Help needed regarding bank charges

carly57

Hi all I have had an overdraft with the First Trust for a few years which I had never used until Jan this year, when I went overdrawn. On 27th Feb an arangement fee of £30 was taken from my account the same as previous years, and on 6th APRIL £62.16 charges for using my overdraft from Dec 08-Feb 09, even though it was never ever used until 21st of Jan 09.Now I am paying a maintenance fee of £15 every month its now a circle of my own making I rang the bank yesterday and explained that I have been on benefits for six years since i was widowed and my only income is state benefits ie IS DLA BB and CB ,and could not afford these charges he basically said nothin to be done but pay up .So i was so angry I applied online and was accepted for an Alliance and Lecister premier plus account ,I dont no a thing about banking but could someone please tell me have I done the right thing ,£15 would pay my mobile a month,advice please ,carmen.

esmerellda

Yes you have, get your money away from bank that treats you that way (although they are much of a muchness unfortunately) and start reclaiming all your charges on hardship grounds (have a read of martins guide which you can find in http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/)

I dont think I would have gone for a premier plus account though, as you have to pay in £500 a month or you get charged. I'd probably have gone for a basic account with no ties/limits and no overdraft.

I don't know how your charges have been worked out, re charges charged quarterly with first trust (I'll have a look at their T&C's)