Santander Charges - any chance of refund

jcvbpickle

I have received £475 in charges for being £4 over my overdraft limit (from arranged over draft fees) and having 1 returned direct debit (of £8.68) . This was on an account which I thought I had closed, and a direct debit I had cancelled with the provider of the service, but not until that direct debit had happened. I have had a partial refund of some of the fees paid (£75), am I able to have more refunded?

timeline of events (overdraft limit of £100)

07/06/2011 - balance on account - £97.18
08/06/2011 - arranged overdraft fee - £7.50
24/06/2011 - returned direct debit - £8.68
09/07/2011 - arranged overdraft fee - £7.50
09/07/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £50
09/08/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
09/08/2011 - returned direct debit fee - £25
08/09/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
10/10/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
07/11/2011 - payment by myself for clearing o/d - £250
08/11/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
28/11/2011 - return of o/d fee by santander - £75
29/11/2011 - clearing of o/d by myself - £262.18

I know I should have kept better control of this account, and am now on top of all of my accounts.

Is there any way I can get any more of this refunded as I feel these charges are unfair?

Thanks

Jcvbpickle

meer53

I think the £75 is a reasonable offer. Why do you think the charges were unfair ?

jcvbpickle

I feel the charges were unfair as I have been charged £475, for going overdrawn by £4 (caused by overdraft fees) and having 1 direct debit returned of £8.68, that is over 37 times over the amount I have been in the red, which I have been charged. How can anyone say that is fair?

Hominu

Considering you basically ignored the account for 5 months, I'd say a £75 credit is reasonable.

Now if you were making attempts to repay the unarranged overdraft and the fees were putting you back in the red, I'd agree with you more.

This is why you should always check your bank accounts at least once a month, preferably more often. Surely Santander sent you paper statements showing the charges incurred? Along with statements showing the charges? Did you just ignore these?

jcvbpickle

I am a student, and had to borrow money from parents to pay off the account. I was not ignoring the account, I thought I had paid off the account (had put £100 credit in my other santander account by mistake) I didn't have internet banking for santander at the time, and whilst probably did receive statements, as I thought I had cleared the account I didn't check them regularly. As I have said, I should have kept a closer eye on my finances, but regardless, the charges I feel were disproportional to the amount I went overdrawn and had as a direct debit

Buzby

You may find your acceptance of the credit was a full and final response to your original complaint. If you wee not satisfied, then rejecting this amount and seeking a higher settlement (which may or may not have been offered).

The opportunity to go back for more at a later date will be rejected, as will an appeal - the matter will be deemed closed.

innovate

Did they charge you anything that they haven't published in their fees and charges booklet? You may be staggered about the fees, but you can't say they are unfair because they were always published. You agreed, when you opened the account, to the T&Cs that refer to the published fees.

You had your head in the sand, it was your decision to ignore the fees and you didn't look after your finances as well as you could have. There is nothing unfair about it.

Very expensive lesson to learn but the problems were of your own making.

lippy1923

You can only grovel to the bank and claim ignorance and see what they say. Personally I think the offer you have received is fair. They could have told you to get lost and not offered you anything as its all in your T&Cs that you signed for when you chose the account. Its not their fault you didn't look after the account.

Sorry.

JULIAN_MASON

I have been with santander 12 years and every six months i call up and they always refund bank charges for that month... they say ' its a courtesy thing' , which makes me think it's a policy somewhere, nevertheless, wait until you have a heavy month of charges and then call them, they have always cancelled charges for me.. you just have to ask... PS, i hate santander , they have screwed me .....check my new thread on how they just pulled my overdraft, shut my account and breached data protection

pmduk

jcvbpickle wrote: »

I have received £475 in charges for being £4 over my overdraft limit

You weren't charged just for being £4 over your limit, once overdrawn the published charges rapidly mounted, with you ignoring them for 5 months, according to your own timeline. I can't see any grounds for a further refund. Many banks wouldn't have entertained any refund at all. This will probably prove to be an expensive lesson, just learn from it.

dalesrider

jcvbpickle wrote: »

I have received £475 in charges for being £4 over my overdraft limit (from arranged over draft fees) and having 1 returned direct debit (of £8.68) . This was on an account which I thought I had closed, and a direct debit I had cancelled with the provider of the service,
timeline of events (overdraft limit of £100)

07/06/2011 - balance on account - £97.18

Is there any way I can get any more of this refunded as I feel these charges are unfair?

Thanks

Jcvbpickle

What made you think you had closed a account with a DEBIT balance....
Only a account with a NIL balance will be closed.

Given you did not cancel the DD till after it had taken you over limit.
Then you have no come back....

Had you have cancelled before it was taken then, the below would stand.


Given PSD (payment services directive) which cover DD's processed in error.
Then you would be entitled to any charges back due to the DD.
BUT NOT ANY FOR THE FACT YOU WERE STILL £97.18 into your O/D.

Which going by your list would be

08/06/2011 - arranged overdraft fee - £7.50
24/06/2011 - returned direct debit - £8.68
09/07/2011 - arranged overdraft fee - £7.50
09/07/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £50
09/08/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
09/08/2011 - returned direct debit fee - £25
08/09/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100
10/10/2011 - unarranged overdraft fee - £100