Devastated, Ridiculous bank charges Options

[musicbox]

I would definately do something as this is absolutely ludicrous! I could understand if you'd written a cheque £20 over or something but 4 quid?

I agree with most people's advice here-good luck Matt!

[crazy cow]

but 4 quid?

not even that much - 4p! can't believe they've decided to charge you that much, it's completely out of order! take katyjay's advice - she seems to know what she's talking about! i'm rubbish at legal stuff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) go to watchdog or something like someone suggested
good luck, hope you get the charges withdrawn
hoxie
x

[bassmadmatt]

Well thank you for your concern, help, and advice everybody. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Musicians are clearly a big-hearted group of people! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I will be going to see my local branch manager on Monday and I shall quote him 'katyjay's Regulations', and if the situation isn't well-resolved then I am going to contact my local paper. I'll post the end result on here. Thanks again for all your help y'all! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[maggiemay]

Good luck Matt - I agree with everyone else - what they tried to charge you is OTT and totally unacceptable

[musicbox]

but 4 quid?

not even that much - 4p! can't believe they've decided to charge you that much, it's completely out of order! take katyjay's advice - she seems to know what she's talking about! i'm rubbish at legal stuff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) go to watchdog or something like someone suggested
good luck, hope you get the charges withdrawn
hoxie
x

Yeah sorry 4p *slaps her head* kick some butt Matt.

[elmo]

Go wearing a suit, or at least a shirt and trousers, and carry a balck folder/briefcase to show you mean business! If you wear glasses, half way through the meeting, take them off and wipte them, to show that your ill at ease and you do those sorts of things every day! Sit with your legs open, shows you're in control.

*nods* have fun!

[katyjay]

Matt

Even though you're going to see them face to face, I'd write a letter too, and insist on giving a copy of it to the person you meet.

Verbal discussions are too easy to twist and mis-remember, written documents are much better proof if you do end up having to take further action.

The other thing is to master the "broken record" technique of talking to them. You keep repeating what you want to say, regardless of what they try to sell you.

So you say something like "These charges are excessive and disproportionate. They can't be enforced legally and I require you to remove them."

And say it over and over and over again if you have to.

Best of luck

[Louise]

That's disgusting!

Take yourself over to

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/

You'll get loads of good advice over there.

The world's gone barmey

[Deborah]

£160 for going 4p overdrawn? That's outrageous!

Definitely write to them, but keep your cool in the letter - total professionalism at all times! Remain polite. A letter to the Chief Executive usually works as well - although the CEO probably won't actually see the letter, it'll go to a specialist customer service team who have far more clout than your average phone monkey. A while ago, my bank should have cancelled a standing order, but didn't, so I wrote them one of my special "Disgusted of Valhalla" letters; they refunded the SO payments (as did the company in whose favour the order was made), and gave me £60 compensation. Result! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Matt, I don't know at what level you're studying, but most universities and sixth-form colleges will have some kind of adviser who can help you if the argument gets a bit messy, possibly via the NUS.

Nevertheless, it sounds like time to change banks. If you do, make sure you get the last laugh (via a tip I picked up from our very own SteveHopwood) - leave a couple of quid in the account so that they have to send you a statement each month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Digby]

As a matter of interest, have they given you a breakdown as to how the charge was calculated. As an ex-bank manager, I would always have reduced a charge if it were disproportionate like that. However, it is probably somewhere along the lines of £30 bounced cheque charge, which then caused the account to go overdrawn causing excess overdraft fees - if this went over into another charging period that could have been duplicated, but however hard I try, I can't work out how anyone could charge so much for just one item.

Step 1, complain, this can be verbal, doesn't have to be written.

step 2, Financial ombudsman (great website address on there) Every time a bank has to investigate a complaint for the ombudsman they get charged, in my day it was £750 so it makes financial sense for them to resolve your complaint before it goes that far.

good luck

[lynne]

Everybody who said this charge is beyond outrageous is right, I totally agree, but just to let you know a similar thing happened to me a few years back, only on a much larger scale.... I wrote a rent cheque for £500 from the account that had 98p instead of the account that had £900 in it! Of course it bounced, but after talking to the bank and explaining what had happened, they waived all the charges and treated it as a genuine mistake. So best of luck, banks can sometimes (occasionally) show their human side (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Gae]

That is totally unacceptable!! What Bank is this? LoanSharks are Us Ltd? Leave the Bank as soon as you have sorted this out and join a reputable High Street Bank. Oh, and incidentally, could you post the name of the Bank here so that anyone else thinking of joining can avoid them at all costs? I dont think there are any Laws against mentioning the name of a Bank are there? Mind you, the day is young and a new one could still be introduced later on in the day by the current Government. I cant keep track of the new Laws being introduced into Nanny State-Rip-Off Britain on a daily basis! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Gae

[noodle]

- leave a couple of quid in the account so that they have to send you a statement each month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Good idea! I was doing accounts yesterday for an organisation I'm involved with. We kept an old account for that reason - our last statement said we had the princely sum of 17p! Woooooooo! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Deborah]

Just one further thought - take every opportunity to query why the charges imposed are a whopping 4000 times higher than the original overdraft.

[sarah-flute]

Hope you get it sorted Matt, I do agree completely with everyone that £160 is absolutely ridiculous and scandalous for being overdrawn 4p. Tell your bank that they risk losing the business of all your friends too if they don't get some sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)