of debt. Let’s go:
- 📁 Get Your Ammo:
Grab the proof:
- Old statements showing they kept boosting your limit.
- Credit reports where the debt keeps climbing.
- Emails or letters from the lender. The paper trail matters.
- 📬 Hit the Lender:
Email or write to customer service — don’t call. Keep it official. Tell them you’re making a formal complaint about irresponsible lending due to limit increases that tanked your finances.
- 🧾 Drop the Truth:
Lay it out crystal clear:
- When you opened the account.
- What your starting limit was.
- Every time they increased it — dates + amounts.
- How those increases pushed you into a black hole of debt.
- Why it was reckless: No checks? Ignored warning signs? Let you spiral?
- 💸 Demand That Refund:
Say it loud: “I want the interest back on debt that became unaffordable because YOU kept raising my limit.”
- 📂 Back Up EVERYTHING:
Screenshots. Emails. Statements. Save it all. You’re building a case here — not just throwing punches in the dark.
- 🚀 Got Rejected? Go Nuclear:
If they brush you off, don’t cry — escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. They deal with this DAILY.
💡 AFFORDABILITY: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, BRO
Lenders were supposed to check if you could actually afford the credit. If they didn’t? That’s on them. Not you.
Signs they dropped the ball:
- Your income was low or unstable.
- You were juggling other debts already.
- They saw you were struggling — and still upped your limit.
- You started missing payments, and they didn’t step in.
🎯 POWER MOVES: MAKE YOUR CASE STRONG
Make it tight. Make it savage:
- Keep your complaint factual — no drama, just truth bombs.
- List every date and credit limit jump.
- Explain how those jumps wrecked your finances.
- Stick to one message: THEY were irresponsible, not you.
❌ THEY SAID “NO”? HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT
If they reject you, that’s not the end — that’s ROUND TWO. Send your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman. They’ll review it like a judge in a title fight.
You’ve got 6 months after the lender’s final response to escalate. So don’t sit around — TAKE ACTION.
Affordability Complaints
What is “Affordability”?
Here’s a summary of the regulator’s rules:
- Checking Affordability at Application:
- Lenders must assess whether credit is affordable before approving it.
- The level of scrutiny depends on the type of credit. For instance, a mortgage application might require bank statements, whereas a £200 catalogue credit may need less detailed checks.
- Reassessing Affordability for Credit Limit Increases:
- Lenders should carry out new checks before increasing a credit limit to ensure it remains affordable.
- Defining Affordability:
- Credit isn’t affordable if repaying it leaves you without enough money for essential expenses, bills, or other debts.
- Signs of Unaffordable Borrowing:
- Relying on further borrowing to make ends meet—such as using a credit card to pay for necessities after making the minimum repayment—indicates the credit is unaffordable.
- Repayment Within a Reasonable Timeframe:
- Repaying only the minimum amount is acceptable for a short time but not over an extended period.
How to Complain
Reasons to Complain
You may have a valid complaint if the lender failed to recognize affordability issues. Consider these situations:
- At the Time of Application:
- Your credit record showed recent problems (e.g., missed payments, defaults, payday loans, mortgage arrears).
- You already had an account with the same lender, where you were only making minimum payments or using it for essential expenses like food or fuel.
- You were close to the limit on other credit cards or had persistent overdraft use.
- Your total borrowing was disproportionately high compared to your income.
- When Your Credit Limit Was Increased:
- Lenders should not increase limits if:
- You’ve only been making minimum payments for a prolonged period.
- You’ve used most of your credit limit for an extended time.
- Gambling transactions appear on your account.
- You’ve missed payments or entered into payment arrangements.
- Your overall debt has significantly increased on your credit report.
- Lenders should not increase limits if:
What You Need to Start Your Complaint
- Details of Credit Limit Increases:
You don’t need specific dates; stating “my limit was increased several times” is sufficient. - Credit Records:
Your current credit report (e.g., a free TransUnion statutory report) can help demonstrate pre-existing issues, even if you can’t access historical scores. - Complaints Process:
- Best Method: Submit your complaint via email for a clear record.
- Include your account details, date of birth, and the email address linked to the account.
Template for Complaints
- Start with Account Details:
I want to complain about irresponsible lending by you for my [credit card/catalogue] account [account number]. My date of birth is [dd/mm/yyyy], and the email address I used for this account was [your email].
- Explain Why the Account Was Unaffordable:
You should never have allowed me to open an account with such a large credit limit. When I applied in [year], my credit record would have shown [examples of financial difficulties, e.g., recent defaults, missed payments].
- Highlight Issues with Credit Limit Increases (if applicable):
You should not have increased my credit limit in [year]. At that time, I was [examples: making only minimum payments, using a high percentage of my limit, showing financial problems on my credit record].
By increasing my credit limit, you worsened my financial situation instead of offering help. For example, you could have frozen interest charges.
- Request a Refund:
I would like you to refund all the interest and charges from [specific date or the account opening], and I request that any late payment or default markers be removed from my credit records.
- Request Specific Details:
Please provide the dates and amounts of any credit limit increases in your response.
Points to Consider
- Timing:
Complaints can be made for open, closed, or sold accounts, including those with CCJs. If the account is older than six years, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) may still consider your complaint if you’ve only recently learned about this process. - Evidence for Old Accounts:
Complaints for issues over six years old may be harder to support, but the FOS can decide whether to investigate. - Debt Alternatives:
If your financial problems are significant, consider debt solutions like a debt management plan (DMP). Contact National Debtline for advice. - Refund Expectations:
A refund typically covers interest and fees. If the balance owed is greater than the refund, consider asking if the debt collector can produce a valid Consumer Credit Act agreement for the account, as unenforceable debt cannot be pursued in court.
Responding to Rejections
- Rejections:
Lenders often reject complaints or offer low refunds. If you believe your
