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> Devastated, Ridiculous bank charges
bassmadmatt
post Feb 24 2006, 05:52 PM
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I'm really angry, my bank is charging me £160 pounds because a cheque I wrote bounced. I wrote a cheque for £3.99, but only had £3.95 in my account. Because of this 4p shortfall I am now being charged £160!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) This is the first time I've ever had any kind of problem with my bank and I don't know what to do! Can I appeal against the charge? Is there any chance they'll waive it? Please help! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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bohemian
post Feb 24 2006, 05:55 PM
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How can they charge you £160 is you have under £4 in your bank? Idiots. Just complain, it might even be a mistake...I've had mistakes like this where they told me I was overdrawn and had to pay them lots of money, but my account can't go overdrawn as I only have a cash card (not for long, mwahahahaha)...
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katyjay
post Feb 24 2006, 05:57 PM
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That's an excessive charge, particularly as the shortfall is so small.

You should phone and then write to them saying that you're sorry you made the mistake with the cheque, and as it's your first mistake - and a minor one at that - you wonder if, as a gesture of goodwill, they could refund the charges.

If that doesn't work, I'll check out the legislation under which you can argue that they have made an excessive charge, and they should reduce it. But it's usually a good bet to ask politely first before you go in with all guns blazing.
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bassmadmatt
post Feb 24 2006, 05:59 PM
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Yeah, I went in and 'asked nicely' to speak with a manager earlier, who equally nicely told me there was nothing he could do. I'm seriously annoyed, this is a huge amount of money for me as a student and it'll take me ages to pay it off! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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katyjay
post Feb 24 2006, 06:00 PM
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OK, plan B then. I'll be back shortly with the legislation you can quote at them.
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bassmadmatt
post Feb 24 2006, 06:01 PM
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Thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
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noodle
post Feb 24 2006, 06:01 PM
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That's unbeliveable! I don't know what my bank charges but I don't think it's anything like that. It's crazy to charge £160 for a cheque for £3.99.

I would contact the bank and ask them - maybe it should have been £16. Or is that the charge for the quarter for all individual transactions @ £? per cheque, debit, withdrawal etc? You have nothing to lose. If not - maybe you should move your account. When I had a problem with my bank over a non functioning autobank card, they saw sense when I told them I would take my account to the bank opposite.

Good luck. Hope you get it sorted.
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katyjay
post Feb 24 2006, 06:04 PM
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OK, this is what you tell them.

Under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, disproportionate penalties are unenforceable in law. If they do not reduce the penalty to one in proportion to the error (which was 4p), then you will complain both to the Office of Fair Trading and the Banking Ombudsman.

Oh, and you're taking your account elsewhere at the first opportunity...
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JohnS
post Feb 24 2006, 08:34 PM
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IMHO any good bank wouldn't have bounced the cheque in the first place for such a small amount! Get it sorted so that you pay nothing and they give you a big apology. Then switch to another bank - there are a few that pay good rates of interest. Have a look here. You might be better off in the end! When you have switched, write to your current bank to say that their unfair heavy handedness has cost them a customer who would have been with them for the next 50 years or so. Egg will truly be on their face not yours. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Last year the charges for my business bank account went up from about £5 per month to about £13. They said it was fairer. I wrote them a letter saying that my family had banked with them for about 80 years, what could they do to help me? "Nothing" was their reply. I quickly changed to another bank where I don't pay a penny in charges as long as I pay over £1k a month into the account. Great. I'm over £60 per year better off! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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benjaminja
post Feb 24 2006, 09:33 PM
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This is inexcusable.

I once had a cheque bounce and I think I was charged a tenner or something. We're probably not allowed to advertise banks on here, otherwise I would. Here's a clue: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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elmo
post Feb 24 2006, 10:20 PM
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Yeah I remember my boss saying at work contiously that she had to make sure the cheques were correct otherwise it was £10 each time it bounced. And that was when they were paying me £200 for my wages, not 4p for a simple mistake.

If you're a student, does your bank account not have a student overdraft?
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Boo Radley
post Feb 24 2006, 10:53 PM
Post #12


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QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 24 2006, 06:04 PM) *

OK, this is what you tell them.

Under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, disproportionate penalties are unenforceable in law. If they do not reduce the penalty to one in proportion to the error (which was 4p), then you will complain both to the Office of Fair Trading and the Banking Ombudsman.

Oh, and you're taking your account elsewhere at the first opportunity...

Good old Katyjay comes to the rescue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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sbhoa
post Feb 25 2006, 10:12 AM
Post #13


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QUOTE(Boo Radley @ Feb 24 2006, 10:53 PM) *

QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 24 2006, 06:04 PM) *

OK, this is what you tell them.

Under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, disproportionate penalties are unenforceable in law. If they do not reduce the penalty to one in proportion to the error (which was 4p), then you will complain both to the Office of Fair Trading and the Banking Ombudsman.

Oh, and you're taking your account elsewhere at the first opportunity...

Good old Katyjay comes to the rescue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Wonder if she will like being called old??
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katyjay
post Feb 25 2006, 10:19 AM
Post #14


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QUOTE(sbhoa @ Feb 25 2006, 10:12 AM) *

QUOTE(Boo Radley @ Feb 24 2006, 10:53 PM) *

QUOTE(katyjay @ Feb 24 2006, 06:04 PM) *

OK, this is what you tell them.

Under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, disproportionate penalties are unenforceable in law. If they do not reduce the penalty to one in proportion to the error (which was 4p), then you will complain both to the Office of Fair Trading and the Banking Ombudsman.

Oh, and you're taking your account elsewhere at the first opportunity...

Good old Katyjay comes to the rescue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Wonder if she will like being called old??


I was trying to ignore that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

And, Matt, also consider plan C:

Write to the personal finance editor of any major newspaper - they will often go into battle with bullying banks, and are usually successful at getting charges withdrawn.
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SirPrancealot
post Feb 25 2006, 10:21 AM
Post #15


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don't pay it. go to a proper bank. ensure it is a clearer and you have an overdraft buffer - even 50 pounds would be something. don't abuse it!

vent your anger by writing to anyone who can publicise this - while on the net, email watchdog. write to the manager saying that unless the charge is wiped out you will take every chance to denigrate their bank.
of course there's something they can do about it, they just contra the entry.

presumably if you were already 4p overdrawn then you havent paid this charge. just make sure no more money goes into this account.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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