Bank charges aaaaarrrghhhhhhh! Underhand tactics. Why do they get away with this?

[GoodyGumDrop]

I know I'm going to get responses saying it's all my own fault and IABU but I've noticed a pattern and it's just not not not at all right. The bank just don't care about their customers anymore and would rather loose our custom that revoke the charges

We are average earners with no history of debt.

Approx 1 year ago a cheque I wrote got paid in 2 months late. I hadn't checked to see if it had been paid in and there weren't enough funds in the account when it was paid in. £30 charge fair enough sort of, I should have checked. What wasn't fair was that they processed a £6 cheque to the window cleaner straight afterwards...another £30 charge. If they had done the £6 first there would have been just one charge.

I did appeal but got nowhere.

I am now with Halifax but stupidly didn't close down the Natwest accounts...Our child benefit and tax credit still go into one which I save for paying for the kids clubs, clothes, etc. I also have a dormant account with no credit and no arranged overdraft.

I accidently wrote a cheque from the dormant account (£5.40), I had thrown the cheque books away but they'd obviously sent another. Those lovely lovely people then issued a £20 charge just after my last statement so I was blissfully unaware and now because it's gone into the next month it's £40!!!

They make no allowances for dappy people like me who make small mistakes, in fact they even capitalise on it. It's a nasty nasty strategy they use and it's not nice.

We can find the money to cover the charges but what about the people who can't who end up with spiraling debt. I'm sorry but it's just not right. It is morally wrong. They really just don't care about anyone. It is not ok for me to go around cheating money out of people, why is ok for them?

We are voting with our feet and going into the bank on Saturday morning to begin the process of closing our Natwest accounts for good. I only wish more people would do the same

I can see why you're aggrieved, but I have to point out that banks have to cover their costs one way or the other. In the UK they recover account costs from high charges on things like unauthorised overdraft. In other countries you pay for each and every bank service (like for each cheque you write, or for each statement, or for each and every transaction). Or the free-to-withdraw cash machines are few and far between so you pay every a fee every time you want to get cash out. Or all of the above and more! Look up the charges for Italian banking, you'll never complain again.

At least in the UK it is possible to to have free current accounts, if you are very attentive about how you use them.

I don't think it's 'undherhand' really - more carelessness on your part. It's very easy to go a few £'s overdrawn if a payment is late or you use the wrong chequebook etc., which is why it's important to get into the habit of checking your online account frequently. I've taken to keeping £100-200 in a savings account with the same bank. That way, if I'm accidentally overdrawn in the a.m and transfer some money in from my savings account I don't get charged anything at all. I'd also recommend setting up a small overdraft limit on any accounts. That way, if you go just a few ££s into the red you are charged £1 or £2... not £50. Changing bank never hurts... but if you don't smarten up your housekeeping you'll end up with the same problem elsewhere.

well yes, you do have a responsibility to be on top of your finances, but everyone cocks up from time to time. And £30 a pop is really not on!

How about this for underhand?

I transferred some money from my esavings to my current account.

I checked that the money was showing in my current account. It was. It was showing as available. I made a purchase on my card. Went through fine.

I look at my account the next day (online) and see that they have moved the date I made the transfer from the previous day to that day, and show the debit as taking me overdrawn. No doubt I can expect to recieve notice of a fee for that.

WTF?

If that isn't underhand I don't know what is!

"No doubt I can expect to recieve notice of a fee for that."

Don't wait for notice of a fee, be assertive. i.e. Call your bank straight away, complain about the change in date and demand an apology and assurances that you will not be charged for their error.

Absolutely chil1234, always make the first move when dealing with any form of banks. I am a debt solutions advisor, so come accross some horific stories!!