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You could try charging the banks when they make a mistake

Some years ago, when my bank kept making mistakes - with direct debits, with chrges levied when it was their mistake, or even for unreasonable charges, I not only got those charges refunded, but I charged them for their error/distress caused to me. I used to send them a letter, tell them their mistake and say "for this mistake and the trouble/worry you have put me to, I am charging you £20". I was amazed when they actually paid up. Once, after a horendous !!!!-up by them I think I charged them £100. I only started it after they repeatedly cocked up and I wondered how I could get them to improve and thought somethng that would get them thinking would be making them pay for their mistakes!

I no longer use that bank and thanks to online banking things go rather smoother these days, especially with my current v.efficient bank.

But it's certainly worth a try for anyone who is suffering at the hands of inefficent banks.

take care all
FF
:beer:
«1

Comments

  • Completely agree. I did this with great success with the Co-op Bank some years ago, when I charged them for distress and inconvenience when they refused a debit card payment for £100 when I had over £6000 in cleared funds in there.

    The secret is it make it as equally formal as they do. I mocked up an invoice on Excel and made sure it looked the part before I sent it in with my complaint letter. Hey presto - £120 for my distress and inconvenience!
    Everyone needs something to believe in.

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  • I work in a bank and would agree 100% with OP!

    Just as long as you don't whinge that so and so D/D has been taken out early/for wrong amount. This has nothing to do with your bank it is between you and the company you gave the authority to.
  • digp
    digp Posts: 2,013 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    ejones999 wrote:
    I work in a bank and would agree 100% with OP!

    Just as long as you don't whinge that so and so D/D has been taken out early/for wrong amount. This has nothing to do with your bank it is between you and the company you gave the authority to.

    Sorry but you are chatting rubbish. Spose it comes with the territory?
  • ejones999 wrote:
    I work in a bank and would agree 100% with OP!

    Just as long as you don't whinge that so and so D/D has been taken out early/for wrong amount. This has nothing to do with your bank it is between you and the company you gave the authority to.

    The Direct Debit Guarantee

    If the amounts to be paid by Direct Debit or the payment dates change, the organisation collecting the payment will notify you normally 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.

    If an error is made by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid.

    If any payment is made in error, you should contact your bank or building society who are responsible for giving you a full and immediate refund - even if the original error was made by the organisation collecting the payment.

    http://www.bacs.co.uk/BPSL/directdebit/generalpublic/yourrights/
    :D
    "We act as though comfort and luxury are the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about” – Albert Einstein
  • nej
    nej Posts: 1,526 Forumite
    Some years ago, when my bank kept making mistakes - with direct debits, with chrges levied when it was their mistake, or even for unreasonable charges, I not only got those charges refunded, but I charged them for their error/distress caused to me. I used to send them a letter, tell them their mistake and say "for this mistake and the trouble/worry you have put me to, I am charging you £20". I was amazed when they actually paid up. Once, after a horendous !!!!-up by them I think I charged them £100. I only started it after they repeatedly cocked up and I wondered how I could get them to improve and thought somethng that would get them thinking would be making them pay for their mistakes!

    I no longer use that bank and thanks to online banking things go rather smoother these days, especially with my current v.efficient bank.

    But it's certainly worth a try for anyone who is suffering at the hands of inefficent banks.

    take care all
    FF
    :beer:

    I'd watch out - the bank might now try and claim these charges back from you in court! :rotfl:
  • Al_Mac wrote:
    ejones999 wrote:
    I work in a bank and would agree 100% with OP!

    Just as long as you don't whinge that so and so D/D has been taken out early/for wrong amount. This has nothing to do with your bank it is between you and the company you gave the authority to.
    Wrong, not often I don't agree with you, but it is a 3 way deal, the bank promises to sort it out if it goes wrong, or something like that. The direct debit guarantee.

    Sorry:o Now you can go and prove me wrong:p
    The Direct Debit Guarantee
    ....
    ....
    If any payment is made in error, you should contact your bank or building society who are responsible for giving you a full and immediate refund - even if the original error was made by the organisation collecting the payment.

    http://www.bacs.co.uk/BPSL/directdeb...ic/yourrights/

    I think ejones999 is getting at the fact that any compensation should be by the other party, not the bank. Yes the bank may be the one to refund, but not them who should compensate for someone elses error? Thats like asking your bank to compensate you if you pay in a cheque that bounces:rotfl:
  • Thanks Thumshie that's what I meant.
    If a D/D is taken early or for a wrong amount and that takes you o/d or over your limit then the bank will charge you. Yes the bank will reimburse the D/D but any charge should be claimed from whoever has taken the money.............

    ................Now waiting for someone to tell me that these charges are 'ILLEGAL' :rotfl:
  • ejones999 wrote:
    Now waiting for someone to tell me that these charges are 'ILLEGAL'
    I was under the impression that the level of the charges were thought to be unlawful.

    Happy? ;)
    Conjugating the verb 'to be":
    -o I am humble -o You are attention seeking -o She is Nadine Dorries
  • However - we gave customers money back from AA on direct debit indemnity claim. AA are refusing to give the money from the bank as it was an ongoing dispute with customer, and so bank can take money back from customer
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