Smile customers

BristolDave

Hi people

Newbie here - there seem to be some very knowledgeable people here so I'm hoping someone can help!

I am currently in the process of claiming back charges from a (closed) Natwest account and a (current) Smile account.

Current status is I am waiting for the statements from Smile, and I have just received a reply from Natwest to my first letter demanding repayment of fees, stating that they will reply to me in 6-7 weeks.

What should I do, given all the news about the "Test Case"?

Should I wait the 6-7 weeks, or at the end of the 14 days, should I just carry on with the process as if the test case wasn't happening?

Also, are Smile (and the Co-operative Bank) right to say they are suspending all claims, given that they're not involved in the Test Case (as far as I can see!)

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

Dave

Tetsuko

I didn't have the funds in my bank (Smile) to pay out my rent this month from my bank account so they didn't pay it and charged my £25. I begged enough money from my bf to cover it but then a DD went out of my account which put me overdrawn and they then charged me another £25. Now they are going to charge me at the end of the month for going overdrawn as well.

The annoying things is, if they had charged me the first charges at the end of the month I wouldn'th have been pushed even more overdrawn in the first place and I would have had enough to cover my direct debits.

I'm struggling to find work and now I've got my bank to contend with to

Are banks allowed to put these charges onto an account instantly like that? I thought they had to tell you about it and give you the chance to put the funds in to cover it.

I'm about to phone up and query it so any info would be much appreciated. Thanks muchly.

Once I've found out why they are instantly charging me, then I'm going to ask them to pay them back to me anyway

etphonehome247

Hi, I really do feel for you. I have been in a similar situation with my bank Barclays. With Barclays, they do charge you the very next day, in this case £30. However, sometimes they will allow a DD to go out even if there is not enough money. Also, if I go over my overdraft and buffer, they allow me till 6.30pm to set the account in order before they charge me. This can be variable and also they take into account how your account is run. When all said and done, when they have charged you once, it can quickly get you into myther, especially if you dont notice and they charge you the next day.
Someone please set up a bank with realistic charges!!!

Tetsuko

They were actually quite nice to me when I called. Because it hadn't happened before and I didn't know that the charges were instant they waivered them for me. I really don't know what I would have done if they hadn't other than beg my boyfriend to cover the charges for me.

Yep, I'd really like to see a bank with realistic charges I would sign up with them tomorrow. They wouldn't be able to cope with the phenomenal surge of customers signing up :rotfl:

oldwiring

Tetsuko wrote: »

They were actually quite nice to me when I called. Because it hadn't happened before and I didn't know that the charges were instant they waivered them for me. I really don't know what I would have done if they hadn't other than beg my boyfriend to cover the charges for me.

Yep, I'd really like to see a bank with realistic charges I would sign up with them tomorrow. They wouldn't be able to cope with the phenomenal surge of customers signing up :rotfl:

Depends on the criteria they adopt to accept a customer, methinks!

Butterfliesarepretty

A few months ago I got £700 from smile in charges. :beer: I am also trying to get over a £100 charges back also recently but of course the court case has yet to be decided so it has been put on hold like everyone else's. anyway I have a £900 overdraft which is always used and sometimes goes over and has done for the last three years but is always paid off. I have savings and a credit card with them which is nil balance. today I received this message and was utterly shocked. I am now tempted to close the account now.:eek:

see below:-:mad:

Hello MS SHAW

Even though there wasn't enough money in your account, I've had to make these payments for you:

Item: Delta
Reference: TESCO STORES 2142
Amount: £49.58

Our charges are in the tariff. Just visit https://www.smile.co.uk and select the account from the list on the left hand side, then click on 'tariff' for details of these charges.

Please pay enough money into your account to get back inside your limit straight away. Make sure no more money is taken from your account in the meantime.

Try to make sure this doesn't happen again. If it does, we may ask for your cards back and we don't want it to come to that.

You can call us on 0870 241 1068 to talk to us about this. We're open between 8:00am and 7:00pm Monday to Friday, and from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday.

Thanks

Val McCarren
Head of Debt Management

stratty

Seems like a standard letter these days.

If you are going over your arranged overdraft then I dont see you have much room to complain.

Butterfliesarepretty

Stratty, I never get these letters or messages and I have had an arranged overdraft for years. To threaten to take my cards off me is the wrong way to go about it. smile have always allowed visa debits and bills to be debited over the overdraft but not to debit cash from a cash point and any purchases at shops is also blocked.

the message they sent is unacceptable.

Labman_2

shawtj2

From what I can see you are in the process of claiming back your charges & I think it may be that the 'slack' they've cut you in the past with regards to going over your agreed overdraft limit has now been lost & they are now asking that you stick to the agreement.

lesley1960

I know i will get flamed for this but surely after reclaiming bank charges once you shouldnt get into the same position again?