Do I have a cause for complaint against my bank??

janjay_2

I paid in a foreign cheque to my bank account and was told it would take 4 to 6 weeks for the money (approx £1,500) to reach to my account. When I queried why the funds had not been paid I was assured that it was being processed.

It appears that my cheque had been 'lost in the post' between the branch and their international department. A photocopy of cheque was sent to international dept and I have been told cheque will be paid but it will take 4 to 6 weeks from now!!

Bank has had my money for almost 3 months and calmly tell me I may have to wait another month before being paid. During this time they have not returned my phone calls and maintain that they are not responsible for the postal service.

I feel that at the very least I deserve a proper explanation of what has happened to my money. I was also going to ask for a waiver of the usual charges for negotiating a foreign cheque and the interest I have lost on the £1,500 through the delay.

Is this reasonable. Do I have any chance of success?
Has anyone out there had a similar experience. Be glad to hear your comments.

Jay

jonesMUFCforever

They will have a get out clause in their terms and conditions.
Things do go missing even in banks internal post but at least they seem to have carried out the correct procedure in copying the front and back of cheque.
This will have been sent to the foreign bank - the delay will here- in that the bank won't debit their customer's account until that customer checks their own banking records to make sure that it has not already been debited and of course they will not be in any hurry to reply.
I would certainly appeal to your bank's good nature and ask for any negotiation fees etc to be refunded because it was their mistake in the first place.

D_Brundle

BTW it can take up to a year for a cheque drawn on a foreign account to clear properly. Don't assume because there is money credited to your account that the cheque has cleared.

This is commonly used in cheque fraud to obtain goods by deception or to trick people into sending money. A common scam at the moment is for email fraudsters to send cheques to pay for goods on ebay, or they set up fake jobs where they mail cheques to victims to cash and then forward the money on. The real kisser with this is if the cheque fails to clear your bank will come after you for the money.

Don't trust cheques unless you know the person very well indeed.

janjay_2

Thanks for the replies - it sounds as if the bank holds all the cards. But I still feel angry at their lack of concern and off-hand attitude and there's nothing to stop me changing banks. (After I get the money in my account of course)

J