Halifax unnecessary charge, is there a time limit on how long a customer can reclaim?

showmethemoneyuk

A friend received an out of the ordinary Halifax phone call this summer noting them on an unpaid sum from a year ago or more that needed to be cleared up immediately. At first they thought the call was dubious and a scam, but it turned out to be a genuine call on behalf of the bank. If it was not paid within the next week, further charges were to be applied. They payed as a result, but after analysing their 2011 statements (I think this is the related year), realised that the bank was incorrect, and that they had paid after all - as the bank charged them the month before the amount was originally automatically set to be taken.

I believe he made a quick in-store payment this year after the phone call. Unfortunately after he explained the situation the staff simply accepted the payment at the time, telling him it was best to pay in the meantime to avoid charges, ie not bothering to analyse the account themselves and relying on the call centre as being correct. Should they have done this?

He was not given a full receipt - more akin to an autographed note by a member of staff (possibly stamped). The proof of the bank charging him originally is shown via old statements, but he has only just realised the bank took the original sum. It is now 6 months after paying in-store, so how likely would he be in being able to claim it back? I think it may be unlikely given the bank not handing over some sort of full receipt, but what do you think? It was a small amount of money but I think he was annoyed at the principle of how the bank could demand any amount after such a long period, and for him to find out they were incorrect in the first place. Thanks for any info.

Atidi

showmethemoneyuk wrote: »

A friend received an out of the ordinary Halifax phone call this summer noting them on an unpaid sum from a year ago or more that needed to be cleared up immediately. At first they thought the call was dubious and a scam, but it turned out to be a genuine call on behalf of the bank. If it was not paid within the next week, further charges were to be applied. They payed as a result, but after analysing their 2011 statements (I think this is the related year), realised that the bank was incorrect, and that they had paid after all - as the bank charged them the month before the amount was originally automatically set to be taken.

I believe he made a quick in-store payment this year after the phone call. Unfortunately after he explained the situation the staff simply accepted the payment at the time, telling him it was best to pay in the meantime to avoid charges, ie not bothering to analyse the account themselves and relying on the call centre as being correct. Should they have done this?

He was not given a full receipt - more akin to an autographed note by a member of staff (possibly stamped). The proof of the bank charging him originally is shown via old statements, but he has only just realised the bank took the original sum. It is now 6 months after paying in-store, so how likely would he be in being able to claim it back? I think it may be unlikely given the bank not handing over some sort of full receipt, but what do you think? It was a small amount of money but I think he was annoyed at the principle of how the bank could demand any amount after such a long period, and for him to find out they were incorrect in the first place. Thanks for any info.

This friend, was it really you? Because you seem to know an awful lot of detail.

Anyway, whoever this person was, you say they owed a creditor money (at least at some time in the recent past) and thought it was a scam call when the creditor called asking for their money.

You say this person paid up because it was a genuine call, and then discovered that the amount was already paid.

Maybe it's just me, but I know who I owe money to. Again, maybe me, but if I was in any doubt about a former creditor claiming money that I felt had been repaid in full, I would check my records first before paying them a single penny.

Anyway, given all that, and the situation you/"your friend" are now in, then evidence of the prior repayment of the debt should be provided to the bank who I am sure will investigate and, if agreed, will refund any duplicated repayment.

meer53

Atidi wrote: »

This friend, was it really you? Because you seem to know an awful lot of detail.

Anyway, whoever this person was, you say they owed a creditor money (at least at some time in the recent past) and thought it was a scam call when the creditor called asking for their money.

You say this person paid up because it was a genuine call, and then discovered that the amount was already paid.

Maybe it's just me, but I know who I owe money to. Again, maybe me, but if I was in any doubt about a former creditor claiming money that I felt had been repaid in full, I would check my records first before paying them a single penny.

Anyway, given all that, and the situation you/"your friend" are now in, then evidence of the prior repayment of the debt should be provided to the bank who I am sure will investigate and, if agreed, will refund any duplicated repayment.

The OP said it was a call from the Halifax.

Atidi

meer53 wrote: »

The OP said it was a call from the Halifax.

And? :huh:

creditor
n.
One to whom money or its equivalent is owed.