Bank Lost My Deposit, £100's In Fees And Bad Credit Rating

BigMark

I am out of work currently but manage to scrape enough money by each month to put into my bank to cover my outgoings which aren't a great deal. But Alliance and Leicester don't have a branch in my home town so I have to pay money in at the post office. As one monday the town branch was very busy I went to a tiny local post office for the first time and paid in £200 in cash there so there would be enough to cover my direct debits for the month.

Turns out the old man in his little kiosk got it all wrong and the money never entered my account. I rang the bank and sent them my deposit receipt but not heard from them since. Problem is that the bank has declined several direct debits, including loan, credit card and mortgage payments etc etc. Each time they decline a payment they are charging me £25, plus the companies the payments were going to charge me a fee and the bank is charging me £5 per day for being over my agreed limit.

Problem is that this all started on the 2nd of March, they still haven't sorted it and the costs keep rising (at least £300 in charges so far) even though it is they're fault. What money I scrape together this month I can't pay in to cover the following months bills as the bank will take this money to pay their charges so I am stuck.

Also to ease things I applied for a new credit card so I could transfer my balances across to 0%, cancel the old cards and ease some of the burden. Except for the 1st time ever I got declined. I will receive a letter why shortly but if it's due to my credit rating being affected by this situation isn't it the banks fault here to?

What can I do to get this sorted, they've lost my money and still haven't sorted it, have ruined my credit rating and the fees keep racking up?

ninky_2

What a nightmare and absolutely no fault of your own. I hope it all works out for you...and some experts come along shortly to help sort this mess out.

ninky_2

Can you physically travel to a proper A+L branch today? I would sit there and refuse to leave until they rectify this mess and refund all the unfair charges it racked up. Thank goodness you kept the deposit slip.

BigMark

ninky wrote: »

Can you physically travel to a proper A+L branch today? I would sit there and refuse to leave until they rectify this mess and refund all the unfair charges it racked up. Thank goodness you kept the deposit slip.

Nearest one is 20 or so miles away so it is definitely an option, if not today then tomorrow. I am thinking of trying to get the press interested and getting them lots of bad publicity. Would serve them right and make them hurry up.

Valli

Did you keep a copy of the deposit slip?

Write to them, stating what has happened and ask for
a) the deposited funds to be credited to your account.
b) all subsequent charges to be credited (outline them in your letter)
c) a full and unreserved apology
d) refund of out-of-pocket expenses caused by them not crediting the money at the time of deposit (eg phone calls and letters)

Give them 14 days from the date of your letter and send it recorded delivery. Include a copy of your deposit slip and details of deposit (time, date and breakdown of cash (eg 10 x £20))

Then if no joy its the Financial Services Authority. No need to get the press involved (just yet;)) but you must complain in writing to A&L before you involve the FSA. Save copies of all letters.

No more phone calls!

nomoneytoday

They messed it up, you have proof so ask them to fix it asap at no cost you to

BigMark

So far I've spoken to them on the phone as soon as I realised. The very next day I sent them a letter with a copy of the receipt and stating that it is costing me money and it's their fault. And yesterday I sent them a 'secure message' via my online account stating how I am fed up with waiting, outlining the ongoing costs and fees etc. No reply yet though.

Regarding my credit rating can they fix that or will the fact the payments to credit card, loan and mortgage companies have been missed mean that there is too many parties invlolved to fix? I could really do with a 0% card right now.

Valli

Thing is when you send a letter you get a reply - then when you get their apology you have something to attack your credit rating with.
You MUST write ASAP - damage limitation will take a bit longer but when they start crediting your deposit and charges to your accounts you can be seen as blameless. If your credit rating has been hit you can ask them to sort that too.

Don't combine all your problems...
Maybe the 'being out of work' has more to do with the credit card - who is going to lend money to someone with no income? But check on the credit cards forums for that - you really are NOT in a good position to be borrowing more money IMHO

ETA - ah you're not wanting to borrow more just transfer debt - but same thing applies re being unemployed at the moment.

ninky_2

BigMark wrote: »

I could really do with a 0% card right now.

No BigMark, you really couldn't. Taking out debt to mask your poverty is the worst thing you could do right now.

Go with a begging bowl down the benefits office or find any crisis charities willing to help you out. Just don't take out more debt based on the hope of future non-guaranteed earnings. Your future is worth more than that.

BigMark

ninky wrote: »

No BigMark, you really couldn't. Taking out debt to mask your poverty is the worst thing you could do right now.

Go with a begging bowl down the benefits office or find any crisis charities willing to help you out. Just don't take out more debt based on the hope of future non-guaranteed earnings. Your future is worth more than that.

Wasn't looking at it as more debt. Plan was to transfer balance from my other 2 cards onto one. Cancel them and them pay a monthly amount on 0% card each month to reduce, clear debt by time 0% perieod is over or at lest substantially reduce it.

ninky_2

okay, sorry just assumed. good luck!