To think the bank should have told me first?

ThatPurpleCat · 2018-10-30T07:46:27+00:00

For many years now I've had an overdraft of 1k with my bank. I checked my account this morning and the overdraft is zero! Am I right in thinking that they are meant to give notice before they take it away? The only thing that's changed is I paid in a cheque from a small windfall I had last week.

Ohyesiam · 30/10/2018 07:49

I imagine it’s an error, contact them.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 07:51

I am going to phone them this morning. I just wondered if it was a 'thing' that they could just take it away without notice?

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dementedpixie · 30/10/2018 07:53

Did you use the overdraft facility? The info might be on the bottom of a statement in tiny writing!

TyrionsNextWife · 30/10/2018 07:53

It’s usual in the terms that they can revoke an overdraft whenever they like. Very poor of them to not let you know though.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 08:00

I use it sometimes. I've just looked at their section on overdrafts and it says 'we will normally give 30 days notice before lowering your limit'

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Hadenoughofallthis · 30/10/2018 08:05

Are you sure they didn't inform you in a letter that you might have mistaken for junk mail and binned?

WitchesBritches · 30/10/2018 08:21

It would be poor of them if they haven’t notified you, but double check your emails - including junk folder (and ask anyone else who might have opened a letter from them.).

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 08:23

I've just read my emails. the last one was 12th oct which was a monthly statement and the overdraft was still there then. I don't have paper statements. it's all online

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MrTrebus · 30/10/2018 08:25

They can withdraw an overdraft at any time but they do usually let you know. You'll have to query it and/or complain if you're not happy about it

pippa999 · 30/10/2018 08:36

@ThatPurpleCat

Bad form, but yeah they can do what they like.

I know someone who just recently, had a go at them for not paying a DD out even though the account was short of money. The DD bounced and caused her extra charges with the company she was meant to pay, a default on her account, and bank charges.

The bank said it was her fault not theirs, and she got arsey with them and said 'this is fucking ridiculous! It was only a tenner short, you COULD have paid it, you KNOW some income is coming in a few days later!' They asked her to leave the building as she was being 'abusive.'

2 days later she went to the bank, and her card and PIN didn't work when she tried to get her balance at the ATM. It was a Saturday so she had to wait til Monday to sort it out. Long story short, the bank had closed her account the day she had had the rant a them, (her savings one too with £700 in it,) told her they no longer wanted her as a customer, and sent her a cheque for what money was in the bank at the time. (Her savings in the one account, and 4 weeks child benefit in the other.)

Direct debits were due out that week, and her wages due in, and they all went to shit, as she had no bank account for anything to go out of or come into. Joining a new bank and getting all direct debits sorted out, and also all the income (child benefit, wages, tax credits etc,) took 2 weeks. She was in such a mess. Basically the banks are businesses and don't owe anyone anything. They will shut you down at the drop of a hat if they wish. With no warning.

So if you DO have a moan about it, try not to rant and wear. Just say the overdraft has been taken off and can you have it back?

Although... Can you not do without it? If you have had a windfall, do you need it now anyway?

BarbaraofSevillle · 30/10/2018 08:39

Do you have any letters/messages in your online banking where they have informed you and you haven't seen I never read any of mine.

BarbaraofSevillle · 30/10/2018 08:41

Banks don't like people using overdrafts even when they don't cost anything and you have savings with them for more than the amount of the overdraft.

I find that using a credit card to spread costs and manage cashflow easier, cheaper and it actually improves your credit rating instead of worsens it.

Just set up a direct debit to pay the balance off in full every month and it won't cost anything either.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 10:07

I'm on the phone to them now. have been on for 40 mins so far, getting passed from pillar to post with no answers as yet
trying to keep my cool.
I've said fair enough if they want to remove it but why not give me notice. They agree but don't know why it was done😫

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Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 11:55

They promised to phone me back at 11. I'm still waiting

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Allthewaves · 30/10/2018 11:57

Just apply online for new overdraft

slashlover · 30/10/2018 12:47

pippa999

TBH I'm with the bank on this one, she didn't have enough in the account to pay the DD and was then abusive to staff because of her own mistake. People think they can be abusive to service workers, I'm sure she was more than 'a bit arsey' for them to cancel her account.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 12:58

allthewaves they won't let me until they've investigated why it was stopped without warning.

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Cherries101 · 30/10/2018 13:02

Most banks give you 30 days warning with options IF they want you keep it. They only tend to remove it straight away if they don’t think the income coming in supports the limit or they think you’re misusing the facility.

GrandTheftWalrus · 30/10/2018 13:02

My old joint account with exh had a 400 overdraft on it and they took it off without warning in the middle of December leaving us with a 400 unarranged overdraft.

They admitted it was their mistake. Paid all charges and direct debits that had been bounced back and then said he had the overdraft for as long as he likes interest free. Plus 200 compensation.

But then he argued all the time with anyone and would be able to sell anything to anyone

pippa999 · 30/10/2018 13:42

@slashlover

TBH I'm with the bank on this one, she didn't have enough in the account to pay the DD and was then abusive to staff because of her own mistake. People think they can be abusive to service workers, I'm sure she was more than 'a bit arsey' for them to cancel her account.

I couldn't agree more! The bank were quite within their rights to shut this woman's account down. (Who I spoke about up there.) I never said she was just 'a bit arsey' though. I said she was arsey and used the F word at them. And they asked her to leave because she was abusive (And then subsequently closed her account...) So you're misrepresenting what I said there. And I never defended her.

I was trying to illustrate how banks can - and WILL shut your account down if you're arsey or abusive. Which is what I said the woman I know was. As I said, I didn't say she was 'just a bit arsey.' Nor did I defend her.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 18:38

well I had to go to work without getting the call back. I did have a missed call at 2.30 but couldn't answer it. I've just got home now. Not sure if they will try again. The lady this morning gave me a case number but not sure I can face an hour on the phone again.
TBH if I hadn't had this little windfall I would have needed the overdraft.

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pippa999 · 30/10/2018 19:30

@ThatPurpleCat

TBH if I hadn't had this little windfall I would have needed the overdraft.

True, but if you hadn't had the windfall, they would probably not have revoked the overdraft!

Hope you get is sorted. Maybe best to go in and see them. Late afternoon Mon-Thurs is usually least busy.

Hope you get it sorted. They should have given you a warning really, and if you only put your windfall in a week ago (I am guessing is low 4 figures,) then it's unlikely they have already written to you about it.

Ask them if they can restore it, (if you really do think you need it.) If not the full £1000, maybe £250. If they refuse, maybe start thinking about changing banks.

I know someone who was with Barclays some 2 years ago, and she was at university. She had a Student Account, and her overdraft was £500. She went through a few sticky patches (as students do!) and asked them to raise it to £1000 please. They said a flat no.

She was moaning about it in a cafe to her mate, and a woman who worked in Nat West overheard, and said 'hey, WE can help!' Long story short, she said if she moves to them, they will give her an overdraft of £1500! And they would also sort everything out for her. (All her direct debits and income etc...) She didn't have to do anything, and within a week, she had her Nat West account opened, a shiny new debit card, and everything sorted, with a £1500 overdraft. They even offered her a credit card with a maximum £250 credit.

So if they are no help at all, then I would consider moving banks.

Mari50 · 30/10/2018 19:32

I used to have a £10k overdraft, the bank reduced it to £4K without telling me.
I have no idea why I had a 10k overdraft btw I think I asked for it as a joke......

ThereGoesTheAlarm · 30/10/2018 19:37

Why on earth would you want an overdraft?! I used to have one. I was constantly in the red and really struggled to get back out of it. I’d never have an overdraft again.

Original poster

ThatPurpleCat · 30/10/2018 19:54

I don't necessarily need the overdraft now as I can leave some of the 'windfall' in there. (which was 10k) The money is earmarked for other things but the cheque only cleared on Friday.
if they ever get back to me I will ask for £100 as a buffer.
I just want to know why it was suddenly taken without warning.

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