Santander: Sudden expiry of my Santander overdraft facility

Adapazari

I have had an "overdraft expiry" notification from Santander. This notice (not a letter but a slip of paper) has arrived out of the blue. I have been with Abbey for about 12 years, now swallowed by Santander. The notification is dated 7th May but I only received it today and the expiry date is 1st July.

I had some problems which affected my health, resulting in around 8 months off work. I've been back at work for around 18 months and have slowly been making inroads into my debt.

I have never defaulted on my mortgage repayments and my mortgage will finish in 5 years time.

I've had the overdraft for many years and it's never been up for review. I guess the new broom is sweeping clean. I've never exceeded my overdraft although I use it to it's max every month. When I called Santander the adviser said the expiry could possibly because of a poor credit rating. She advised me to set up an interview at a local branch to discuss the matter or if I want to arrange a repayment programme, to call another number (which she gave to me) but not to call them until about 2 weeks before the expiry date.

To be honest, I would rather make a monthly repayment arrangement and be overdraft free, eventually, because I'm using it to the max every month.

I would like to know if someone has had a similar experience with Santander and how they managed to resolve the matter. If I make a repayment programme, will they put the overdraft on to a separate loan account that I can pay into from my current account? Or will they simply reduce the overdraft limit every month? I'm wondering what the monthly charges might be.

I'm glad, in a way, that this has happened because now I will address my overdraft, but I just don't know what course of action will be taken.

Thanks in advance.

Adapazari

An update on my story.

I went into a Santander branch and the young lady at the "front of house" kindly (and loudly) informed me that I would have to deal with their Collections Department. So I called that number (endless options for buttons to press). Their department closes at 7pm Monday to Saturday, but I managed to get through this morning.

There wasn't a problem and they have agreed to a monthly reduction of my overdraft facility, but there it's a tricky business when it comes to applying the information to my account. The gentleman at Santander explained that the present O/D has to be cancelled before the new one can be applied, which means my account would have no facility until next Friday. He explained that if I had DDs etc. going out of my account they would be returned if no funds were in the account. I get paid at the end of the month and all my bills go out at the beginning, so I am going to wait until a week before my next salary goes in. What a stone age system! I worked in banking for 16 years (20 years since I left) and O/D facilities on accounts could be amended overnight, same day even!! Alas the human face and staff discretionary powers have disappeared.

The gentleman also informed me that the details of the new arrangement have been put on file so that when I call again the arrangement can be rubber stamped and processed without a hitch (hopefully).

I was also told that my account wasn't with collections, as the young lady in the branch had advised. Accounts don't go to collections until the overdraft has expired and the customer hasn't been in touch to discuss.

Adapazari

I called Santander today and spoke to a very helpful lady and she has sorted out my problem for me. She was also very appreciative of my manner. We even ended up talking about our grandchildren!

I'm not saying Santander are perfect, just giving credit (sorry for the pun) where it's due. Perhaps there are some employees reading this .

Naf

I know this is old now, but did they say anything to you about how the worked down overdraft would affect your credit files?

[Deleted User]

Adapazari wrote: »

I called Santander today and spoke to a very helpful lady and she has sorted out my problem for me. She was also very appreciative of my manner. We even ended up talking about our grandchildren!

I'm not saying Santander are perfect, just giving credit (sorry for the pun) where it's due. Perhaps there are some employees reading this .

was it a UK Santander call centre?

Adapazari

Naf wrote: »

I know this is old now, but did they say anything to you about how the worked down overdraft would affect your credit files?

As far as I remember, I don't think anything was mentioned. I didn't renew the subscription on my credit rating file, but I think, at the time, it just showed my bank account balance on the file.

I've reduced my overdraft from £1800 (which was an agreed facility that I never exceeded but used to the max) to £800. Another positive is that Santander haven't charged me any interest on my overdraft since I began to reduce it.

Adapazari

vinh1000 wrote: »

was it a UK Santander call centre?

Yes it was.