to point out the valiue of credit cards in a Monarch type situation?

[PoppyPopcorn]

I have read time and time again sbout people who take pride in not having credit, paying for everything with their debit cards or cash.

But when something happens like the Monarch situation, your credit card company will refund you. Quickly. No questions asked. Travel insurance probably won't, and although you can claim on your debit card, it's a lengthy process. Same thing applies for any other large purchase (sofa, computer equipment etc) which you make and the company goes bust before you receive your goods.

From January there should be no charges for using debit or credit cards: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/cards/2017/07/credit-debit-card-fees-to-be-banned/amp

The admin fees for credit cards were banned in UK over the summer.

Just as an FYI.

don't forget that it's more expensive to pay by credit card than by debit. It adds up, and not everybody can afford the extra amounts

Er, it's not. It's now illegal to charge extra and most companies never have anyway. It's actually cheaper to use a credit card as long as you pay it off in full every month.

You can get cashback, or you pay less overdraft interest or earn money by having your money in you account, not a credit cards. It also makes it simpler to budget. If you are using your debit card, how do you know you can spend the money in your current account or are you having to constantly think about what direct debits are about to come out?

Pay for everything with a credit card, and then just treat it as a bill and pay it off each month like all other bills and don't touch the current account very much at all. Much simpler.

Also good for when your supplier fails to deliver, like the OP says. We were due to go with Monarch later this week, paid with a credit card and will be getting a refund from either our travel insurer or credit card issuer. Having a credit card also means I could book new flights this morning, while some of those who using debit cards only may be stuck because they haven't got the money back for the old flights so don't have any money to buy new ones.

topicOfTheDay

First airline I have googled is British Airways and they charge 1% (up to £20) for customers paying by credit card. Not much, admittedly, but it is standard with airlines.

It's now illegal to charge extra and most companies never have anyway.

That's interesting because I have never booked a flight, even this year, without being charged extra when I used my credit card. I booked one this weekend, and there was definitively an extra charge. I will be delighted the day that's over!

I agree. I put most things on my credit card and pay back in full every month. I also cycle between interest free deals when considering big purchases. Cashback is great especially when you can convert it into vouchers for things you actually want. When we bought our house the cash back points translated into enough currys vouchers to pay for our fridge freezer, tumble dryer and microwave. We hadn't changed our spending over the preceding 3 years, just chose to save up the points. We were very thankful for it when the mortgage company had all our money!

The not charging extra thing - yes it would be illegal to say that a dress will cost £50 if you're paying cash or £60 if you use a credit card. And until january next year it will be legal to charge surcharges for credit card bookings.

It has been a while, but airline failure cover used to be a cheap extra. Anyone who is covered and has an insurer trying to wriggle has to raise a complaint. Takes a while.

Anyone who buys a holiday and doesn't buy the travel insurance immediately - this one of many reasons why you must.

Credit cards are amazing in the right hands as they allow you to build a very good credit score and give you benefits for spending that you'd do anyway. Not to mention the insurance that you get on purchases with them as others have mentioned.

I have two American Express cards which give me cash back and air miles, and a third credit card with another provider which gives me air miles as well where Amex is not accepted. You just have to spend within your means and set up a direct debit to clear the full balance each month.

From January companies won't be allowed to charge additional fees if paying by CC

We pay absolutely everything on credit cards as we're collecting Avios, however the balance is paid in full every month

Several years ago an Airline we were booked with went out of business, we called Amex when the news broke and the full amount was credited back to us within days. Obviously great if you want to rebook something as ATOL is a long slow process

I used to work for a major Credit Card company in the disputes team. It used to wind me up so bad when people would state this as fact. Yes, credit cards will cover certain things but it is not as easy as phoning up and them handing you back the money.

If you want to raise a dispute - say for not receiving the service you will still have to go to ABTA or ATOL and get an official response from them that they can not help. As fundamentally, that is what they are there for. Also, you may need proof in writing that you won't be receiving the flight or wait until the flight date to pass. It you do a charge back without proof the company can reject it on those grounds. IT IS NOT A SIMPLE REFUND ON THE CUSTOMER'S SAY SO.

If you mean Section 75 then that is entirely different. That is saying that the credit card company is jointly liable with whichever company you have the problem with. This then would go to our legal team and would take a fairly long amount of time. With documents etc.

Thank fuck I don't work there anymore. A Monday after a flight company going busy were the WORST.

I booked monarch flights direct by debit card. £360 in total. Santander have said they won't refund as it's debit not credit card.

Rebooted with easyjet 1st thing this morning, not the time we wanted but they were cheap. They have gone up £16 each already on what was a £37 flight. It's awful as some flights have gone up £100s.

They definitely have a credit card fee with easyjet still. Totally pissed off I didn't just pay the fee for the card but we've used monarch loads of times so it didn't cross our minds.

Get Santander to do raise a "Visa dispute". They will say they can't then they will find the form.

If I heard and understood correctly on the radio earlier there are reports that Santander are refusing to action payouts on holidays booked after December with Monarch. Certainly they are quibbling something that they should be paying out because the presenter suggested taking them to the ombudsman if the reports turn out to be correct.

I thought it was the scheme that protects consumer eg Visa... Regardless of debit or credit. Just open a Visa retail dispute / chargeback with your card provider.

Credit cards are different because they are classed as a type of loan and so have protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Debit cards are not considered a loan (because you have to have the money available in your account) and so they do not have the same protection.

However VISA, which provides the cards has a facility to dispute transactions.

So it look like Santander may be trying to wriggle out of their obligations by saying it was a known risk? I was expecting something from my insurance co along similar lines but they opted for something even more fucking unreasonable so I was prepared to argue that one on the basis the CAA gave them a licence to operate and they should know more than me as a consumer. I don't think that should stop Santander raising a dispute on your behalf with VISA for a service that has not been provided. They just do the admin on it, not the decision.

My credit card is with Santander. That would be the cherry on top of the shitty cake if they quibble too.

Thanks all, that's really helpful. I will call them again tomorrow.