We set up a standing order last month, to cover our mortgage (with a different bank). The SO was set up to come out on the last working day of the month, which is the day DH gets paid. Today I went to draw some money out and it says I can only withdraw £11. Then was doing a Tesco shop for WEDNESDAY and it wouldn't accept my card, said it was refused. Now on Friday there was £281 availiable. I took £70 out yesterday, so should have had £211 left. Phoned the bank and they said
"Oh well Mrs Saltire, in terms of banking we count Sunday as Monday. So the standing order came out today, because all transactions like that come out on a Sunday if the last day of the month is a Monday"
So I said well what would have happened if I hadn't had £200 in the account
"Well you would have been charged"
So I pointed out that we often didn't have £200 left at this time of the month, and what was the point of me setting up a Standing Order for the last working day of the month if they were going to take it out beforehand. Her response was
"well it's the way it works, you would have been told this when you opened the account". Note she said when I opened the account, not when I set up the SO, and we opende the account 14 years ago..
I then asked her why the three cheques that were due to clear on Monday weren't availiable today.
"Because it's not Monday yet, so they won't be availiable till tomorrow".
But she had just told me that in terms of banking Sunday is classed as Monday, she didn't get why I was annoyed.
It now means DH is going to have use his credit card to get petrol for his trip down south.