Alliance and Leicester damaging my credit report

Maccydu

Hi all,

Long story cut short ...

I had a £700 overdraft with Alliance & Leicester, and went £4 over the limit (through one of their charges, not from spending). They charged me over £100 in fees, and when I complained they refunded me £25 as a goodwill gesture, and then gave me 30 days to pay the overdraft off (which I did)

However, on checking my credit report they've got me down as two months in arrears in January. Not sure how this is possible, because December is showing as fine.

I've since closed the account, but should they really have changed my account status to 2 months in arrears? I can't help think it's because I complained. And all for the sake of being £4 over my limit (which yes, I know was my fault)

Any advice?

Matt

YorkshireBoy

Maccydu wrote: »

...went £4 over the limit (through one of their charges, not from spending).

What was the charge for?

...when I complained

Formally?...or simply verbally to a CSA on the phone?

...on checking my credit report they've got me down as two months in arrears in January. Not sure how this is possible, because December is showing as fine.

A&L probably use statement periods, rather than calendar months. ie, if the account was opened on the 16th of the month, and you were over your authorised limit from, say, the 11th to the 20th of January, then that's technically two months.

Maccydu

It was an under-funding fee. Again, my fault I know.

I complained to a CSA, and she asked me if I wanted to accept a £25 goodwill gesture refund there and then, or escalate it to their accounts review department. I told her I wanted it reviewed.

I then got a letter a week later saying the charges were in line with there T&Cs (although I'm going to challenge that, because I think they need to be proportionate, and they definitely weren't), and that they'd refund me the £25 anyway. I think the charges in total were around £140 (again, for being £4 over). Two days after that I got the letter saying they wanted the overdraft repaying within 30 days.

Just annoyed at how heavy handed it all seems.

Matt

cifpower

How did you get £140 in charges for being over your limit? What were the charges for?

Maccydu

£5 a day for every day you're over. I didn't realise until they sent me a letter about 21 days after I went over

cifpower

Ah. I take it you check your account daily now?

Maccydu

Yeah. Although that account is closed now.

It was pre-LightBulbMoment. (it was actually the catalyst for the LBM)

I can deal with the charges. I made a mistake and that's what I needed to pay. It's the blemish on an otherwise spotless credit record that I'm annoyed about

cifpower

I doubt a complaint would get you far as the charges were placed legitamitely and as you were over your limit for 2 months the bank were within their rights to place the late markers on your file.

Maccydu

I'm still not convinced the charges were legitimate though. Certainly not the scale of them anyway. Again, they need to be proportionate. Wonder if I should try a letter to them and see?

cifpower

You could always try a letter but if you were over your limit for days which spanned 2 statement periods then that would be way they put 2 late markers on your file.

Maccydu

I guess I'll try them. Thing is, there's not two late marker. Just one marker at 2 months overdue. December is fine. Jan is overdue, Feb is fine, March is settled.