Withdrawn overdraft facility - anyone else?

LKB

My son is in his first year at Uni and opened a student account with Santander last September. His account has mostly been in the red throughout the first semester but has never exceeded his agreed overdraft limit. At the end of Dec he received notification from Santander that his overdraft facility will expire at the end of January. No reason was given. We've checked the Ts and Cs and he is meant to have an agreed overdraft for up to five years provided that he is enrolled at Uni and pays a minimum of £500 in per term. he meets both of these criteria. Also his account is now back in the black.
He called the number given in the letter and the person on the other end of the phone claimed to be mystified as to why his overdraft facility is being withdrawn. They suggested he contact his branch. He did this today only to be directed back to the number on the letter as no-one at the branch had any idea that this action was being taken or indeed who had authorised it. Fortunately he is his mother's son and stood his ground as much as was able! He left having been told that an appeal would be logged immediately though from what I understand there is no guarantee that the overdraft will be re-instated. Once he got home he received a phone call from the branch saying that they can't lodge an appeal until the overdraft has actually been withdrawn!!
We've now written a letter to the person named at the bottom of the original letter - the director of operations no less! - having exhausted all other options.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Can anyone offer any advice regarding other routes to get this sorted out?
Thanks in advance.

withabix

Santander.

Say no more.

The_One_Who

My understanding of overdrafts is that it is usually said in the terms and conditions that they are subject to being withdrawn at any time.

agrinnall

The only advice I can offer is to close the Santander account and open a student account with any other bank, it's almost certainly incompetence on Santander's part that will take an age to sort out. The fact that the account is in the black at the moment means that now is a good time to do this.

gary901

I agree with agrinnall - close that account and open a new one. I myself have one with Natwest and have not had any problems. They are very quick at increasing my overdraft in times of need! Normally next day.

GSMAnon

I'm with Bank of Scotland for my current account and each and every year I get a letter saying that my overdraft facility will expire on such and such a date.

However, all this seems to mean is that I need to go into the bank to renew it... I don't think it necessarily means they're withdrawing it permenantly. If you go in each year, tell them you still want it, and even ask for an increase on the limit, then they usually oblige. That has been my experience anyway. But then I've heard Santander are a rotten and confused bunch.