Confused.Can they really get away with this?

bemebe

After lurking around on the forum looking for similar stories to my own. I am sure no two stories are alike but I needed some point of reference and some advice. Hopefully someone could point me in the right direction. This is the situation -

August 2009 I opened a Halifax BoS Rewards Account which has a £300 overdraft facility

January 2010 I became unemployed and used the overdraft to pay for outstanding bills before I moved out of flat that I could no longer afford. I contacted by bank to make thrm aware of the situation as they had already put on a charge of £115 for that months fee. We agreed that I would be able to pay £30 fortnightly and that all my charges would be stopped. Account is then frozen.

Febuary 2010 I recieve a letter from my bank saying that I had failed to make payments and I would as such be charged and addition £230. Even though I had paid in the agreed ammount (they claimed I had agreed £40) So once again I immediately contacted them explained the situation and I was told the extra fees would remain on the account and I agreed the original ammount again with them requesting a letter be sent out before the next payment date to ensure it was correct. I also paid my fees over the phone.

March 2010 I check my online account and there has been another charge applied to the account of £115. In desperation I sent out the template letter pleading with my branch and making light of how these charges have put me into finical hardship. It has been over 15 days they have not responded. Instead I have an automated letter from the Collections Center reminding me that if I have not managed to pay back the full sum in 12 months (at £30 a fortnight that is not a realistic goal) that my case will be sold on to a debt collections agency.
It also states that they will not add any further charges but will continue to charge fees. Some of which have ammounted to £90.

Is there anyone out there with fresh eyes that could possibly shed some more light on this matter as to how they can continue to keep charging me when I cant even repay of the massive debt created by the fees. If it were the original over draft ammount of £300 I would have been able to manage that debt and have it paid back in no time. Now I am facing a long haul of never ending debt that I cant pay back with Job Seekers Allowance. It has become desperate so please any advice would be greatly appreciated. Would it be cheaper for me to look for a loan (its the last thing I would want to do but these fees are crippling)

johnnyroper

Send them a letter recorded delivery explaining situation and request the charges are stopped/refunded. Also state that should the situation not be resolved then you will get in touch with FOS to make a claim as they will look at financial hardship cases.give the bank 14 days to respond

natweststaffmember

Additionally I would ask for a transcript of the call. If you have paid in the £30.00 on time as agreed initially then I think you would have a case for the FOS since there is BANK ERROR rather than the need for a template.