Lloyds charge

snake16

I have a business account with Lloyds (my only account with them), which I use purely for paying in my (self employed) business cheques & BACS payments. As soon as the funds clear I transfer on line to one of my other accounts. I have no overdraft on this account & do not need one.

Last week I set up a payment to cover cheques received from the previous week, but foolishly forgot a bank holiday was approaching.

Result was the cheques had not cleared (by one day) so they bounced it (not a problem) & charged me £35 for the privilege :mad:.

The next day I received a letter, stating that they had bounced the transfer as if they had paid it, it would have left me.....wait for it......37p in credit:T

Obviously it was a slight error on my part in forgetting the bank holiday, so I phoned & asked "any chance of not charging me as it was an oversight & only a few hours & you knew the funds would clear?", Answer "on yer bike, read the T&Cs you signed".

I then explained about the letter stating that it says that I WAS NOT overdrawn & would not have been even if you had paid it, "makes no difference, computer generated letter etc"

So the questions are, as I have a letter that appears to say I wasn't overdrawn from them, is this enough for me to demand the £35 back?

If not, is the charge one which could come under the heading of extortionate & could I make a claim on it?

If they do not refund, I will close the account ASAP & would like to push to get the £35 back, I was thinking about the small claims court as the letter is IMHO evidence, but maybe I have it wrong.

Thanks for any help:beer:

natweststaffmember

You were overdrawn as the balance would have included uncleared cheques. It might be worth stating to them that as this is a first time that you are prepared to take your business elsewhere. I would talk to your business manager if you have one, rather than a call centre.
Otherwise, it is a standard reclaims. Any court in the land would stay a bank charges case.

snake16

Thanks for the reply. I have written to my local branch late today as they failed to return my phone call.

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Any court in the land would stay a bank charges case.

Sorry, don't quite understand, do you mean a county court would see in my favour?

natweststaffmember

snake16 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I have written to my local branch late today as they failed to return my phone call.



Sorry, don't quite understand, do you mean a county court would see in my favour?

They would put a stay or hold on any bank charges claim in county court as the OFT test case is ongoing.