Annual Card Fee Problem - Unconditional Refund Demand
On September 27, 2025, an annual card fee of ₺1,100 was charged to my Garanti BBVA Bonus credit card without my knowledge or consent. This fee clearly violates Articles 4 and 6 of the Consumer Protection Law No. 6502 and Article 17 of the Regulation on Bank and Credit Cards. When I called customer service, I was told that ₺850 could only be refunded if I committed not to close my card for 9 months. Such an offer amounts to making a consumer right a matter of negotiation, which is unacceptable. Although I specifically chose Garanti BBVA, my loyalty has been effectively punished. Charging a card fee without my explicit consent is both unethical and unlawful. The Court of Cassation’s 13th Civil Chamber has also ruled in precedent cases that annual card fees are unfair terms and must be annulled. For all these reasons, I demand the unconditional and immediate refund of the full ₺1,100 charged as a card fee. Otherwise, I will file a complaint with the Consumer Arbitration Board.
