I have recently started using an Aqua credit card, my first statement in October was for £500 which I paid in full through telephone banking and in plenty of time to get there by the due date. The day after the due date I tried to use the card and it was declined, I phoned Aqua who informed me that yes they had had the payment but it would take another week to clear. I was not happy but they were adament that as this was a first payment and for a large amount this was the reason for it happening and after all they had lent me that money in the first place! (nice attitude) My November statement was for £344 so this time I paid £400 cash through a bank, this was on 2nd December, today 11th December I have tried to use the card, again declined. Another phone call to their unhelpful call centre resulted me in being informed that the payment will not clear until 16th December, a full 14 days after the payment was made, please can someone tell me if this is right other credit cards I have had in the past have always cleared their payments after about 3 days, I thought the whole point of paying a credit card in full and making sure the payment got there by the due date was that I could start to use it again.

Yes, 3 working days is normal and a week at most should be long enough to clear any payment method that you are likely to use (except using the post). Two weeks is far too long. You should consider stopping using the card and disputing any interest or penalties that get added for "late" payments. If disputing anything like this, it's best to put the details in writing.

If they've not penalised you for "late" payments, it might be worth asking which payment method they would be able to clear in less than a week. My guess is that the payments reach them after a few days and then it takes them a long time to process them.