URGENT help required - A&L charges due to money not being paid in each month

topyam

Hi everyone,

I urgently need your advice.

A while back I opened an A&L account. A&L never sent us online login details or account details. Meanwhile, as I wasn’t paying in a certain amount each month, I was being charged a fee (unaware that this was happening). Finally, A&L sent out a letter advising me of this – however the charges had by then amounted to £800+. I complained that these were unfair, and my account was frozen until the outcome of the bank charges court case.
I have just received a letter from A&L this morning saying that they require me to pay this amount back, and that my account will be unfrozen in 10 days, and the bank charges will continue.

Can anyone help? I really don’t want to pay this, especially as the charges are as a result of money not being paid in each month and going overdrawn, and not as a result of me spending and going overdrawn.

Any advice would really be welcome on how I deal with this.

Thanks in advance

Premier_2

How much was the monthly charge ilo not paying in the required minimum amount?

I thought it was only about £5 or £10 per month.

Of course if you didn't pay any money in at all, then you'd be into an unauthorised overdraft situation which would incur fees of its own, but for that to amount to £800+, it really was for some time.

Unfortunately, because of how long this has been going on, I doubt the bank will write off the charges as a goodwill gesture ... but you could ask.

When you contact them, even if they don't agree to write off the charges, see if you can get them to agree to effectively close the account so that no more monthly charges accrue for not paying in the required minimum amount.

As the latest article on bank charges effectively says, nothing is guaranteed now, it's all about negotiation so see what you can negotiate. The worst they can say is no.

oscar52

Premier,

£5 would be the first charge for under funding the account £500 month) - this would then trigger £5 a day unauth overdraft charges - but as you say, to incur £800 this would need to have been going on for several months.

natweststaffmember

topyam wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I urgently need your advice.

A while back I opened an A&L account. A&L never sent us online login details or account details. Meanwhile, as I wasn’t paying in a certain amount each month, I was being charged a fee (unaware that this was happening). Finally, A&L sent out a letter advising me of this – however the charges had by then amounted to £800+. I complained that these were unfair, and my account was frozen until the outcome of the bank charges court case.
I have just received a letter from A&L this morning saying that they require me to pay this amount back, and that my account will be unfrozen in 10 days, and the bank charges will continue.

Can anyone help? I really don’t want to pay this, especially as the charges are as a result of money not being paid in each month and going overdrawn, and not as a result of me spending and going overdrawn.

Any advice would really be welcome on how I deal with this.

Thanks in advance

Did you complain about the log in details at the time the account was opened and what response did you get?

I would perhaps suggest telling them that you have never received log in details which is why the charges occurred, and since the statements are online, you were unaware that the account remained/was open and would like them to close the account with no charges. Ask them for proof that you have logged into the account or where the advice was sent. Ask for a final response before going to the Financial Ombudsman if you spoke to them at the time about not receiving log in details.
If you didn't then ask them anyway but be aware they may reject this.

Goldielox_2

Exactly same thing happened to me. I wrote to them saying I didn't think I should have to repay the charges (£725!!) that I simply couldnt afford to , I had my hours in work cut and was already struggling and asked for their consideration, I also asked for the account to be closed. I got a very nice letter back from a lady in customer services and the charges were refunded and account closed. they were very nice to deal with.

hicskis

Call them - be nice - explain your situation - i think it's unreasonable that you were not notified sooner