Smile customers

lostbuckaroos

I've always managed my smile accounts by transferring DD money into my savings account and transferring it back into my current account on the day it's due, with no problems whatsover. Until today, when I discover that their systems now poll at 7am and automatically issue charges (it used to be manual, apparently) to your account - in this case £100! I have spoken to the bank who have refunded the charges, but a with a warning that funds now need to be in your account the day before any direct debit is due to avoid these charges. Hope no-one else has come home to find they are unwittingly overdrawn...:eek:

bikedo

Hi there

I would be very grateful if anyone could give me some advice. I've got a Smile student account with a £2000 interest-free overdraft. This month I've had two charges on my account. They were for £25 each, one was because there wasn't enough money in the account to cover a direct debit and the other was because there wasn't enough to cover a debit card payment (both were written as Commission Unpaid Item on my statement). I had transferred money in to cover these transactions but obviously it didn't arrive in time. Because of the £50 fees, I am now £49 over my overdraft limit, and am worried that I'm going to occur even more charges before my wages go in about ten days. Should I try to reclaim these charges? I have to say that Smile have not been quick to put charges on my account, I've accidentally gone over my limit in the past a good few times and they've only charged the very odd time. So on the one hand I feel that I can understand where they're coming from in charging me, but on the other hand it feels a bit stupid to put me in a position where I incur even more charges due to the original charges.

So I'd be very grateful to hear anyone's opinions on whether you think I should try to reclaim these charges, and what my chances are.

Many thanks in advance.

Kurt_Hamster

You should certainly write to them and ask them to refund the charges, but only you can decide how far you are prepared to go for such a low sum.

In this instance I'd suggest writing a letter in a pleading and polite tone rather than a demanding one.

Also, watch out for any "if you agree to the refund you must agree to not make any more claims etc".

MA1970

I am wishing to reclaim my bank charges from my Bank smile but am a little deterred from some of the threads I have read so far. Some say that Smile are very civilized and one of the better banks to deal with whereas others say they DO close your bank account they cancel your overdraft facility without warning. They transfer money from other accounts held by them without your consent and they bounce your direct debit payments even if there is ample money in the account to cover the payments. Surely they are not permitted to resort to such tactics???

Having just taken out a mortgage and I am yet to make my very first mortgage payment it would not look good to my mortgage lender (not Smile) if my very first payment to them was rejected by my bank purely out of spite as I was claiming back charges they illegally took from me. Any suggestions what I could/should do? What are other people’s experiences of reclaiming charges from Smile?

pugsley29

they cancelled my 2000 student overdraft recently after a successful claim against them, I was aware they might do this though.

sizzle

Have to say my experience with Smile for reclaiming has not been great so far...

Feb 07 wrote and requested statements - sent cheque
Nothing received - so sent duplicates and also secure messages. Each time I phoned to query I was told that the customer service team do not speak to customers... they only deal in writing!

Finally had details through of charges (after 40 days) and wrote back immediately (recorded delivery) saying i'd like the £400+ refunded. Had a letter back saying 'received your letter... will reply either via post or secure message'. Chased this last week was told letter sent to you yesterday. Letter arrived and was just a copy of the previous statements I'd already received... rang up - not happy and asked to speak to a manager - apparently they were all in meetings. :mad:

Spoke to call taker who told me that under FSA regulations they have up to 8 weeks to respond to complaints. I explained that this was not a complaint I simply wanted a refund of the excessive charges I had been subjected to. I explained that I felt that I was being more than fair given the delays that i'd already had, and I wanted an answer by end of this week. I was told (again) that bank has up to 8 weeks to respond so your letter won't be looked at until week beginning 12 June.... :eek:

My question is do i give them this long or shall i just get on an complete county court claim online - any thoughts gratefully received...

Luke17654

Hi Nicki,

I calculated only the fees column (using the calculator on this website) and Smile tried to fob me off with excuses. Eventually they wrote back saying that I had also included the Smilemore account monthly fees which they had taken off. As "a gesture of goodwill" and because I threatened to close the account, they then coughed up £390, which I was very pleased with. Don't give up!

Luke17654

wightdad

hi ,does anyone know the data protection address for smile bank.
Also how have you got on reclaiming so far?
many thanks

funkymonkeynikki

Which fees did you try to claim back from them? Is it the commision, debit interest or fees?

funkymonkeynikki

Hi, could I just ask how you did this online and which charges did you ask to reclaim? Commision? Debit interest? or and fees?