To want to go 'Arrrrggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh' at my bank?

[CaliflowersAreFluffy]

Me and DP have a joint bank account....thats it. No credit cards, were are not with any other bank.

For the first time we went over our overdraft. I kept in touch with them and we put the last of our savings to solve the problem. Despite this they have been charging us fees every month which means we cant get back on our feet.

To add to this we got a letter (dated 9 days after it was supposed to get to us) that they they will also take 25 pounds out of each transation. They took all DP weekly wages and really dont want to help.

We went to speak to them and they have given us solo cards.... they said our original pins will work on these. Just got them after surviving on 80 quid for the last 2 wks and the pins don't work !

Have phoned them and they keep pushing me to the next person on the phone and i have got nowhere !

Rant over....phew needed that !

Go into branch and CRY buckets

I did that and got all the charges refunded

Go into the branch and make a fuss until they sort things out.
Banks can be crap.

Check that this is even legal - 25 from every transaction seems insane! - post on www.moneysavingexpert.com forums, and see if anyone can advise.

We are on a budget and due to this, we took out 3 transcations totaling about 60. Because the letter was 9 days late we had no idea about the 'informal overdraft' of 25 pounds..... they charged us 100 pounds for taking out 60 !

Have always been in touch wiht bank..... but they didnt want to help us. Been with same bank fo 15 yrs !

Might be worth phoning the FSA for advice - see here

Change bank - I bet this wasn't First Direct treating you like this. The main ones are rubbish, move to another bank - this is outrageous.

Thanks for the responses. Have been at the end of my tether about this.

When they took that 100 pounds, which we didnt know due to letter being late. I needed nappies for DD. I called them and (shame) begged for us to be let to get some money for shopping.... they would'nt help at all.

Thank goodness we have understanding families that gave us some money.

Grrrrr at my bank of 15 yrs who really didn't want to know at all !

Our bank did that with us - they were even charging us for letters that they sent out telling us we had been charged for that letter! In the end we borrowed money from DH's grandfather, just to get us on our feet and not paying charges that we couldn't get out of.

IMO, if you go over, its because you are struggling, by putting charges on, how the hell do they expect you to get yourself straight? I think once you hit your limit, they shouldn't let you take more money out - then at least you won't incurr extra charges too.

I went a few £'s (literally only £3 or £4)over on my business account and they were charging me £8.50 A DAY!!! They didn't even phone me to tell me - I found out almost a month later on my statement - by that time (I had just had a baby) I wasn't working and found it difficult to pay it off. That then had an impact on our personal account and thats where it spiralled out of control. In branch they were excellent and tried to help us, but they don't have the final say anymore. You end up having to be put through to a foreign call centre, where they don't know you and one person tells you something, then the next tells you that was wrong and "please wait while I transfer you to my colleague" - I was fed up of holding the phone and while breastfeeding my DS I passed the phone to DH - They answered and because it wasn't me on the phone they froze all our accounts because of a "breach of security!!!!"

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will join you with your request for a scream!!!!!!!!!!!

I HATE banks! If we had any money (which would be nice) I think I would seriously think about mattress stashing!!! LOL

Banks are a money grabbing pile of shits.

When I had some problems I tried everything (including crying in the branch) and was told the only help I could have would be if I had over £5000 savings or a mortgage. Oh, she could see the problem, but tough.

For some reason they have given themselves the glamour that they are "on our side" wanting to give us money to realise our dreams, and then we are all surprised now that they are showing their true colours.

Fuckers

Cunting banks .......

To the OP go to the branch and make a fuss is your best bet, they will keep passing eachother the buck on the phone.

A few years ago, we recieved a letter from DH's bank informing us that we where to pay IMMEDIATLY the grand some of 3p interest we had overlooked or they would charge us £25,--. The stamp, envelop, paper and printing ink costed them much more I am sure. I was litterally laughing all the way to the bank with my 3p cheque.

Califlowers, please name your bank. Some MNers may be looking to switch accounts and might find the info useful.

FWIW HBOS is shit and I am glad they have gone down the tubes.

Cali - you must fight this. You kept them informed of your circumstances, and their outrageous charges are now compounding the problems for you. When my bank did something similar (not as bad, I think) I phoned my account manager (or whatever they are called now) and told him I would be changing banks unless they refunded my account with the cost of the charges (about £80 in total, I think.) After some hot air, he agreed as I was a "valued" (Hah!)customer. As you have been with them 15 years, and this is your first time O/D, I would imagine you should be valued too.