Bank Charges - illegal?

Curry_Queen

I agree in principle with what you're saying, but at the end of the day the banks - be it an ATM machine, or counter staff - can only tell you the balance as it appears on their screen at that particular moment in time ... they're not psychic ... but the majority of the time that will also include an "available balance" to account for any transactions going through the process and waiting to clear.

Even keeping track of our own finances is only as accurate as the data we input ourselves, and I'm sure we've all made the mistake of forgetting to include a debit card transaction, cash withdrawal, cheque etc, therefore thinking we have more money available then we really do, so it seems there is no foolproof way of checking.

I guess when the budgets are tight and every penny counts, then even forgetting something as small as a £5 transaction is enough to put us over our limits and launch us into the ever spiralling debt maze with bank charges

Hawksmuir

Been chasing A&L for £120, was offered £100, will accept and leave the account with 1p in it, I am sure they will not notice send out a monthly bill which will cost a few pounds throughout the year

andosrowsk

I'm about to write off to MBNA using the generic letter I found in the "Library" forum at https://www.bankactiongroup.co.uk (courtesy of inmypocketnottheirs, thanks mate). Just a couple of questions before I do....

Firstly, should I add references to the Consumer Credit Act 1999 to BAG generic letter? To me it just seems like this makes it look more like you know what you are talking about.

And second....I need MBNA's address!!!

Any input from people who've reclaimed charges from MBNA would be much appreciated too :beer:

Cheers,

Andy

Mark7799

dchurch24 wrote:

So it's perfectly fair for Dell to apply for the money 3.5 weeks later?

In this day and age it should be reasonable to expect on-line banking, teller staff and cash-points to tell the truth about a balance.

Why I should have to carry a notebook around with me to 'compliment' these services in the 21st century is beyond my comprehension.

(Before anyone comments I'll say it already - I am ex-bank staff and I believe that the current level of charges are extortionate)

No-one is suggesting you carry a notebook and pencil around with you. We're talking about simple money management. One of the first rules I was taught is always assume money has left your account the minute you spend it and never assume money due is with you until you see it on your account. As regards taking up lots of time on monitoring, I would suggest it takes less time than entering into correspondence to get the charges back after they've been incurred.

djohn2002uk

Will one of you please explain why you are using a thread that has proved so useful to so many people, for having a go at dchurch24.
I hope that if you start a thread that proves as good as this one has been, it doesn't get hi-jacked in the same way.
And I'll add that I have not benefitted from this thread but have enjoyed reading of the successes.
Even though I might think one or two may have contributed to their own problems, they are all entitled to be treated within the law.

davilown

dchurch24 wrote:

So it's perfectly fair for Dell to apply for the money 3.5 weeks later?

In this day and age it should be reasonable to expect on-line banking, teller staff and cash-points to tell the truth about a balance.

Why I should have to carry a notebook around with me to 'compliment' these services in the 21st century is beyond my comprehension.

Did they charge extra interest when they took the money out later?

davilown

Curry_Queen wrote:

I agree in principle with what you're saying, but at the end of the day the banks - be it an ATM machine, or counter staff - can only tell you the balance as it appears on their screen at that particular moment in time ... they're not psychic ... but the majority of the time that will also include an "available balance" to account for any transactions going through the process and waiting to clear.

Even keeping track of our own finances is only as accurate as the data we input ourselves, and I'm sure we've all made the mistake of forgetting to include a debit card transaction, cash withdrawal, cheque etc, therefore thinking we have more money available then we really do, so it seems there is no foolproof way of checking.

I guess when the budgets are tight and every penny counts, then even forgetting something as small as a £5 transaction is enough to put us over our limits and launch us into the ever spiralling debt maze with bank charges

ATMs vary in the time they time delay on balnces. Some are upto the min ie if yo take £20 out and then reinsert your card 2 mins later, they will show the withdrawal. Some however are extremely delayed by as much as 4 or 5 days
:beer: monster

icefall

I have just taken the 1st step and ordered copies of my bank statements back 6 years from Barclays under the data protection act.

I dialled the number from a website provided by someone earlier in this thread (thank you!) ttps://www.quickbase.com/db/ba773tcmj?a=q&qid=46 did as suggested kept pressing * till I got to a queue for a human waited about a minute, so am really pleased.

I spoke to a man called Kevin who seemed fine, when I said for £10 he said no £5 and they will take 5-7 working days to arrive.

Today when I got home from work I found a letter informing me that Barclays are putting up all their charges! I think that helped me take the plunge and make the call. I have been thinking about this for a while and have been following the thread.

carlih1

Hi

just got a letter, sent mine on 17th jan, saying their charges are fair and in line with their terms and conditions. Also that they have to apply the charges manually and that is why it costs so much.

Anyone done this roll? job title yes or no man? like the little bird that keep pecking!!!!

Anyway do i have a stronger hold over them now can i ask who is in control of this decision when and where?

Thanks

Carli

Tim_L

Perfectly Kafkaesque! Charges cost a lot to apply because they are applied manually. Yet if the charges were not applied at all they would cost nothing at all. So why apply the charges in the first place? (And anyway if they are claiming that this system is not automated then they are lying).

Worth filing a copy of this letter somewhere with the BAG, because it is laughable and does seem to demonstrate that the charges are an end in themselves.