First Direct charge me £100 in fees in 1 week

sambessey

Hi,

I have been an HSBC customer for 15 years and moved to First Direct in Jan.

I earn a good salary for my age (26), have a few thousand saved with First Direct themselves, and spend a lot on overseas cash withdrawls.

FD want to charge me £100 for going overdrawn 4 times in 4 days whist abroard.

I thought my company had changed my salary payments to First Direct, when infact they were still going thru my old account. As a result, I went overdrawn 4 times before realising and sorting it.

I have called them and despite being a very longstanding customer, the monkey on the phone was unwilling to help me. I said I would close my account.

Now I don't want to leave, as I actually like the bank and don't want to pay the fees. I was also considering opening an HSBC business account and was planning on moving several thousand more into FD over the next few months. Obviously none of this will happen if I leave the HSBC group. They (Read: guy on other end of the phone) don't care though.

Is there anything I can do/ try to not pay the fees preferably without leaving the bank?

If not, am I likely to be able to claw these unfair charges back?

Thanks

TheEffect

You made the mistake (rather your employer, however it is up to you to check your wages went in) and therefore should just lump the fees and live and learn. It's not really worth all the hassle and arguments for £100.

sambessey

TheEffect wrote: »

You made the mistake (rather your employer, however it is up to you to check your wages went in) and therefore should just lump the fees and live and learn. It's not really worth all the hassle and arguments for £100.

Oh it is. Maybe you've made it in life, but to us normal folk, £100 is a lot of money, especially when the girlfriend is unemployed and I have to pay for everything right now...

TheEffect

sambessey wrote: »

Oh it is. Maybe you've made it in life, but to us normal folk, £100 is a lot of money, especially when the girlfriend is unemployed and I have to pay for everything right now...

I'm 18, working 6 days a week on near minimum wage. I'm far from 'making it in life'. You made a mistake, it's clear and blatant in their terms and conditions about what happens when you go overdrawn. Accept the consequences and learn from your mistakes.

socrates

I have been a customer of FD for years.

On occasion (not very often at all in 18 years) I have had to complain - I always ask to speak to a supervisor - I find that if you talk to them 'on a level' rather than they way I would talk to the 'cow' at Argos Returns - then more often than not they are reasonable.

Give them another call and speak to a supervisor.

If you do not get your money back at least the £100 for joining covered it - you did get £100 didn't you?

neil9313

sambessey wrote: »

Hi,

I have been an HSBC customer for 15 years and moved to First Direct in Jan.

I earn a good salary for my age (26), have a few thousand saved with First Direct themselves, and spend a lot on overseas cash withdrawls.

FD want to charge me £100 for going overdrawn 4 times in 4 days whist abroard.

I thought my company had changed my salary payments to First Direct, when infact they were still going thru my old account. As a result, I went overdrawn 4 times before realising and sorting it.

I have called them and despite being a very longstanding customer, the monkey on the phone was unwilling to help me. I said I would close my account.

Now I don't want to leave, as I actually like the bank and don't want to pay the fees. I was also considering opening an HSBC business account and was planning on moving several thousand more into FD over the next few months. Obviously none of this will happen if I leave the HSBC group. They (Read: guy on other end of the phone) don't care though.

Is there anything I can do/ try to not pay the fees preferably without leaving the bank?

If not, am I likely to be able to claw these unfair charges back?

Thanks

Long standing customer "Joined in January" :rolleyes:

socrates

neil9313 wrote: »

Long standing customer "Joined in January" :rolleyes:

He was with HSBC - they are part of them

sambessey

neil9313 wrote: »

Long standing customer "Joined in January" :rolleyes:

You know what I meant, kindly stop posting crap in my thread.

sambessey

socrates wrote: »

I have been a customer of FD for years.

On occasion (not very often at all in 18 years) I have had to complain - I always ask to speak to a supervisor - I find that if you talk to them 'on a level' rather than they way I would talk to the 'cow' at Argos Returns - then more often than not they are reasonable.

Give them another call and speak to a supervisor.

If you do not get your money back at least the £100 for joining covered it - you did get £100 didn't you?

Yes, also £100 when I leave I believe, so either way the net amount is 0.

Extant

I don't think this is fair on their part at all.

I would escalate this through their formal complaints procedure. Yes, this is your fault - you didn't ensure your salary mandate had been changed correctly - but you were still paid in to an account within the same company. First Direct is owned by HSBC, and HSBC was in the same net position. Wrong account, fine - simple mistake - but not worth losing a customer over.

natweststaffmember

BarclaysManager wrote: »

I don't think this is fair on their part at all.

I would escalate this through their formal complaints procedure. Yes, this is your fault - you didn't ensure your salary mandate had been changed correctly - but you were still paid in to an account within the same company. First Direct is owned by HSBC, and HSBC was in the same net position. Wrong account, fine - simple mistake - but not worth losing a customer over.

And if they say no, come on over to the reclaims board