Blind/Disabled+1 Day Overdrawn=£136.00 In Charges From HBOS

grex9101

woohoo_postingid wrote:

But please don't bring your disability into this, it makes no difference as to whether you are disabled or not

Well said. At work, I see numerous complaints from customers who seem to feel the need to state that they are disabled/black/abnormal when that has absolutely nothing to do with their complaint. Hate to say it, but it seems some people NEED to make themselves out to be different, no matter how much they campaign for "equal rights".

Indeed, when I went to a disability awareness course recently, the facilitator (who was disabled) told us that we should start calling ourselves "non disabled".

When it came to introducing ourselves, I really felt like saying:

"Hi, I'm Grex. I'm non disabled, non black, non female, non gay, and non abnormal"!

...


This PC lark is seriously going too far.

BargainJunky

I'm not working at the moment (stay at home mum) and my hubby let our joint Halifax bank account go over the overdraft - he topped it up the following day but we were still sent two charges of £30.00 and £28.00. After going mad at him I phoned the Halifax and went potty at them - they agreed to waive one of the charges but I wanted them to waive both.

I have been a customer of theirs for nearly 25 years and have never ever gone overdrawn on my personal account and dont even have an overdraft! The CS person I spoke to said he only had authority to waive one charge but was very nice about it - shame I wasnt!!! After a little further discussion I got the second charge waived - I threatened to close every account I have with them and remove every single penny by 9.15am the following morning. They backed down and I won!:T

ruthyjo

pulliptears wrote:

I feel your pain. We have just been charged £130 in excess overdraft fees by first direct, they cunningly time it though to take payment the day before payday so as to push us overdrawn again and get yet more charges.

We have gone down the court route, they owe us around £1700 now. As soon as they pay up we are moving to Natwest. For the simple reason that it has a branch, and a manager! We can actually go in and argue the fees and (Im told) usually win.

Banks have had it too good for too long.
Jane
x

ask first direct to move your statement date to avoid incurring further charges in this way.

looby75

I agree that the OP disability has little or no direct bearing on cause of the unreasonable and unfair charges, but I do think it is a big issue in regards to the way the banks has treated them since they complained.

LizzieT84 wrote:

she suggested I put it in writing and (knowing I was blind) decided to add that I better make sure I signed the letter.

To me that sounds like a branch (at the very least) who have no understanding how difficult everyday things can be for someone with a disability.

System

Can I just ask how the first lady you spoke to knew you were blind? Did you tell her during the conversation?
I only ask because as far as I remember, from my time working in the Halifax call centre, there was no marker indicating anyones disability visible on the screens we viewed when talking to customers. We only knew someone was deaf when the typetalk (?) facility was used. Even then being disabled was not sufficient excuse for mismanagement of an account whether it was a current account, a loan or a mortgage.

Unfortunately in these days of vast computers systems charges are automatically made to accounts - no one actually looks at the account and decides to make the charge. That's why it does no harm to call the bank, speak to a human and try your luck at getting them waived.

One thing though when do you think the charge for breaching your terms and conditions should be made? After 1 day, 2 days or perhaps a week?

Far be it for me to defend banks, I've been caught out with bank charges myself, but in these days of huge competition and fuelled by sites like this one, which encourages us all to shop around and not be so unfailingly loyal, banks have to make their money somewhere. If we do throw the head up and move our business elsewhere then as sure as eggs are eggs someone else will be doing exactly the same and moving to the bank we have just left.

I bank with both the Halifax and Nationwide and have done for some time. I've had minor disagreements with both of them over the years, some I've won and some I've lost but ultimately I think the various accounts I have with them are some of the best on the market and as long as they are I'll try my best to ensure there is enough money in my account to cover my direct debits.

Turning_into_scrooge

My father had a stroke last November and is due to come out of hospital this week. Lloyds he charged him £90 for bounced DD as he couldn't transfer the money in quick enough. To cap it off they ae fully awre of the situation. I have started the ball rolling having these refunded for him.

burbs_2

Lizzie, im probably going to get moaned and abuse after this post but here goes anyway.

You state
"Does anyone else think that it's not entirely fair that a disabled person who struggles enough as it is should be charged £136 for being overdrawn for 1 day?"

Yes I think it is entirely fair that you get charged. You had 3 direct debits coming out that you didnt budget for and now you want them to waive everything, why should they?

You also state that they were not sympathetic, why should they be? If it was the 1 direct debit then possibly you had a case for a moan but 3? As for playing on a disability, im sorry but that is completly irrelevant.

hollydays

I think the fact that you say you are struggling from day to day (presumably without enough support) is tough on you.I think the comment about not forgetting to sign it is patronizing in the extreme.I think your charges seem high,but the way you phrased your last paragraph looks like you are asking for special treatment and this is a business transaction,and businesses dont often offer this.