Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My bank have charged me a random "Account fee" and have made me overdrawn. Help!

30 replies

SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:14

Anyone have any idea what the fee is?? It literally just says "Account fee".

I have an account for spending and a separate account I use for direct debits. I've been charged £10 in both which has made me overdrawn. What's that all about? What on earth is the "Account fee"? I can fix the overdraft but I have never been charged anything before and I had zero notice saying I was going to be charged...

It literally just says "Monthly account fee £10.00". I've had this account for three years, give or take, and no fees before Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:15

I'll go to the bank first thing but that's two hours away and I'm not sure what I need to enquire about! Ask them to reverse it?

OP posts:
MrsPear · 02/05/2019 07:31

In my experience they will lie and say you had a opening offer that has come to an end and your now using a fee paying account which you should know about as it is buried in the sub clauses. Good luck

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:33

I mean I know it's been a few years but I checked when I opened the account that it was free Hmm

What do you think the chances are they'll reverse it?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
floribunda18 · 02/05/2019 07:36

Good, I'd say. At least ask them.

BiscuitDrama · 02/05/2019 07:38

I’d phone them rather than driving for hours!

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:39

Thankyou. I'd be slightly less grumpy if they'd said "from May you'll be charged 10 quid a month"... Actually considering switching banks!

OP posts:
PurplePiePete · 02/05/2019 07:39

You’d go 2 hours in to the bank rather than picking up the phone to a free call number???

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:40

BiscuitDrama it's two hours til they open I meant. Two minute walk Grin

OP posts:
Ratbagratty · 02/05/2019 07:41

Contact the bank, it could be someone has your details and is syphoning off a little bit each month, could be the bank but they should have informed you.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 02/05/2019 07:43

We pay a monthly fee on our bank account, but we opted for it when we opened the account - we chose the account with the travel insurance, mobile phone cover and roadside assistance factored in so that's what the fee is covering.

If you haven't opted for it and aren't getting any of those, definitely query it!

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:46

My account is literally just a basic current account Confused

I do have an overdraft that I'm always on except that's a different monthly cost of £6.10, not £10!

OP posts:
DoneAdulting · 02/05/2019 07:51

Which bank?

DoneAdulting · 02/05/2019 07:54

If it's First Direct, they charge a monthly account fee of £10 if you don't pay in £1000 a month.

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 07:56

It's TSB.

OP posts:
FiveStoryFire · 02/05/2019 08:06

According to this, the TSB Classic or Classic Plus with Control account has a monthly account fee of £10:

www.tsb.co.uk/added-value-accounts/banking-charges-brochure.pdf

My bank have charged me a random "Account fee" and have made me overdrawn. Help!
Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 08:07

I wasn't aware I had control! Confused I'll have to ask about that.

OP posts:
FiveStoryFire · 02/05/2019 08:10

Ts & Cs for Control account here:

www.tsb.co.uk/legal/current-accounts/control-terms-and-conditions/

FiveStoryFire · 02/05/2019 08:12

Bit ironic that the feature designed to prevent you from going into overdraft has actually made you overdrawn!

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 08:12

Thankyou, FiveStoryFire that's helpful.

Doesn't explain how it GOT there but I'll ask them to remove it!

OP posts:
Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 08:15

I know right? If the monthly overdraft usage fee was all that went out I wouldn't be overdrawn. And their "this will stop you going overdrawn!" Has made me overdrawn!

I'll have to point out to them I'm on ESA and got my money yesterday so I can't actually clear the balance for 13 days.

OP posts:
FiveStoryFire · 02/05/2019 09:12

Good luck. I imagine they will remove the charges once you query it.

HollowTalk · 02/05/2019 09:14

I think the charges are for the previous calendar month, so it might be for an overdraft use in March. Were you overdrawn then, even for five minutes?

Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 09:15

Off to the bank now...

OP posts:
Original poster
SneakyGremlins · 02/05/2019 09:18

@HollowTalk Yeah, that's what the £6.10 overdraft fees are - I get those most months. This £20 (£10 per account) is brand new Confused

OP posts:
BossyBanana · 02/05/2019 09:30

In my experience tsb are utter bastards for this.

They decided to start charging me a monthly fee (they upgraded my account without my consent)
I didn’t notice for a while and when I did I demanded my money back, they refused to refund me and despite my trying to cancel the upgrade for months they continued to charge me.
In the end I requested the account closed, canceled all my direct debits and moved to another bank.
10 months later I received a letter informing me I owed them hundreds of pounds, basically they chose to ignore my request to close the account kept charging the fee, which made the account overdrawn they then charged an extortionate fee for being overdrawn every month.... but carried on charging the fee.

I tried to argue that it was utterly ridiculous, but they just continued to charge the fee and the charges for being overdrawn.
I had a letter and email that proved that I had asked for the account to be closed and many emails trying to cancel the upgrade/charge but they refused to even consider how unreasonable they were being.

By the end of it they said I owed them nearly £2K

I hope you have a better outcome than I did.