DMP & Halifax overdraft

Toffeelady84

Hi,

I started a DMP in April 2014. I had various debts a catalogue, payday loans and a sizeable overdraft with Halifax. As soon as a signed up for DMP i was locked out of my internet banking and naive as I am I never checked it. I relied on what my DMP plan said.

Fast Forward to today i have almost cleared all of my debts excluding the Halifax account. Which seemed never ending. I had a family member offer to pay it off and I can pay them back. So i tried to reset my internet banking which I managed to get into by setting up a new online banking. To my surprise i was still getting charged account fees.

I paid the overdraft in full and sent a complaint through resolver. A lovely lady called me back today to go through the issues I had. Whilst on the phone she mentioned high fees. I never thought anything of it until I got off the phone. I then decided to go back through my bank history as far back as the DMP started. April 14 -Dec 14 i was charged account fees only. Jan 15-Sept 17 i was charged OD fees around 2k worth plus account fees. Then Oct 17-present just account fees.

Sorry for the essay. I am just wondering if they can freeze the OD charges as they please or should it be consistent. They were due to call me back today but havent as of yet so I will be calling tomorrow morning.

sourcrates

The freezing of charges is entirely at the creditors discretion, however, they are supposed to treat you fairly, ask for a refund, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Toffeelady84

Thank you for replying. I am going to request a refund and see how far I get. I am disappointed in myself for not realising that I was being charged.

sourcrates

Toffeelady84 wrote: »

Thank you for replying. I am going to request a refund and see how far I get. I am disappointed in myself for not realising that I was being charged.

Be firm but keep things chatty, if pressed, Halifax will usually cave in.

Toffeelady84

Thank you for your help. Halifax called me this afternoon. They offered to refund me all bank fees and OD charges since the start of my DMP. They messed up my account didnt put it into default when they should have. This refund has now enabled me to be debt free

sourcrates

Result !! Well done you.

jubilee14

Toffeelady84 wrote: »

Thank you for your help. Halifax called me this afternoon. They offered to refund me all bank fees and OD charges since the start of my DMP. They messed up my account didnt put it into default when they should have. This refund has now enabled me to be debt free

Hi toffeelady, well done thats great.

I had an o/d with BOS which was in my management plan and while wasnt charged interest and paid it off in 2016, they didnt default me until Dec 2015 which means it will be on my file till 2021.

I thought i read that o/drafts were considered in the same way as loans/cc for defaulting and so hadnt challenged it. Anyone able to advise?

thanks

sourcrates

jubilee14 wrote: »

I thought i read that o/drafts were considered in the same way as loans/cc for defaulting and so hadnt challenged it. Anyone able to advise?

thanks

Hi,


Overdraughts are difficult to advise on, for the simple fact you do not make any regular repayments to an overdraught, so it can lie dormant for years, or until its called in by the bank.


Because of this its difficult to say when it should be defaulted, this is why its so important to keep in contact with your creditors, tell them your circumstances, and keep a papertrail of whats been agreed between you.


The only aspect that you can challenge them on, is if you have been treated fairly, or not, so if your going into debt management, tell them so, ask to be defaulted, otherwise its the complaint route you have to take.