Hundred pound charge for going ten pounds over?

ilesmark

Maybe yes, maybe no. I think the OP would be interested to know what the chances are of getting away with closing the account (and so would I, as I have a similar issue, which is why I'm taking an interest in this thread)

onlypaddy

ilesmark wrote: »

There seem to be a lot of judgemental, pro-bank comments directed at this poor OP on a site that I thought was intended to help people fight the injustice of bank charges. Yes the OP should have managed his/her money a bit better, but, as always, getting hit with bank charges is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime.

I think reading between the lines that the OP might also be asking what the chances are of the bank pursuing them through the courts etc for £100 of charges if s/he simply closes the account without paying the charges. IME, banks are nowadays far less inclined to grant requests to waive charges following the court case, so I doubt that's a viable option.

Thoughts?

Mark

What do you want people to do? OP was talking about burying his/her head for even longer, further screwing up their future. We're here to help, not to play into peoples fantasies

onlypaddy

ilesmark wrote: »

Maybe yes, maybe no. I think the OP would be interested to know what the chances are of getting away with closing the account (and so would I, as I have a similar issue, which is why I'm taking an interest in this thread)

and in short, the banks arent thick.

"Oh, yes your eminance, you owe us x amount of pounds. Please close your account without paying it back. I tell you what, here are the keys to the vault, i'll just nip to the shop for a tub of vaseline and some durex extra strong while you help yourself."

ilesmark

I suppose the real question is 'would the bank go to all the bother of chasing a £100 debt - especially when it's one of their own charges and, as such, phantom debt - or would they just write it off'?

My father used to be a manager of a well-known high street bank and certainly in the 1980s local branches had discretion to write off up to £100 in cases where account holders had done a runner. Maybe it's different now.

opinions4u

ilesmark wrote: »

Maybe yes, maybe no. I think the OP would be interested to know what the chances are of getting away with closing the account (and so would I, as I have a similar issue, which is why I'm taking an interest in this thread)

I thought my first post answered the question nicely:

1) You will attract further charges and end up owing more.
2) Your credit record will be ruined and you'll struggle to get decent banking facilities for the next 6 years.

Most banks will: send a letter, register a default, pass it on to a debt collection agency. Then write it off. The damage to the OP is then well and truly done.

ilesmark wrote: »

There seem to be a lot of judgemental, pro-bank comments directed at this poor OP on a site that I thought was intended to help people fight the injustice of bank charges.

I think the site is more about beating the banks at their own game and managing your money in a way that doesn't end up making profits for the banks at your own expense.

Whether that's the purpose of the site or not, why would somebody want to run the risk of ruining their credit history over a £10 misjudgement? Ring the bank, say sorry, plead for mercy and then get the account back in credit.

ilesmark

Noted. Shame we can't just sue the b****ds and get the money back like we used to be able to do, isn't it?

Wutang_2

ilesmark wrote: »

Noted. Shame we can't just sue the b****ds and get the money back like we used to be able to do, isn't it?

Are you suggesting the OP could sue?? the same OP who wants to blatantly ignore the legitimate debt? Or do you have 'issues'?

mjm3346

Piggy-pack wrote: »

Hi,

I went overdrawn in my second account by ten pounds two months ago (The account I hardly ever use) and totally forgot about it

I got a letter from my bank yesterday telling me they want a hundred pounds within 14 days

Thanks

You should have had more than one letter for a hundred quid, one every 14 days at £25 a time would be about right, perhaps when you are pleading with them you could mention you did not receive any other letters from them..

brokeinyorkshire

Maybe its just me but i have a complete dread of going overdrawn and getting bank charges.

I check my online banking every day.

Maybe i'm too honest aswell but if i got a bank charge through my own fault i would pay it!

Ostrich syndrome is no longer one of my faults!!

izools

brokeinyorkshire wrote: »

Maybe its just me but i have a complete dread of going overdrawn and getting bank charges.

I check my online banking every day.

Maybe i'm too honest aswell but if i got a bank charge through my own fault i would pay it!

Ostrich syndrome is no longer one of my faults!!

I totally agree. I check my balance daily, I have weekly text balance updates to my phone (I can specify the time of day so I get the text on my way to the pub after work on a friday).

Touch wood, I've not incurred a single bank charge in over two years despite only working part time and supporting a two bedroom apartment by myself. It can be done, with the right approach. Certainly booking a holidy to Madrid wouldn't be one of them :beer: