tip: how to avoid paying halifax bank charges when living in a city

jimmyjim_uk · 21 April 2005 at 9:48PM

If you incur a bank charge from the halifax. Take a trip to the Halifax and goto reception (not to the cashiers). Ask them nicely if they would reverse the charge for you explaning that it was a silly mistake/oversight or whatever.

Fingers crossed they reverse it for you (saving you £30-£35). If they refuse to reverse the charge (this is where living in a city can help) goto another branch and give them the same sob story in there. If that fails go to another branch and so on. Usually one of them will budge.

They are at least 4 branches in Birmingham City Centre and there is always the suburbs.

I did it 10 times was I was 18-21 (£25 a time back then too) and it worked everytime. I'm a lot more careful with my current account nowadays, but I still managed to incur a charge last year and I did it then.

Try not to make a habit of it as they do log the charges (I think for a year at least) and it will become very difficult.

Good luck!!!

M_Thomson · 22 April 2005 at 3:54PM

jimmyjim_uk wrote:

If you incur a bank charge from the halifax. Take a trip to the Halifax and goto reception (not to the cashiers). Ask them nicely if they would reverse the charge for you explaning that it was a silly mistake/oversight or whatever.

Fingers crossed they reverse it for you (saving you £30-£35). If they refuse to reverse the charge (this is where living in a city can help) goto another branch and give them the same sob story in there. If that fails go to another branch and so on. Usually one of them will budge.

They are at least 4 branches in Birmingham City Centre and there is always the suburbs.

I did it 10 times was I was 18-21 (£25 a time back then too) and it worked everytime. I'm a lot more careful with my current account nowadays, but I still managed to incur a charge last year and I did it then.

Try not to make a habit of it as they do log the charges (I think for a year at least) and it will become very difficult.

Good luck!!!

An even better idea is to stick to the terms and conditions of your account, and not incur charges at all!!!

jimmyjim_uk · 22 April 2005 at 4:33PM

Very true.

But not everyone is perfect.

Justin_Credit · 22 April 2005 at 4:43PM

Just think of the poor old Halifax shareholders, all their profits out the window LOL!

M_Thomson · 22 April 2005 at 4:49PM

How about having a conscience? Fair enough if you make a genuine mistake or had some sort of family emegency then yeah ask for the charge to be reversed. But to go and make something up again and again knowing that you can't manage your account properly just makes it A) More expensive for people like me who keep my current account within the terms and conditions and

More difficult for people who have a genuine need for a charge to be reversed.

jimmyjim_uk · 22 April 2005 at 5:17PM

How does avoiding bank charges make it more expensive for everyone else?

As Justin_Credit mentions, the share holders might have something to say, are you a Halifax shareholder M Thomson? :rolleyes:

Everyone knows that those charges are OTT. With banks making billions ever year why not try and claw some back when you do make a hic up.

I admit in my youth I was poor at managing my account. Thats why I wan't to share my experience of avoiding paying bank charges at the Halifax!!!

kazzy · 22 April 2005 at 5:25PM

Good on ya Jimmy,what they charge is extortionate anyway.If u go £1 o/d they charge the same flat rate as if you were to go over by £500.Ridiculous.As they charge interest on o/d anyway it's just another way of ripping u off .I agree with you

mrcow · 22 April 2005 at 6:05PM

My usual way of dealing with what I termed unwanted/unfair charges usually involved a lot of nagging until the person at the other end eventually gave in (they've since increase my OD limit by so much that it doesn't happen anymore - probably again something to do with the nagging [sigh]). It works well on partners too I find.

Actually.....that's generally the way I deal with anything that I'm not happy with......just don't give up/in.

But your way is much more subtle

AndyR_3 · 23 April 2005 at 3:06PM

Does this really work?

My bank (not halifax) log every time a charge is refunded, and the reason, and the fact that the customer has been given a copy of the T&Cs and it's been explained to them that no further charges can be refunded. We also log every time a customer requests a refund and is refused, so that other staff are aware.

digp · 23 April 2005 at 3:15PM

[sigh] these charges are unlawful and unenforceable at law. how does putting them into T&Cs make them lawful? please advise.

jimmyjim_uk · 23 April 2005 at 9:01PM

AndyR wrote:

Does this really work?

My bank (not halifax) log every time a charge is refunded, and the reason, and the fact that the customer has been given a copy of the T&Cs and it's been explained to them that no further charges can be refunded. We also log every time a customer requests a refund and is refused, so that other staff are aware.

Halifax log when they reverse the charge too. But to my knowlodge they don't log failed attemps to get charges reversed. In fact the charge isn't reversed anymore, they credit your account the same amount as the charge.

You've got to remember that these are people working for the Halifax, people with feelings, personalities, etc.. If someone came upto me with a convincing sob story who was polite and well mannered, chances are I would reverse the charge too (if I worked for a bank that is, but I don't).

Luckily Halifax leave refunded charges upto the discreation of the staff.

tip: how to avoid paying halifax bank charges when living in a city

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