Disappointed in Santander..

TagEHeuer

I've never really been in any financial difficulty since a year ago, when I decided to move to a new country and find myself.

Since back in England I've struggled from job to job, finally finding something which I really enjoy. I now work for the council and the government.

Santander have been putting hefty charges on my account, unfortunately I've had to live in my overdraft the last 6 months and I regularly when over my overdraft and they've been charing me the max of about £140 a month in charges. I've only recently started getting a bigger wage in to my account so I've been able to stop struggling.

My disappointed is in the fact I've rang up every month to discuss the bank charges, and I would've thought of the advisors who I told I was struggling would've suggested the CHOICE account by Santander. It charges NO FEES for going in to my overdraft or returned payments, etc. All for £10/month.

Santander are now looking at my case as I've told them I've been struggling and my credit score has been greatly affected due to living in my overdraft and the bank charges sucking all my money out of my account.

No ones fault for me making a stupid choice to leave a secure job to start a new life in a new country, but come on Santander, you saw I've been struggling and I'm pretty sure your advisors have training on new accounts... it would've helped a guy out who works hard to make ends meet, and only wants good from people.

brendon

It's not up to Santander to manage your finances. If you told your bank you were struggling, the best outcome for both parties would be to remove your overdraft. Having an overdraft isn't a human right.

Mrs_Ryan

Yep they are a nightmare. Couldn't care a jot if you're in financial difficulty as I found out trying to unravel the mess they created on my disabled partner's account. Charges on top of charges- and then they decided because we happened to live at the same address we must be financially linked and attempted to take money out of my account to cover his charges (we have no joint accounts or any financial links at all, we aren't married and I have a totally different name but their reasoning is because we live at the same address we must share our finances!! Mad) The only one thing I'll say in their favour is they gave him back all his benefit money after I had a right old go at them but generally no they couldn't care less.

NBLondon

Like brendon said - it isn't the banks job to help you; it's to make money for their shareholders. So if they can get more in charges by keeping you on a standard account than by moving you to a different account -then they will do. They've probably got statistics about how many people will eventually go bankrupt (they lose money) and how many eventually get back on track like you did and they get their money back in the long run (plus all those charges).

NBLondon

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

and then they decided because we happened to live at the same address we must be financially linked and attempted to take money out of my account to cover his charges (we have no joint accounts or any financial links at all, we aren't married and I have a totally different name but their reasoning is because we live at the same address we must share our finances!! Mad)

I'm wondering what the legal status is there. If you have no joint accounts or other links (mortgage?) then they have no way to know if you are partners or just flatmates. So actually taking funds is very dodgy. Surely they can't do that without either a court order or some small point somewhere that you signed up to. If the latter then that's something to shout about as an unfair condition or one that needs to be more prominent.

The DWP etc. make similar assumptions but that's a whole different argument...

dodger1

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

and then they decided because we happened to live at the same address we must be financially linked and attempted to take money out of my account to cover his charges (we have no joint accounts or any financial links at all, we aren't married and I have a totally different name but their reasoning is because we live at the same address we must share our finances!! Mad)

NBLondon wrote: »

I'm wondering what the legal status is there. If you have no joint accounts or other links (mortgage?) then they have no way to know if you are partners or just flatmates. So actually taking funds is very dodgy. Surely they can't do that without either a court order or some small point somewhere that you signed up to. If the latter then that's something to shout about as an unfair condition or one that needs to be more prominent.

I don't think they actually took any money, it appears they attempted to which I'm guessing means they asked about the possibility.

NBLondon

I'm reading "attempted" as they did place the transaction and Mrs_Ryan challenged it. Maybe they announced they were going to do so unless OH took some action and then Mrs_R had her "right old go" to point out there was no financial link. I doubt they would ask

Which is why I wondered if there was small print somewhere that warns they might decide to do this...