Santander - Closing account without permission or notification

joshizmum

I just had to laugh reading a thread about someone trying for 3 months to close his Santander account - I have just had the opposite problem. I rang to close an Instant Saver Account (low interest rate) and a couple of days later I discovered they had closed my Current Account - cancelling all direct debits and payments - can you imagine my horror! I tried to resolve the issue with Santander but received no reply to my email and so phoned but couldnt get passed the 'I'm a robot and the computer says no' person. So I had to dash out and open a new account (with a different bank of course) and start resetting up all direct debits etc before things started to bounce all over the place. Can a bank just close an account without permission or notification and cause all the associated pain and grief without any comeback? By the way, the account was £100s in credit - I had initially wanted to open a another savings account (higher interest) to start putting some money away - but that's another story!!!!!!:mad:

Nine_Lives

In a way they've had your permission - although it wasn't for that account (& yes, they can shut your account down anyway).

It's similar to when i ASKED (note: asked / enquired / wanted to find out) the AA about closing a credit card & their reply was "your card has now been closed". Ummm, i'm only enquiring!! If i go into Sainsburys & say i'm enquiring about the things you sell ... do they just pile everything into my trolley & say take it all?!

jalexa

joshizmum wrote: »

I rang to close an Instant Saver Account (low interest rate) and a couple of days later I discovered they had closed my Current Account

I guess there is a connection. Raise a formal complaint alleging the initial mistake and the repeated failures to remedy.

I would say that £200 D&I would be reasonable.

pmduk

You should be grateful you've escaped from santander! They've demonstrated yet again they can't undertake even basic banking transactions.

agrinnall

They don't require your permission to close your account, it will be in the T&Cs that they can do this if they wish. They also don't have to give you notice, they normally will but in some cases (usually when fraud or money laundering is suspected) they may do it immediately. However, as this is Santander, I'd expect that it's more likely to be an error than a deliberate action. I'd take the opportunity to move elsewhere.