Bank has added new charges for not having a current account

globalste

I dont post on here often, but I have a strange situation that I don't know how to resolve.

I have a loan secured against a property with the spanish bank BBVA. The initial conditions for the loan were that I must have a current account with them and use it for the first 3 years, the loan term is 10 years. The money for the loan comes out of the current account.

I stopped using the current account last year (year 5) so I now make a standing order from First Direct to BBVA, this keeps my banking simpler. Earlier this year I noticed that my current account was being charged £8 every month.

I queried this with the bank and they informed me that they wrote to me last October to explain they were going to begin charging me because I didn't have my salary going into the BBVA current account. I have not seen this letter but have asked for a copy.

I cannot use this BBVA current account for numerous reasons, mostly because it is a useless bank account, but also because I have an offset mortgage account with First Direct, where my wages must be paid into. I also feel I have kept to my terms and conditions for the 3 years as agreed.

So, my question is, can BBVA change their terms and conditions and force me to use a current account and penalise me with a monthly charge if I don't? I have asked to pay the loan from my First Direct account and they told me that it was not possible, payment must come from the BBVA current account.

Many thanks in advance for any help and apologies if this should be in the current account section.