Making a payment to a credit card/store card before the bill comes in, how would this work?

[MrsSpoon]

I am off on holiday tomorrow and my Monsoon bill must still be in the post. I want to make a payment but it will not be enough to clear the bill. If I pay (as I usually through my on-line banking, which takes 5 days to clear) will this be taken as my payment towards this bill or will they know that I do not yet have the bill, take the payment as an extra and still expect a payment after this month's bill comes in?

I don't know if I am making much sense but does anyone know and can anyone help me?

Should add the bill is due to drop through the letter box any day now.

will be fine, as long as your account has already billed

Er...they should just knock your payment off next bill

eg - this bill = £50
payment recieved = £40 (thank you)

Next bill = balance from bill A =£10
total on this bill = £50
Total to pay = £60

IYSWIM

I'm still a bit confused. So will they take a payment I make today (which will take 5 days before it reaches them anyway) as the payment for the bill that is due to come in any day now?

They should do - or at least part payment - and add any balance outstanding to the next bill

OR you could bung them a post-dated cheque for the difference

Do you not have enough for the minimum payment, or for the total payment?

check with them that their system has produced this month's bill

if it hasn't, it won't count towards the impending statement - unless it leaves your account in credit of course

(i worked for a credit card company many moons ago)

it will count to this bill only if this bill has already been created. so call and ask them what date this bill will be created.

in future i would set up a dd for the minumum payment then you can add extra payments as and when you like.

I am paying them a lot more that the minimum but I know it's not enough to clear it (I know slap my writs that's a whole other thread ). I don't think I am explaining myself very well at all, basically I want to pay a significant part of the bill which hasn't come in yet, although is due any day, today so it will be paid and not incur any charges when I am on holiday. I think the answer I am getting is it will be fine.

Sorry to appear really thick, very stressed today and the hamster in my brain has almost slowed to a halt.

Thank you Tutter and Bizzydint, that makes sense, next problem is I don't keep my old bills (I know I should), off to look for their number.

I think that will be fine (although agree that setting up a DD would be a good idea).

Bizzydint, that's also the first time it has ever made sense to me to set up a DD for the minimum payment, I've always felt before that I pay more than the minimum every month anyway (ideally clearing the lot) but that is a good argument for setting up a DD, I'll look into that.

If you're paying them more than the minimum they'll probably be happy as pigs in poo

btw. unless you pay the lot off, there's little point in paying more than the min payment, from a maths point of view

interest is calculated on the whole shebang (more or less) if you're a part payer

pay it off, however you can, would be my advice

sorry to be a nag

Can't you check your balance on line? they list all transactions there.

at least my tesco one does.

Tutter, it's only got a tiny credit limit on it (thank goodness), so I tend to justifiy running it up a bit and paying it in two chunks, the only problem with this is that it never quite gets to zero as when I am paying the second chunk I am usually spending on it again. However yes I totally agree, it would be better not to have it at all, need to work on that one.

Lucycat, don't think it has any on-line checking facility.

Off to phone them now.