Bank Charges....HELP!

phillyk

Please can someone give me advice on how to claim back bank charges?

I had an electricity bill come out of my account on December 31st and had previously transferred money into the account to pay for it. I stupidly was £2 short for the bill and my bank Lloyds pulled back the DD.

I have called Lloyds to speak to them about it and try and apologise (!!!) but they have told me they are going to charge me £20. So for £2 over my overdraft limit, I have been charged £20! How does this make sense..... plus thought they would have been a bit lenient over Christmas!! (Yeah right- this is banks were talking about here!)

I see there are a lot of changes with bank charges, so if anyone could give me some advice that would be great!

Thanks

scottishblondie

If it's a "first offence" you can try throwing yourself on their mercy, going to the branch might work better than over the phone. But I think the banks are probably not feeling too "generous" since the court ruling. I'm sorry to say you probably won't get anywhere.

Alpine_Star

Many banks have an unpublished policy of refunding the charge for your first offence, particularly in circumstances where the amount is minor - as in this case - and I would take chipbeck's advice.

Premier_2

chipbeck wrote: »

...If I were you I'd go into your local branch and have a word with the manager, I would assume these guys would certainly have the power to refund £20.

LloydsTSB don't have branch managers located in branch who look after their customers like they did in the days of Captain Mainwaring

If you read the OP rather than just jumped in with the abuse, you'd have seen the OP has already asked the bank for a refund, but apparently got refused.

natweststaffmember

Premier wrote: »

LloydsTSB don't have branch managers located in branch who look after their customers like they did in the days of Captain Mainwaring

If you read the OP rather than just jumped in with the abuse, you'd have seen the OP has already asked the bank for a refund, but apparently got refused.

All branches have managers Premier, albeit, I would agree with what you are saying with regards to the authority they have. I think the OP does need to go and speak to someone face to face rather than over the telephone and explain the context of the charge and its effect ie the hardship they have suffered as a result and kindly ask for a refund based on that.
Remember, banks still have to look at customers in financial hardship and regardless of the amount they should treat their customers sympathetically. If this was a continual issue then they have every right to decline it but if this was a minor mistake then I would expect them to refund it.

Alpine_Star

Premier wrote: »

LloydsTSB don't have branch managers located in branch who look after their customers like they did in the days of Captain Mainwaring

If you read the OP rather than just jumped in with the abuse, you'd have seen the OP has already asked the bank for a refund, but apparently got refused.

Clearly it is better to go into the branch and talk face to face with someone who is likely to have more authority than ring some numpty in a call centre.

phillyk

Thanks for your help everyone!
I know £20 does seem minimal but at the minute every penny counts!!
I'll pop into my local Lloyds and see if anyone can help me.

Thanks again!

Premier_2

natweststaffmember wrote: »

All branches have managers Premier, ...

No argument there, other than that's not what I said
The managers are there to manage their staff (and get sales up), not to look after client's accounts.

natweststaffmember wrote: »

I think the OP does need to go and speak to someone face to face rather than over the telephone ...

It makes no difference, usually. The call centre staff have full authority over the customers account. If you go into a LLoydsTSB branch to discuss your account, all the counter staff often do now is advise you to call the call centre or pass you the phone.

The staff in branch are there to flog more services (and carry out transactions if they really have to)

chipbeck

Premier wrote: »

LloydsTSB don't have branch managers located in branch who look after their customers like they did in the days of Captain Mainwaring

If you read the OP rather than just jumped in with the abuse, you'd have seen the OP has already asked the bank for a refund, but apparently got refused.

Read the OP, he said he'd CALLED the bank, my suggestion was to go in. Not really abuse Premier just airing my views that the majority of your posts seem to adopt the same smug 'you are stuffed if you want any money back' attitude.

Premier_2

chipbeck wrote: »

Read the OP, he said he'd CALLED the bank, my suggestion was to go in. Not really abuse Premier just airing my views that the majority of your posts seem to adopt the same smug 'you are stuffed if you want any money back' attitude.

I read your post.

I beg to differ, I consider calling someone "Billy no mates" is indeed abusive.

"Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps."

natweststaffmember

Premier wrote: »

No argument there, other than that's not what I said
The managers are there to manage their staff (and get sales up), not to look after client's accounts.

Yep, and they may have minimal refund authority at their discretion as other banks may have ie a small amount like £50.

It makes no difference, usually. The call centre staff have full authority over the customers account. If you go into a LLoydsTSB branch to discuss your account, all the counter staff often do now is advise you to call the call centre or pass you the phone.
It that what they do these days in the branches of LloydsTSB?? They are slightly different from other banks, perhaps.
The staff in branch are there to flog more services (and carry out transactions if they really have to)

lol, I completely agree with the last point.