Help! Blacklisted for unauthorised OD fees which I had no idea about

Bhavin_Sudra

Hi All,

I would really appreciate your help and advice.

2.5 years ago I moved to Australia for a 4 year working visa, before I moved I was in a 2k overdraft with Santander which I managed to pay out and bring back to a zero balance and also asked that my overdraft facility be removed. I cancelled all my direct debits and I had setup a redirect for all post to go to a family member in the UK.

Once I had moved - I only had my debit card with me which had expired and no internet access details to my Santander accounts. I was short on timke getting this setuo before I left.

Over the course of 2.5 years I had spent numerous hours on the phone requesting a new debit card and internet access, so I would be able to log in and make sure everything was ok. In this period of time I never received any correspondence regarding either request, although I was receiving post from other banks and other correspondence.

On one occasion I called up and spoke to an advisor who told me that that I had unpaid penalty charges for going into an unauthorized overdraft from an direct debit. I explained that before I had moved abroad I had cancelled all direct debits. I was surprised to learn that Credit Experian were still taking money from my account. After discussing that I had not received any correspondence from Santander and was not able to check the status of my account so i would of been able to correct the issue - the advisor reversed 3 charges and proceeded to cancel the direct debit. This happened about a 8 to 9 months ago.

Last month I decided to go back to the UK for a short visit I and walked into a Santander branch to find out what was going on as I still had not received any correspondence.

The advisor in the branch said that they could only find details of my linked savings account (with my wife) but no details of my current account, and as I did not have any back account details they could not locate it. Luckily I managed to remember my account number, and instantly she found my current account.

My account had been passed on to their collections department because it had accumulated a total of £522 pounds in unauthorized overdraft fees and they proceeded to close the account as they had not been able to contact me.

The advisor looked at my details and also said that she could see that I had contacted them several times to try and get hold of a new card and internet access.

I was shocked to hear that I had been blacklisted and my account had been closed. The advisor said that I had have a strong case to appeal as my savings account had money in it to pay off the debt, and that I had been in contact with them several times over the course of 2.5 years.

I am really worried about this and do not know what I have to do to get this reversed. My debt is now with an external debt collections agency. from what I understand I cannot remortgage or open an account with another bank for 6 years. I have mortgages on two properties with my wife - if she was to remortgage will this also effect her?

I’m even more gutted as I had used credit Experian to stay on top of my ratings which was at a good level. I am not even sure what my credit status is at the moment. I am now back in Australia and trying to figure out what I can do.

Any advice on how I may be able to reverse my status would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks guys

Bhavin

molerat

You begin by WRITING a formal COMPLAINT. If you do not get a satisfactory conclusion in 8 weeks you go on to the ombudsman.

Bhavin_Sudra

Thank you for your reply - I just spent two hours on the phone to the collections department at Santander - they acknowledged that they made a mistake and will refund and remove the default - relieved is the word - thanks for your advice.

National_Debtline

Hi Bhavin


I'm delighted to hear that the bank has acknowledged its error and pledged to rectify the damage to your credit report.


Please do check that your credit report has been updated correctly before making any future credit applications in the UK.


Dennis
@natdebtline

Wizadora1

I am in much the same situation although no overdraft! I had a joint account with my now ex wife and I wrote to Santander to close the account once I left the marital home. I was under the impression it was closed and I started up my own account with another bank. I have now checked my credit file to buy a car and they have marked the account as closed with arrears. My ex wife who didn't have enough money in to cover a direct debit after she switched to her own bank account let this account run up charges. I have called Santander saying I had never received notice of the arrears and I wasn't claiming back any charges but as a gesture of goodwill can they remove the arrears as it's all unfair charges! They replied saying no and it will take 6 years to come off! It wasn't even my fault! Please help :-(

Bhavin_Sudra

Do you have a copy of the correspondance you sent along? Did you by any chance get any confirmation of the account being closed?

One of the reasons that Snatander came to a quick decision on my case was that I had called several times and at length to discuss my direct debits/ OD penalty reversals and they had these conversations on record.

IF you have some sort of correspondance from them or if they have a record that you you closed the account off then you may have a chance to get it removed.