£100 charge for dipping inadvertently into the red

[midnightexpress]

My DM, a widow on a pension, has been a customer at her bank for 50 years and has never been overdrawn. She has an account in another bank where she keeps her savings, and transfers money to her current account regularly to top it up. She took her eye off the ball and dipped £80 into the red, unauthorised. Next thing, she has a letter telling her that they are charging her £100 for this. She phoned them up, explained that it was an oversight and that she'd just transferred £1000, but they refused to budge and were completely 'meh' when she threatened to close her account.

WWYD?

Seems that as a pensioner on a small income, closing the account is more hassle to her than to them.

I suspect you'd have to look into the paperwork but they're probably within their rights to fine her something unfortunately.

Get her to go the the CAB as they're amazing at dealing with this kind of thing and it's always full of pensioners when I go in there.

Oh I'm sure they're within their rights; you'd just thnk they might be able to operate a bit of discretion when such a long-term customer with such a good crdit record makes a mistake, wouldn't you? MAkes me so

I once paid cash into my credit card on the Friday (due Monday) and on the Saturday my card had been cancelled due to not paying. Never got an apology and wasn't anywhere near my limit.

I'm sure if they can make money out of anyone (and unfortunately confused pensioners) they will.

Oh don't start me. It's a case of "computer says no" I'm afraid and no - they are completely incapable of exercising any discretion whatsoever - being a long-term customer counts for nothing.

That's it exactly katisha. The woman she spoke to went off to 'ask her supervisor' and then it was computer says no.

Bring back Mr Mainwaring the bank manager, I say.

I had occasion to demand to see the bank manager. They were very reluctant to get such a dignitary.
She turned out to be about 20 and wrote in big curly girly writing, all but putting smileys in the dots of the "i's"...

It's not Halifax is it ?
They always say they will get supervisor , doubt they have any intention doing so and sit on other end of phone , play you some music then say no!!!
I think she should change her bank , it won't be that hard on point of principle!

No, it's HSBC.

LOL at katisha's Bank Manager.

Do policemen look young to you too?

Well as we know the bank manager is actually the computer.

Message withdrawn

look at moneysavingexpert.com - Martin Lewis champions the fight against unfair bank charges - I think ultimately banks are going to have to pay back all of these charges. I am sure he has templates on there to send to bank invoking your rights in these circumstances. Take a look