A PHP1.76 million credit-card claim was recalculated to PHP1.211 million in principal

A cardholder admitted using a bank-issued credit card but disputed how the balance had grown. The bank's collection complaint sought PHP1,757,024.53, including interest and late charges. The cardholder argued that his purchases were only PHP300,000 and that the rest came from charges he considered unlawful. ## How the figures were reviewed The trial court accepted the bank's claimed total. The Court of Appeals reduced the principal to PHP787,500 and replaced the monthly charges with legal-rate treatment. The Supreme Court examined the statements again. It found purchases totaling PHP4,834,774.18 and payments totaling PHP3,623,773.85, leaving PHP1,211,000.33 in unpaid principal. The contract had stated monthly interest of 3.5% and a monthly late-payment charge of 7%. The Court held those rates excessive and unconscionable. It did not erase the principal or the agreement to pay interest. Instead, it applied the historical legal-interest rules stated in the judgment. ## Where the case ended The Supreme Court denied the cardholder's petition and ordered payment of PHP1,211,000.33 in principal, with the interest treatment and attorney's fees specified in the decision. The rates in this 2020 judgment address this contract and its historical periods; they are not presented here as today's general credit-card caps. The court record ends with the order to pay PHP1,211,000.33 under the interest treatment stated in the judgment; it does not record whether that judgment amount was later satisfied.