Credit card: banks change invoice date; understand – 06/07/2023 – Market

Some banks in the country are changing the closing date of the credit card bill. The practice, identified by customers and by Idec (Institute for Consumer Protection), can lead consumers to indebtedness.

The measure is not illegal, since there is no rule about the exact day for closing the card invoice, however, making the change without notifying the customer would violate what determines the Consumer Defense Code, says Ione Amorim, coordinator of the Idec (Brazilian Institute of Consumer Defense) financial services program.

In practice, the change decreases the number of days between closing and invoice payment. With this, there is a change in the so-called “best purchase day”, which is when the consumer can buy a product and, instead of paying on that invoice, pays on the next, gaining a period of up to 40 days to settle the debt.

“There is no law, but there is the Consumer Defense Code, which deals with any change in the contract. It cannot be done arbitrarily, unilaterally and without communication. It is abusive”, says Ione.

According to the specialist, Idec had identified specific cases, but that, after a deeper investigation, found information that indicates a “silent practice” on the part of the banks. With this, the body intends to gather the cases to discuss the situation with the Central Bank and other competent bodies.

Sought, the Central Bank informed that there are no rules determined by the monetary authority or by the National Monetary Council with regard to the minimum terms between the due date of the credit card bill and the effective charge. “

The contracting of financial services is a freely signed business act between the financial institution and the customer, respecting the legal and regulatory provisions in force”, says the BC.

Although there is no rule, the practice of the banking market until then was to close the invoice ten days before the due date. Sources in the financial sector claim that this deadline was usually used when the invoice was sent by the Post Office and it took a few days to reach the consumer. This period of time was necessary so that the due date was not close to the delivery date of the document.

However, with technology and the emergence of digital invoices, banks have shortened the deadline, which has varied between three and seven days, according to customers interviewed by the report and industry sources.

What the banks say

A Sheet sought the largest banks in the country. Only two of them responded. Bradesco stated that “it did not change the closing dates of credit card invoices”.

Banco do Brasil said that, at the institution, the closing of the credit card invoice occurs ten days before the due date, without modifications. The institution also says that, for those who are indebted on the credit card, there is the “offer of a credit line with a more attractive rate than the revolving card, automatically”.

What to do if the bank changes the credit card date?

According to Ione, consumers should be aware of this practice, make complaints to the SAC (Consumer Service) of banks and the Central Bank, indicating that there was no information about changes in credit card billing dates.

“It is necessary to pay attention to the change. If there is, the consumer must make the contestation. Several ‘actors’ entered the market, and each one does what he wants and what he thinks is right; this environment is quite precarious”, he says she.

Check the SAC number of some banks:

• Bank of Brazil: 0800-7290722
• Santander: 0800-7627777
• Caixa Econômica Federal: 0800-7260101
• Bradesco: 0800-7048383
• Itaú Unibanco: 0800-7280728
• Crop Bank: 0800-7725755

How to know the best credit card purchase date?

The best credit card purchase date is the day after the closing of the card statement. If the invoice closes on the 20th, for example, the best date is the 21st. This means that purchases made on that day will only be charged on the invoice for the other month, and the consumer has almost 40 days to pay it.

The problem is knowing the exact closing date of the invoice. There are banks that make this information available in the application, in the credit card session. Others send SMS or messages in the next application indicating the best day to buy. If you don’t know, it is the customer’s right to receive this information, either over the phone, at the branches or with the manager.