can't believe what Abbey have tried to charge!!

vicki98_2

Just opened my Abbey statement and have discovered I am to be charged £50 (£20 overdraft fee + £30 we paid this item when you didn't have enough funds) for going 48p overdrawn!!

I couldn't believe it! and I was annoyed. This is the first time I have incurred any charges on this account and IMO £50 is just a little excessive for 48p!!
so i have just phoned them to query why this charge is so excessive for such a little amount and got the usual spiel of 'have you read you terms and conditions' and 'i suggest you read your terms and conditions blah blah blah' to then be told why i had been charged and that a further charge of £20 would be issued for being overdrawn during the new statement period and then a further charge of £20 because they have issued a statement whilst I am overdrawn.. so for 48p, that makes the charges a ridiculous £90!!!!

after a long drawn out 'discussion' with the woman on the phone, they have refunded these charges but it has still wound me up. She actually agreed (finally) that she thought it was excessive (probably just to shut me up!) but i can't believe that they think they can justify £90 in charges for such a small amount!

Scully's_Girl

Thats exactly what the OFT is talking about. I'm so glad you got the charges back. many of us have had to take this to small claims to get our money back (I have, I won, and now I'm quickly moving my stuff from A&L to Nationwide since theyre closing my account)
I think the writing may be on the wall for these excessive charges. Consumers are fighting back.

vicki98_2

yeah, thinking about it I am lucky I got them back with just a phone call. At first when the woman started to explain why I had been charged, I was actually thinking that getting this money back wasn't going to be so simple. While I was arguing my point (using the info on unfair charges from this site!) i kept thinking that this was going to turn into a mega war against Abbey .. think it was my threat to 'put it in writing to head office' that may have won it back for me! I wouldn't mind but the only reason i switched to Abbey was because of the mass of charges I had with Natwest!

They have warned me though, that I am only entitled to one refund in 12 months (bearing in mind they have refunded 4 in the last half an hour, but used the excuse of them all related to one transaction!) .. so basically they have told me that if this happens again, I have no chance of getting anything back .. even if its 10p! maybe i'll tread carefully for a while!

Scully's_Girl

I would. Dont tempt fate if you can (although who ever plans to go overdrawn?).
When I did, it was a very very very stupid miscalculation. I was so embarrassed because I handle all the money, I almost didnt tell my husband (but of course I did, which made him laugh & point at me). *husband's edit: I DID point & laugh! It's true!* Often they'll only offer 50%, but perhaps they reimbursed you the lot because they know what theyre in for if they dont (since small claims court is the new black this season).
I would definately tread lightly here so it doesnt happen again. I believe their charges are incredibly excessive. I told A&L that they should consider email notices when someone has gone overdrawn. I would have gotten the email right away, while the letter by mail takes 48 hours. If you havent happened to check your account online in that time, 48 hours have gone by while more & more direct debits keep pummelling your account, getting you deeper & deeper in that quagmire. THey told me they will not do that at this time. I told them email is free, so can only benefit them. They didnt see things my way. More's the pity.

Plutos_2

What do you mean - you could buy an entire KitKat for that. You should be ashamed of yourself!!!
(The bank's arguement???)

vicki98 wrote:

Just opened my Abbey statement and have discovered I am to be charged £50 (£20 overdraft fee + £30 we paid this item when you didn't have enough funds) for going 48p overdrawn!!

I couldn't believe it! and I was annoyed. This is the first time I have incurred any charges on this account and IMO £50 is just a little excessive for 48p!!
so i have just phoned them to query why this charge is so excessive for such a little amount and got the usual spiel of 'have you read you terms and conditions' and 'i suggest you read your terms and conditions blah blah blah' to then be told why i had been charged and that a further charge of £20 would be issued for being overdrawn during the new statement period and then a further charge of £20 because they have issued a statement whilst I am overdrawn.. so for 48p, that makes the charges a ridiculous £90!!!!

after a long drawn out 'discussion' with the woman on the phone, they have refunded these charges but it has still wound me up. She actually agreed (finally) that she thought it was excessive (probably just to shut me up!) but i can't believe that they think they can justify £90 in charges for such a small amount!