�35 charge from the woolwich !!!! rip-off !!

[curiousity]

i gather from - money saving expert - that these extortionate charges are illegal. i have already had two charges quashed this year and unfortunately got another one - only a few quid short in bank - for a direct debit. However when i rang the bank and said i was not happy to pay this as it is not in proportion with the price of sending a letter i was told that that was their charges and that was that. i think it would be more aggro that its worth to change bank accounts cos all my DD come out of this bank. what now. just pay up and shut up???? if they are illegal why cant they be arrested ????

[EverClean]

Most banks will do a transfer service so they will contact your existing bank and move all your direct debits over for you. Halifax do all this and pay a great interest rate if you have a reegular monthly credit - I think it's �1000 per month. Moving over your debits, etc is part of the service. Even if you don't want to move then the threat of it may cause Woolwich to have a second look at your charge.
Alternatively you could conduct your account well and not incur any charges! The charges themselves are not illegal but must be representative of the cost incurred to the bank by the action - in this case dealing with an unpaid direct debit.

[PFA]

First off - I dont want to sound patronising - neither do I intend to do so....

Now to your question - These charges are not illegal - To put it simply - if the people keep pushing for banks to refund all charges - they will simply re-introduce charges for holding current accounts - like in the old days. Secondly - You are more than welcome to challange the bank legally re this issue - but be ready to switch accouts. The bank will more than likely send you a notice to terminate your account - They only need to give you 30 days notice - legally.

Or as the first post says - DONT GO OVERDRAWN - Simple as!!!!

[jennyp]

look on www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk. Scroll to the top of the page, and look at the bank survey results - then decide if all the people who have got their money back are wrong.

[Hard@it]

what did Woolich make these charges for ?

[curiousity]

sorry everyone - no internet access since posting this question.... thanks for your answers. yes it is my fault for going overdrawn - a lesson to be learnt.....the �35 is for my direct debit not having enough money in my account for my telewest bill. (bless them, they waived the �10 charge ) telewest not the woolwich - my problem is not the charge- it is the amount. if i only got paid �35 for every letter i ever wrote.........