MSE News: Santander to charge for 'free' business accounts

janusdesign

cashisking1 wrote: »

Good luck to those who have the conkers to give it a go, those on here trying to stop you will thank you one day when their own 'smug' accounts slap 'em with massive charges and say "touch spuds sucker, you should have read the new term that came out just before you rang us up, tee hee"

by "give it a go", you mean write a complaint letter to Santander that just gives you a standard response in return?

I haven't heard the slightest whisper on any forum of anyone threatening to go legal on this - so that in reality just leaves FOS.

Their site boasts that they can sometimes resolve things in months - but we might start getting our 60-day letters next month, so it could all turn out to be too little too late.

I personally think that it is a waste of time to complain if your intention is to keep the fee-free account - by hook or by crook, they're gone and the best you'll get is a delay in the introduction of fees... possibly just months.

however, there is always the possibility that i'm completely wrong and there is a critical point of law or principle that FOS can get Santander on - it's with that possibility in mind, that i've been trying to advise fellow forum members with where to write to and other links.

cashisking1

deleted by user

JuicyJesus

DruidDonagh wrote: »

:rotfl:

If it was against the baking code, the law or whatever other rules and regulations there are, they would not have done it. They cannot afford that. If they do, it would mean the end of the bank, in this case Santander.

While I agree with this bit...

And what contract? A bank account is no contract. It is an agreement to a set of T&C. Banks do not use contracts except with their staff. Most, if not all banks are the same and I have banked with a few.

...this is total rubbish. T&Cs are contracts. That is why they are carefully written and often in somewhat legalistic language. Because they are legally binding contracts. If they weren't then they wouldn't be worth the paper they're printed on. It's why knowing the T&Cs gives you significant legal strength, and not knowing them puts you at a significant disadvantage in your dealings with banks (or, indeed, with any company).

Justdesserts

Well, I for one am ready to go all the way on this one. I am going through the preliminary stages and also waiting to see what the Small Business Fed decide. They are investigating the possibility of breach of contract.

I think they would have more clout and resources than little old me but I am willing to support any group committed to challenging this by all means available

Paulgonnabedebtfree

janusdesign wrote: »

by "give it a go", you mean write a complaint letter to Santander that just gives you a standard response in return?

I haven't heard the slightest whisper on any forum of anyone threatening to go legal on this - so that in reality just leaves FOS.

Their site boasts that they can sometimes resolve things in months - but we might start getting our 60-day letters next month, so it could all turn out to be too little too late.

I personally think that it is a waste of time to complain if your intention is to keep the fee-free account - by hook or by crook, they're gone and the best you'll get is a delay in the introduction of fees... possibly just months.

however, there is always the possibility that i'm completely wrong and there is a critical point of law or principle that FOS can get Santander on - it's with that possibility in mind, that i've been trying to advise fellow forum members with where to write to and other links.

I feel great malice about what Santander are doing. If their actions cost me, I will make sure it costs them more. It won't matter to them but it will help me to some satisfaction. I'm not normally the malicious sort but for those vermin, I will happily make an exception.

janusdesign

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

I feel great malice about what Santander are doing. If their actions cost me, I will make sure it costs them more. It won't matter to them but it will help me to some satisfaction. I'm not normally the malicious sort but for those vermin, I will happily make an exception.

that's about the only worthwhile reason to complain - yes I still think it's very petty, but the urge to do it still lingers in the back of my mind...

though a higher priority is to get my money away from Santander before complaining, then i'll see if I can be bothered.

iamchrisli

Online complained on 27-Jul, and got reply yesterday 3-Aug! What a Santander's speed!. The letter says the same thing again and again. Opened the HSBC biz direct already, will go to Ombudsman anyway, as it will cost Santander another £500 case fee. Nothing lose.

madonnamustache

Justdesserts wrote: »

I can understand you looking around at alternatives but PLEASE don't go withoutmaking a complaint. There is a lot of help on this thread and this is yet another case of banks riding roughshod over customers.

Oh - I am definitely complaining! The letter is printed out and ready to go! Just to confirm - after Santander's final response, the complaint goes to the Financial Ombudsman, right? What about the FSA?

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

OnTracks

Hi, Just had the same experience - Free Banking Forever, and remember the website used to publish Gordon Brown the Chancellor 'Agreeing with Abbey' that every business should have access to free banking.

Rang helpline, asked to speak to a supervisor after being read the script and told none were available, then said I'd ring the CEO's head office and suddenly supervisors magically became available and would ring me back in a few minutes! I think I'm more annoyed by the fobbing off and trying to avoid me making a complaint than the actual change in terms!

Off to Cooperative who offer Free banking to FSB members.

expat_mike

My own experience with Santander is they break consumer fair contract legislation at a whim and the Financial Ombudsman in my case copped out and said it didn't have any remit to investigate any breaking of this consumer protection. This case may have more substance as they have reneged on a contract that has been in force for some time rather than failing to adhere to fair contract legislation.

As has been stated above, firstly complain to the bank, then the financial ombudsman and finally go to the small claims court or county court when the first bank charge is made. The previous bout of excessive charges over going overdrawn were pulled by the banks as they didn't want any precedent set in the courts although latterly the high courts ruled.

However, its certainly worth considering going to court over this as that's the only thing that makes them sit up and take notice these days.