Reclaiming bank charge

Cheetah

Just come across this subforum and wanted to know if i had a case:

(I know its a small amount but it's still a decent night out for me)

Bank: NatWest
When: 28th April 2005
Amount: £35
Reason: Went overdrawn because of a direct debit.

Now I was only 15 at the time so I just got on with it and paid it. But I was told by someone recently that I shouldn't have been charged...(forgot his reasoning though).

What do you think?

natweststaffmember

Cheetah wrote: »

Just come across this subforum and wanted to know if i had a case:

(I know its a small amount but it's still a decent night out for me)

Bank: NatWest
When: 28th April 2005
Amount: £35
Reason: Went overdrawn because of a direct debit.

Now I was only 15 at the time so I just got on with it and paid it. But I was told by someone recently that I shouldn't have been charged...(forgot his reasoning though).

What do you think?

Ask them the question that you were 15 years old at the time, and that your account terms and conditions stated that you couldn't have Direct debits on your account and that you had one bounced and was charged. If they ask what took you so long to query this, mention that you have only recently been made aware that there is a term within your account at that time which meant the bank should not have charged you.

dunstonh

You can be charged at 15 and you can have direct debits at 15 at manager discretion (at least you could at Lloyds). However, any debt you incur is not enforceable.

natweststaffmember

dunstonh wrote: »

You can be charged at 15 and you can have direct debits at 15 at manager discretion (at least you could at Lloyds). However, any debt you incur is not enforceable.

Natwest terms and conditions for both the Adapt and the Card plus(predecessor) stated "standing orders and direct debits are not permitted on the account".
It still says that today.
For a change I know this one inside out and back to front

Cheetah

Hmm, interesting...

Do I write or ring? Who do I write to/ring?

I currently have direct debits setup on the account (I'm now 19 - still have the same account which is my main account)...will they remove/cancel these if I complain? Should I wait until I have converted it to a Student account (which I'm going to do in about a month)...

...Also the direct debit was for a PayPal transaction (yeah - naughty 15 year old me), would they argue that point aswell

natweststaffmember

Cheetah wrote: »

Hmm, interesting...

Do I write or ring? Who do I write to/ring?

I currently have direct debits setup on the account (I'm now 19 - still have the same account which is my main account)...will they remove/cancel these if I complain? Should I wait until I have converted it to a Student account (which I'm going to do in about a month)...

...Also the direct debit was for a PayPal transaction (yeah - naughty 15 year old me), would they argue that point aswell

You only need to argue terms and conditions but put it in writing as you have told us. You were 15 years old at the time, your account terms and conditions didn't permit standing orders or direct debits and you got charged.