Halifax Extortionate Bank Charge! Please Help

Leanne200

2 days ago I went overdrawn by £3.50 over my arranged overdraft limit.. It was just an oversight because I paid for something through Paypal and it came out of my bank account as I didn't realise Paypal was empty.

I spotted what had happened on my online banking within less than 24 hrs and transferred some money from my ISA to cover the £3.50 (My ISA is also with Halifax and has thousands of pounds in it!)

I got a letter today (they didn't waste any time!) saying they are charging me £35 fee plus and unauth overdraft charge £28!!!! Thats £63 for a £3.50 mistake!!! :eek:

I need to call them to try and get them to waive these charges! I have never ever had a charge from them before, I have been with them many years and also have a credit card with them.

Please can anyone give me any advice on what to say to them to ensure my best chances of not having to pay these ridiculous fees! I really can't afford them

Thanks in advance people

Orford

Leanne200 wrote: »

I need to call them to try and get them to waive these charges! I have never ever had a charge from them before, I have been with them many years and also have a credit card with them.

Please can anyone give me any advice on what to say to them to ensure my best chances of not having to pay these ridiculous fees! I really can't afford them

They will usually waive a single fee if this is the first time. Be polite, but firm and emphasise it's the only time, that your a long standing good customer (mention ISA and Credit card) and that you acted the moment you realised the mistake.

Leanne200

Thanks, do you think I would maybe be better going into my branch and trying to sort it face to face with someone?

jayroni

I have just got back £38.00 from the bank after they charged me for an unpaid d/d.
They took the money out my account on tuesday and left me with £8.00 to feed 3 kids on for the rest of the week. Needless to say I phoned them ASAP and spoke to god knows how many minions with the upshot being that basically they can take what they like.I was not going to take no for an answer so I emailed the complaints department and threatened them with the financial ombudsmen and the tabloids! and today I checked my account and found the money has been returned. You have to be really firm with these guys and being nice to them does not work. Forget writing or phoning them and just email an official complaint, that way you bypass all the eejits at the call centre! good luck.

jambosans

Leanne200 wrote: »

Thanks, do you think I would maybe be better going into my branch and trying to sort it face to face with someone?

You don't have to go into branch, just call Telephone Banking on 08457 20 30 40 and ask for the charges back. If you've not had any charges back previously on your account they will waive them for you as a goodwill gesture.

jambosans

jayroni wrote: »

You have to be really firm with these guys and being nice to them does not work. Forget writing or phoning them and just email an official complaint, that way you bypass all the eejits at the call centre! good luck.

Oh really? Calling my bank when I received a charge was resolved by a call centre advisor (certainly not an "eejit") within a few moments. Perhaps your bank is different.

Also, you are giving the OP incorrect advice. You cannot escalate a complaint via e-mail with Halifax, you must either: escalate a complaint via Telephone Banking or directly with Customer Relations; in branch; by fax; or in writing. See below link for more details:-

Halifax Website - How To Complain

Like I've said to the OP already, over-dramatics are not required, calling Telephone Banking should resolve this issue if it is a first offence.

natweststaffmember

jambosans wrote: »

Oh really? Calling my bank when I received a charge was resolved by a call centre advisor (certainly not an "eejit") within a few moments. Perhaps your bank is different.

Also, you are giving the OP incorrect advice. You cannot escalate a complaint via e-mail with Halifax, you must either: escalate a complaint via Telephone Banking or directly with Customer Relations; in branch; by fax; or in writing. See below link for more details:-

Halifax Website - How To Complain

Like I've said to the OP already, over-dramatics are not required, calling Telephone Banking should resolve this issue if it is a first offence.

I wouldn't take offence at the post. They are saying what they did so they aren't giving the OP incorrect advice if that is what happened to them. and they took action which resulted in a refund.

Blakey1982

I’m similar to Leanne………..

HI All

I’ve just been charged by my bank a £28, a £35, and a £35 charge for going over my overdraft by about £47 over 3 transactions.

I’ve had a situation like this before and they refunded 2 of the charges about 3 months ago but when I went in they said “right I can see you havent had charges refunded before so we’ll do it this time”

I’m worried that if I go in and ask for a refund they will decline and ask me to move my banking (which I’ve heard done before)???

Advice would be great

Thanks
Paul

jambosans

natweststaffmember wrote: »

I wouldn't take offence at the post. They are saying what they did so they aren't giving the OP incorrect advice if that is what happened to them. and they took action which resulted in a refund.

I did not take offence. Although I am not a fan of people tarring all the banks with the same brush based on their personal experience. Personal experience with bank differs so much, so a biased one sided opinion on a situation is not constructive for the OP IMO. There's no harm expressing it, but I think the poster could have done it with a little more tact.

Just to quote jayroni again:-

jayroni wrote: »

Forget writing or phoning them and just email an official complaint

Sounds like advice to me. I understand in the context of jayroni's situation it worked, however telling the OP to "forget" calling or writing is incorrect advice.

jambosans

Blakey1982 wrote: »

I’m worried that if I go in and ask for a refund they will decline and ask me to move my banking (which I’ve heard done before)???

If you bank with Halifax Bank of Scotland, they will not waive any further charges as goodwill if you have previously had a refund on your account. The only other bank I have experience with is Lloyds TSB, so I wouldn't know whether another bank would refund the charges. Most banks tend to offer a "first offence" goodwill gesture.

Again, if you bank with HBOS, they will not ask you to "move" (I assume you mean close your account?).

You would otherwise have to go down the Reclaims route - I'm sure natweststaffmember will point you in the write direction.

Leanne200

Easy now people...

Right so I took the advice of being polite and friendly and called them up and the man there was very friendly back and said he would take the charges off for me because I have a clean slate with them, never had a charge with them before and that I take good care of my accounts... he did stipulate that it would not be repeated and it was a 'one off' good will gesture though.

He then proceeded to try and convince me it would be a good idea to take a loan to pay off my overdraft.... hmmmm considering the insterest on that is £30 a month I can't see how monthly loan repayments on a 2k loan would help my monthly spenditure... I will tackle that problem as normal I think :beer: