Santander annoyance

CollB

I was tempted by a £100 switch incentive by Santander a few years ago, partly due to the money and partly due to high account costs on my HSBC account at the time.

I signed up for an everyday current account which had no monthly fees and very reasonable charges.

A couple years ago they convinced me to switch to a 123 reward account where you earn cash back in return for a small monthly fee.

My personal circumstances changed so I was no longer earning more than a few pence a month reward but didn't change the account as the monthly fee was low and so it wasn't worth the hassle.

I got a letter saying the fees were going up and suggesting I rang if I wanted to change to a different account type, which I did.

I opted for the account with no monthly fees, the everyday current account. Believing I was changing back to the account I had originally due to it being called the same.

They went through so many terms and conditions that I lost track and most didn't make sense. It's scientifically proven we can only keep 5 to 8 new pieces of information in our head unless we use tricks to help, and they must have gone through dozens.

When the next statement arrived I discovered a DAILY fee for using my agreed overdraft plus charges for every time I used my card for purchases. These are fees I had never had previously and added up to £80. This is on an account with only a £500 overdraft. Also the fees took me over my credit limit so I was charged for that too.

This is really just a rant because I don't believe I can do anything about this treatment. I'll have to pay off the overdraft and not use my debit card for purchases.

This is the modern world it seems, move people from the product they are on to a much more expensive one by making it seem you are helping them. What a fool I am for not realising.

YorkshireBoy

CollB wrote: »

They went through so many terms and conditions that I lost track

They didn't read them all out surely? I mean, they run to several dozen pages, across 2 or 3 documents. However, you were presumably sent some, or told they were on their website. After all, when you signed (or ticked a box) you were confirming you'd read and understood them.

When the next statement arrived I discovered a DAILY fee for using my agreed overdraft plus charges for every time I used my card for purchases. These are fees I had never had previously and added up to £80.

At £1 per day that's £31 of them covered...that's if you spent the entire month in the red...did you? What were the other £49 fees for...specifically?

This is on an account with only a £500 overdraft. Also the fees took me over my credit limit so I was charged for that too.

You were pre-notified of the pending charges, and given 2-3 (maybe 4?) weeks advance warning. Why didn't you take steps to ensure you had adequate cleared funds in the account on this pre-notified date?

This is really just a rant because I don't believe I can do anything about this treatment. I'll have to pay off the overdraft and not use my debit card for purchases.

Again, what were the card fees for...specifically?

grumbler

CollB wrote: »

...
They went through so many terms and conditions that I lost track and most didn't make sense. It's scientifically proven we can only keep 5 to 8 new pieces of information in our head unless we use tricks to help, and they must have gone through dozens.

Everyday Current Account Key Facts Document

It's just few pages and the main charges are on the first one.

When the next statement arrived I discovered a DAILY fee for using my agreed overdraft

1|2|3 Current Account Key Facts Document

I might be missing something, but I see the same "£1 per day" arranged overdraft usage fee that you have to be used to. Did you expect to get a free overdraft with your new Everyday account?

If you want account without charges, you should have checked first and asked for a 'basic' one: http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/current-accounts. However, it costs £10 p.m. and still charges £1 daily for using arranged overdraft.