Abbey charges to my 19 year old son's account

abigailsrevenge

My 19 year old son received his Abbey bank statement yesterday informing him that he is to be charged £110 for being overdrawn - 14 lots of £5 for instant overdraft request fees, £25 unauthorised o/d fee and £15 instant o/d request fee. The fees have arisen because he used his card in various shops not realising he was overdrawn by a few pounds (it started at £1.25) when he has no overdraft facility. Surely the card should have been refused at the point of sale (15 times!) instead of letting him spend money he hasn't got? I specifically requested he had no overdraft facility so that this would not occur. We knew he was £48 o/d at the end of the month and so he repaid this with his savings.

He only earns about £200 per month from his part time job. He appreciates he has been a complete wally about the whole thing but that doesn't stop me feeling very aggrieved that they can get away with this!

Does anyone think he has grounds for reclaiming the charges? As he is 19, would the bank let me discuss the matter with them?

natweststaffmember

Ok, the bank will if you go in person allow you to discuss the account with them.
As this is the first time he has been charged, they may waive some of the charges. However, no bank can offer an account with a card that makes it absolutely impossible to incur charges or exceed the overdraft. I am sure he has learnt a valuable lesson with regards to that.

What they refuse to refund he should reclaim

nikki1520

I don't know where you stand on the validity of the charges - after all, he is 19, so I guess from a legal standpoint, and in the bank's view he has some responsibility for what has happened. As far as I'm aware the only cards declined at point of sale when no money is in the account are Electron/SOlo cards - does he have one of these?

Perhaps the line to go down is that the total charges are disproportionate? After all, the end debt was less than half the charges

However, you can speak to them. You need to get him either to phone or go in with you, and get through security, and then give them authority to speak to you. I've done this myself for my brother's girlfriend, who is a bit of a financial dunce sometimes.

Good luck!!

abigailsrevenge

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!

I think perhaps getting him an Electron/Solo card would be a good idea. I've told him the only way to get round getting charges is to get the money from the cash point until it runs out(!) but whether that sinks in .....!

I think you're right saying he may learn his lesson the hard way - here's hoping.

elisebutt65

abigailsrevenge wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!

I think perhaps getting him an Electron/Solo card would be a good idea. I've told him the only way to get round getting charges is to get the money from the cash point until it runs out(!) but whether that sinks in .....!

I think you're right saying he may learn his lesson the hard way - here's hoping.

My 14yr old has an Electron asnd he's managed to go overdrawn - somehow- on that one! Luckily they didn't charge for this after I had a word with them and paid it off straight away.

nikki1520

I think if you have some money in the account and then do two transactions very quickly, the computer doesn't always catch up, and realise the second one shouldn't be authorised - does that make sense?

ILW

Sorry but he is 19.
I would have thought a bit old for getting his mum to sort out his finances.
Let the charges be a lesson to him.

natweststaffmember

ILW wrote: »

Sorry but he is 19.
I would have thought a bit old for getting his mum to sort out his finances.
Let the charges be a lesson to him.

I am almost twice his age, I would still ask my mum for help if I needed it. Don't you just love mothers :j:j

endure

If his account has no overdraft facility why are the bank allowing him to go overdrawn?

abigailsrevenge

We've decided he's got to dig himself out of this one.

I've taken his card off him, he's going to repay the bank what he can from his savings. I'll lend him the rest on the understanding he repays me from his next pay packet, then he can have the card back.

To be fair, he didn't ask me to help! (Although he did ask if there are any jobs he could do around the house to get some dosh - must be desperate)

We're going to look into reclaiming the expenses as being disproportionate but won't hold my breath .....

VR6

Certainly put a written complaint in to Abbey. I had an issue where they tried to take money from the wrong account (their fault) for several standing orders got no where with the branch. Put the complaint in writing (get Abbey's leaflet from your branch) issue resolved with all charges refunded + good will gesture.