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bank charges

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tigerlily11 | 10:47 Tue 15th Jul 2008 | Business & Finance
16 Answers
Does any one know where to go other than the bank to complain about them? I have tried the bank and they arn't interested.
Because of the way cheques arrive and the time it takes to clear them, over recent months my account has become overdrawn but only for no more than around 24 hours.
This should correct itself in August.
But I'm being charged over �50 a month because of it. I find it a bit extreme.
I have heard from several sources that banks have been making vague threats about closing accounts if you complain.
Can anyone tell me exactly whats going on concerning bank charges and if I have any hope of getting them back?
Thanks for your time.
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http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank- charges

This website is incredibly helpful - follow it to the letter and I don't reckon you'll have any problems.

As far as I'm aware the situation hasn't changed much in that you write a letter to the bank, they reply offering you less (or nothing), so you write back kicking off again and they send you a cheque - it seems to be a pretty standard process. They'll fob you off by asking you to prove the charges by providing your bank statements which you can either xhoose to do or ask them to look themselves, which could take a while.

I thought when I got mine back that they'd close my account, but they haven't - i've just chosen to stop using it.

My husband got at least �500 back and I got over �100, all accrued over about 5 years.

Good luck
Follow the advice already given but be aware that the court delayed has been delayed and nothing will be decided for months yet - so the bank may use that to delay a decision.

However, you should still start the ball rolling.

If your charges are around the �12 mark per transaction they may be deemed reasonable. It's a waiting game.

Haven't you been able to alter the dates of your standing orders, direct debits or whatever it is that causes you to go overdrawn every month?
Question Author
Thank you both very much for your help.

Boo It won't make much difference if I did change my DD dates really. The main problem is that I recieve two checks a month to cover rent. That goes on the 14th of every month and I cannot change that.
On a couple of occasions These chaques have arrived several days late thus causing my account to go behind.
All though they have for about 2 months been coming when they should the fact that they take so long to clear it clashes with the main rent payment. If it wasn't for this problem we would not have this problem. As I said at any one time I have never been more than 24 to 48 hours overdrawn before money has gone in to cover any DD's.
Again thank you both very much for your help.
hi, i would do as suggested above. However, remember that the terms and conditions of the bank account will have stated these charges, and its up to you to make sure there is enough money in the account. have you thought about arranging an overdraft? After all, if you have an unauthorised overdraft then it is effectively helping yourself to money that isnt yours, even if it is only for 48 hours
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Bedknobs I feel like your accusing of some strange sort of theft.
I have money going into my account regularly. As I pointed out the problem has arisen purely because the cheques have arrived late, sometimes 5 days late.
Don't you think in certain situations that the bank can show a little good will now and again especially to those who, like myself have had a good record with their banks.
It has only been happening over the past few months as I said because cheques arrived late.
I have an overdraft and it has only just come into use at all. I have made sure of that. Just the past few times it has gone a little over the overdraft amount for no more than 2 days. And believe it or not my family and myself do have a right to eat.
Do you seriously think I have carelessly let it get this way by spending more than I have.
I have spent years with this bank making sure that my overdraft is only used when it was needed.
This has resulted in an 80% credit rating with them. Better than a lot of people who work for the bank.
Why should I be charged �50 or more just because circumstances have gone against me for a few months.
Well pardon me for living.



Calm down, you may get the charges back if you complain, but bednobs is actually right, you are aware of the charges, or you should be, when you sign up for the account. Dont take it out on him, he's just pointing out whats correct.

Have you tried asking for your cheques to be paid by bank transfer instead, so they will be cleared a lot quicker? Or extend your overdraft a bit to allow for any delays. Yes, bank charges are generally high, but its not the bank's fault that your cheques are late.
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I know this is going to sound obvious but have you thought about changing your bank? It depends on what kind of bank account you want of course but I have a simple current account with Alliance & Leicester - it doesn't pay any interest but then again neither does it charge greatly in cases like yours - only 50p a day for up to ten days in each monthly charging period (with an authorised overdraft facility).
Question Author
No Twenty you might be right but neither is it my fault.
And come on how many people out there read wbout accounts before they open them and I have had this account for nearly 10 years now.
I love it when you ask for help and the 'naughty naughty' crew turn up like its all your fault.
I think that �50 is way way to much and there are plenty of people out there who agree and are trying to get their money back.
Do you think �50 a time is justifiable?
ll dont get your knickers in a twist
of course 50 quid is extortionate, im just pointing out you signed up for it when you opened the account - its not the banks fault you didnt read the terms and conditions.
i am not accusing you of theft, but if you go over your overdraft, you ARE using money that isnt yours, and you havent got on a credit arrangement. In the usa its a criminal offence to take money out of a bank account that you know dosent have enough in it.

I wasn't telling you off, and ive no idea how you live your life. I did actually recommend you follow the previous advice ecause it seemed sound, but just pointing out to you that you cant blame the bank!
We are very lucky in this country that we have free banking - in some countries you have to pay for a bank account or transactions on that account. I fear this is the way our banks will go
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Bed Im annoyed to be made to feel its some how my fault as well when its not.
I am bl**dy annoyed that the banks can do this and there doesn't seem to be a damn thing you can do about it.
The so called experts keeping telling everyone not to get into debt and the banks do there best to make sure you do.
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How is it not your fault if you are going over your overdraft? why dont you change the payment dates at least so that if your cheque that goes in is a few days late then it is covered? If you cant change the payment date, then it really isnt your banks fault that the money isn't in there when on the 14th the other money is requested to go out. Would you rather the bank just refused to pay because you had insufficient funds and therefore you didn't pay your rent and got evicted?
The bank are providing you a service by allowing you to take out more money than you have, but you do pay for this service as you have found out. Of course 50 quid is disproportionate to the amount of work they actually have to do - but as has been stated before it is being tried to sort out at a national level
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Cleversod and bed. I listen carefully. ICANNOT CHAGE THE DD DATES. I have asked for the money to be paid straight to the bank but they can't because they do not have the BACS system at the moment.
SO how can that be my fault.
If they charged just �10 for the whole thing I would complain but they don't.
Good grief you two are such a pair of goody two shoes that you don't have these problems I take it.
I only asked for information not a moral lecture.
-- answer removed --
I HAVE given you advice.
And you sound like quite a moany person - "If they charged just �10 for the whole thing I would complain"
moaning will get you nowhere, you need to follow the advice given in these posts which MIGHT get you somewhere. I dont know where your cheques are coming from but are you able to ask whoever it is that sends them to you to do a direct bank transfer? Most people who have internet banking can do this if they had your bank details (this is not BACS before you accuse me of not listening to you again)
Why dont you ask for a bigger overdraft so that you can be covered for the period when you do not have enough money to cover the money you owe? then the bank wont charge you for an unauthorised overdraft.

Also, again to answer your original question, banks can close your account at any time without having to have a reason

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