to think halifax should be disgusted and ashamed of themselves??? rant

[cordonbleugh]

so I probably am a bit, cos I should have managed my account slightly better but here goes.....

Today, I recieved a letter, kindly informing me that I had gone over my overdraft limit (I'm never out of my overdraft - its only £200 but I don't have £200 my benefits go in and then out again for bills/food etc).

They are charging me £35 for them allowing the payment ( direct debit £42 to tesco for food shopping), and £28 unauthorised overdraft fee.

How much did I go over my overdraft I hear you ask???

79p Thats seventy nine PENCE PENCE!!!!

yes, I should have been more carefull.

They can't wont reverse the charges because they've already done so in the past.

It's DD's birthday on the 29th of june, and I was going to struggle enough to buy her anything decent as it was.

I'm a single parent on benefits, and no, I haven't always been careful in the past, hence previous charges, but I learnt my lesson and have kept it all on track for age now.

feel free to come and tell me that it's my fault but god I'm so

my ds1 was only 31p and they still charged him money grabers, who gives extra not the halifax!!!!

If the ruling about bank charges does rule that they are unlawful or whatever the terminology is, will the banks have to automatically refund everyone who they ahve ever charged, or will we all still have to apply I wonder?

We have had a terribl time with Halifax too. Our joint account ended up in a viscious cycle of a fee making us more overdrawn, then fees for each DD, ended up one month having more fees than I earnt in wages! I actually demanded they froze the account, and it finally went back into credit last week, I immeditaely went in and closed it.

I intend to claim the disproportionate charges back too simply due to the months of stress and anxiety the situation has caused me. The Halifax charges are set up so that a family living from pay cheque to paycheque really suffer in this situation. I have a natwest account too and find them much more customer orientated and understanding. Not just out to screw me out of money.

I wish in a way I could just have a tin under the floorboards TBH!

Similar experience with hbos last month where I have been charged a total of £133 for being over my overdraft by £10. Too complicated to explain but comes down to money which would normally go in on the Monday didn't because of the bank holiday, I've called, written and gone into the branch and all they have deigned to do is refund £35. Honestly, I could cry at loosing £100.

Remember, Halifax is now part of the Lloyds Banking Group and their number one aim is to pay back the government. They're taking a hard line with everyone, it's not as if they can get much worse publicity so I'm afraid they aren't scared of bad publicity over individual cases.

Both DH and I work for different parts of this ridiculously huge organization so we see it every day. Highly likely at least one if not both of us will be made redundant by the end of the year. I'll be paying off my overdraft with some of my redundancy payment and moving banks quick smart!

OP - good luck at the bank, you may win your case as it can be down to the discretion of the bank manager. Suggest a polite but firm approach, the people in the branches are all just waiting to hear which branches are going to close and which will survive so the staff are not in the best place just now either. You may be able to appeal to their sympathetic side. Good luck!