Being lied to by the Halifax, help!

deepindebtor

I just don't know where to turn or what to do.

Bit of a story but bear with me:

I setup a paypal account linked to my bank account with the halifax and things went badly wrong.

They tried to take money from my account but at the same time I had an incorrect payment request made my Amazon which caused the PayPal payments to bounce.

Amazon have since apologised and refunded my money, if they only knew the problem they created!

These bounced transactions were repeated multiple times over and over without my knowledge by PayPal first by direct debit and then by debit card.

Obviously I was charged by the Halifax every time they did this.

Looking at the account there is no rhyme or reason, some things are paid and added to the overdraft while others are not.

PayPal tried to charge my debit card, instead of them being told "insufficient funds" for some reason the halifax refused the transaction and then charged me £35 again, this is surely wrong anyway?

Point of the story, I have been left with over £600 of debt to Halifax in a couple of weeks due to this.

They would hear none of it. They want the money, which I consider to be stolen due to the way it was handled.

I was advised to come to an agreement to pay something every month, they would freeze the account and the interest. We agreed £20 per month as I am currently unemployed.

Since this agreement I have received interest AND a mysterious charge, which is not explained on the statement. Assume its for being in debt.

But that is against what they advised me.

I am really at my wits end, I am the innocent party in all of this and they are bankrupting me.

I now get very very depressed and suicidal just thinking about it.

I desperately need some advice as I just have no hope left and feel totally robbed and abused by these people.

What can I do? Who can I appeal to?

Obviously I have now started to seek my bank charges back, this was the only way I could think of doing something but the wait will no doubt be long and I don't think this is the answer.

I think they have handled this in a very bad way.

I understand if I just took the money they would be justified but doing this because of an error, that just isnt just and fair and honest is it?

dunstonh

I am really at my wits end, I am the innocent party in all of this and they are bankrupting me.

I doubt they are bankrupting you. Its way too early for that and for just £600 it isnt in their interests to.

What can I do?

Put in a formal complaint to the Halifax. Go straigh to their head office complaints team, not the branch. Tell them what happened, that Amazon accepted liability for the error and that their charges of £600 are unfair (of course that only works if the debt is made up charges and interest to Halifax and not other things as well).

You should also contact Amazon as it was their error that incurred the charges and ask them to refund. However, they would only be liable for charges directly related to their error.

deepindebtor

Amazon, when I notified them of their mistake, immediately refunded their error.

I wrote to the Halifax customer complaints and the basic reply was....tough.

They have just sent me a form to show I am in hardship which I will return.

Not sure how this is going to help me.

They have said they won't refund any charges.

Their pattern FOR charging was totally erratic.

But £650 charges in one month.

When it isn't my fault.

And sure they arent making me bankrupt but it feels that way and I have considered making myself bankrupt because of this, I just dont see a way out now or in the medium term.

Just so depressed by this

DrScotsman

Um...

It sounds like this is all Amazon's fault, not Halifax's. What does everyone else think?

deepindebtor

I think amazon made one error.

I feel Halifax are not being compassionate and understanding that this was not something planned or indeed some kind of accounting error on my part.

It was a set of unfortunate circumstances of which I was not in control until it was too late.

They should remove the charges as a one off event to be compassionate and also they should have done something sooner to warn me or just stop the direct debit charges mounting.

Also why was I charged for bounced debit CARD charges, surely they just say sorry this person doesnt have the funds, "Insufficient Funds" and the transactions is cancelled. Never heard of anyone being billed for an "insufficient funds" transaction on a debit card transaction, surely that in itself is just plain wrong?

Does anyone see the pattern of abuse?

Its like we can break the rules whenever we like and there is nothing YOU can do about it, just lie there and suffer.

That is how I feel, totally abused and with no control over what is being done to me, no one to back me up to say, stop, wait your not being fair to the consumer here, right these series of wrongs.

I dont know as I say what to do or where to turn.

esmerellda

Write to the CEO and take this to the Financial Ombudsman.

Also open a new account elsewhere and dump halifax - why bank with people who treat you this way.

natweststaffmember

deepindebtor wrote: »

I think amazon made one error.

I feel Halifax are not being compassionate and understanding that this was not something planned or indeed some kind of accounting error on my part.

It was a set of unfortunate circumstances of which I was not in control until it was too late.

They should remove the charges as a one off event to be compassionate and also they should have done something sooner to warn me or just stop the direct debit charges mounting.

Also why was I charged for bounced debit CARD charges, surely they just say sorry this person doesnt have the funds, "Insufficient Funds" and the transactions is cancelled. Never heard of anyone being billed for an "insufficient funds" transaction on a debit card transaction, surely that in itself is just plain wrong?
This bit I don't understand. That is how they have charged when they haven't paid an amount on your debit card. I think you need an explanation at least of this issue.
Does anyone see the pattern of abuse?

Its like we can break the rules whenever we like and there is nothing YOU can do about it, just lie there and suffer.

That is how I feel, totally abused and with no control over what is being done to me, no one to back me up to say, stop, wait your not being fair to the consumer here, right these series of wrongs.
Please calm down, we can help and get you through this. Dunstonh has said put something in writing to their head office and amethyst has said if you get no joy then go through the FOS which I would agree with. And....keep us updated and if you need more help then shout and we'll help
I dont know as I say what to do or where to turn.

Advice is put something in writing to Halifax head office, once you receive a response post up and we'll help more.
I would include the payment plan bit as well since that is clearly bank error on adding charges and interest(which should lead to them refunding that part of the issue that has happened).