Withdrawn on basic bank account..

Katerose_2

I have a Santander instant plus account, had it for about a year. It's a 'basic account' that we were given when we applied for another current account but didn't get that so we got this one instead.
It's not supposed to let you go overdrawn, ever. We have a visa debit card with it.
Today, just checked the online banking, and we're 8.50 overdrawn. It's a couple of small card payments that have taken us overdrawn, but I really don't understand how this could have happened, as if there's insufficient funds, the card payment shouldn't have gone through.
I'm so angry that this has been allowed to happen. We're on a very low income and I've been so careful with our money, checking the account every couple of days online.
A seperate problem:
It's a joint account and my husband isn't quite so careful. Quite often he'll make sneaky little purchases (only small ones, but he doesn't tell me) which means then a small standing order payment will go out, but be reversed because we're something like 9p short.
This has resulted in charges - 2 seperate ones of £35 each.
I have my disability benefit payments going in on Monday but these charges will eat into them considerately. Santander have already reversed a charge for me in the last 6 months so I doubt they'll do it again.
I'm really worrying about this all.

onlypaddy

Katerose wrote: »

It's not supposed to let you go overdrawn, ever. We have a visa debit card with it.

It's not the bank's job to prevent you going overdrawn. Do you have a standard visa debit card or an Electron?

Katerose wrote: »

.....but I really don't understand how this could have happened, as if there's insufficient funds, the card payment shouldn't have gone through.
I'm so angry that this has been allowed to happen. We're on a very low income and I've been so careful with our money, checking the account every couple of days online

This isn't the case - depending on the type of card you have.

Katerose wrote: »

A seperate problem:
It's a joint account and my husband isn't quite so careful. Quite often he'll make sneaky little purchases (only small ones, but he doesn't tell me) ........Santander have already reversed a charge for me in the last 6 months so I doubt they'll do it again.
I'm really worrying about this all.

Herein lies your problem - you can't expect to budget on the account properly if you dont have all the relevant information....and no, usually it's one bout of lenience then you get the full charges.

Katerose_2

onlypaddy wrote: »

It's not the bank's job to prevent you going overdrawn. Do you have a standard visa debit card or an Electron?



This isn't the case - depending on the type of card you have.



Herein lies your problem - you can't expect to budget on the account properly if you dont have all the relevant information....and no, usually it's one bout of lenience then you get the full charges.

Well, your answer hasn't so much answered my query but made me feel pretty stupid and confirm things I already knew.

onlypaddy

apologies, I didnt mean to make you feel stupid.

I'm interested to know exactly what type of card you have. There is a big difference between one Visa 'debit card' and the next

i.e while looking similar, one type can be 'offline' which means that it doesn't check bank balance with the bank and can be used in offline terminals such as pay at pump petrol stations, trains and planes.

the other type of card (usually electron or something similar) is a 'full authorisation' card, which can only be used in terminals with an online connection so it can check that the bank account has sufficient funds for the transaction.

I'm asking because I can't find any information on the Santander website about the Instant Plus account, but the basic account page says that a debit card is not provided...

Katerose_2

onlypaddy wrote: »

apologies, I didnt mean to make you feel stupid.

I'm interested to know exactly what type of card you have. There is a big difference between one Visa 'debit card' and the next

i.e while looking similar, one type can be 'offline' which means that it doesn't check bank balance with the bank and can be used in offline terminals such as pay at pump petrol stations, trains and planes.

the other type of card (usually electron or something similar) is a 'full authorisation' card, which can only be used in terminals with an online connection so it can check that the bank account has sufficient funds for the transaction.

I'm asking because I can't find any information on the Santander website about the Instant Plus account, but the basic account page says that a debit card is not provided...

Ah I see. It's a Santander visa debit, not an electron.

onlypaddy

That will be why then....husband needs a slap on the wrist I reckon, undoing your hard budgeting!

Katerose_2

onlypaddy wrote: »

That will be why then....husband needs a slap on the wrist I reckon, undoing your hard budgeting!

I know - I've worked so hard

Stuckon100forever

Katerose wrote: »

Well, your answer hasn't so much answered my query but made me feel pretty stupid and confirm things I already knew.

I understand exactly how you feel.

I have a Barclays Basic account with Visa Debit that's supposed to be fully authorised. And just like you I just never assumed that you could go overdrawn with this type of account. Yet in the last 3 months I have overspent 4 times. I believe that with my debit card, especially out-of-office hours that the system checks I have funds, BUT DOES NOT put any hold on those funds and simply takes them out a later date. Maybe this is just on smaller items however because I have never been overdrawn by more than a few quid.

Example, last night I checked an ATM had exactly £70 in my account. This was my actual balance as I had not used the card for over a week and no bills come out until next week. I went in to my local Asda Self-Checkout and bought the local paper because I had no change with my debit card for 49p.

Went the cashpoint at 9.30am this morning to check my balance. Last nights Balance is £70 and my Available balance to withdraw is also £70. However if I withdraw this full £70 in 1-2 days time Asda will take the 49p and I will be overdrawn by 49p. So now I always allow a few days in between shopping trips.

The good thing about Barclays however is they provide a £15 "Buffer" on their basic account so I can overspend by this much and not get charged any fees. I think this buffer operates like an 'invisible overdraft' that I can't see on the cashpoint but hence why I am allowed to go overdrawn.

Toe-Jam

Your problem is not the type of card, or account that you have, it is Scamtander's policy. They have what's called an "instant overdraft" policy where in if you have used your card for a small amount, when it goes for authorisation they will push it though putting you into the red so they can whack on their "instant overdraft request" and a further £5 for card usage. This happens even if you have an electron card i've been cough out several times in the past.

Katerose_2

Well as we're on a very low income, the charges that they're sure to slap me with will cripple us. Does a notice of appropriation still stand? Or since the supreme court decided in the banks favour re charges, can you not do that anymore..?

Stuckon100forever

Unfortunately, legally I don't think you have any leg to stand on. The Bank would say in their defence it is up to you to budget your finances (understand all your Total outgoings) and they cannot guarantee how long it takes to process transactions etc and probably somewhere in their terms it also says that even balance checks can't always be accurate etc.

Maybe you should look at opening the Barclays Basic account? You only need 1 form of ID in branch, theres no credit checks and can be open the same day. I know its hassle but the £15 interest-free buffer will save you a fortune in the long run. :cool: