HSBC offering bank charges refund

rdemat

I have been receiving charges from HSBC on a regular basis for some years. I had been relying on their text alerts to let me know when I had gone over my overdraft limit and then paying money in if I had it to bring my account back within it's limit. I called them this week to question that I hadn't received a text to tell me I had gone beyond my limit therefore wasn't aware and was going to be charged because of this. They stated that the text alert service was not real time and was the transactions from the previous day therefore by paying money in that day was not going to prevent me being charged. They then offered to refund me the previous months charges and stated I could raise a formal complaint, which I said I would like to. They called me today and offered to refund me a years worth of charges about #500 and look further into the complaint or I could contact the Ombudsman. I don't know what to do, the charges in the past have caused me to be unable to be out of my overdraft for years being charged their maximum every month. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks

[Deleted User]

I doubt you'd be able to argue that your Bank charges should be refunded just because text alerts weren't real time. There are plenty of other ways to check your balance. In addition, being in a cycle of charges is not inherently somehow wrong unless it left you in financial hardship.

If I were you, I'd accept the Bank's offer of a year's charges. That seems like a win to me.
If, however, you are in Financial Hardship you need to make a further case on that basis to the Bank.