Ulster Bank have stealthily charged over €250 since 2013 for an account I stopped using in 2006

DCFC79

joeyjoejnr1 said:

Deleted_User said:

 with all the super-spidey diligence you possess.

No need to be rude, seeing that I had left the country and wasn't using the account it wasn't my number one priority. I doubt I'm the only person in the world who hasn't left an account open after leaving a country. I've worked in lived in 5 different countries and I have never has this problem with other banks.

I don't think it is very fair that they started charging me 7 years after I used the account without sending me any details. They clearly had my address as they were able to start contacting me again in November. I genuinely think this is a mistake on their part.

And a mistake by yourself too.
But whats done is done, get the best possible outcome.
If it were me I would have made sure the account was at zero or no more money was due to come out.

colsten

DCFC79 said:

joeyjoejnr1 said:

Deleted_User said:

 with all the super-spidey diligence you possess.

No need to be rude, seeing that I had left the country and wasn't using the account it wasn't my number one priority. I doubt I'm the only person in the world who hasn't left an account open after leaving a country. I've worked in lived in 5 different countries and I have never has this problem with other banks.

I don't think it is very fair that they started charging me 7 years after I used the account without sending me any details. They clearly had my address as they were able to start contacting me again in November. I genuinely think this is a mistake on their part.

And a mistake by yourself too.

joeyjoejnr1, is there a possibility that Ulster Bank did actually write to your UK address, and that their letter(s) got mislaid/lost whilst you lived in 5 different countries? 

joeyjoejnr1

DCFC79 said:

If it were me I would have made sure the account was at zero or no more money was due to come out.

The account had a positive balance and there was no money due to come out. The charges were new overdraft fees that weren't communicated to me.

joeyjoejnr1

colsten said:

DCFC79 said:

joeyjoejnr1 said:

Deleted_User said:

 with all the super-spidey diligence you possess.

No need to be rude, seeing that I had left the country and wasn't using the account it wasn't my number one priority. I doubt I'm the only person in the world who hasn't left an account open after leaving a country. I've worked in lived in 5 different countries and I have never has this problem with other banks.

I don't think it is very fair that they started charging me 7 years after I used the account without sending me any details. They clearly had my address as they were able to start contacting me again in November. I genuinely think this is a mistake on their part.

And a mistake by yourself too.

joeyjoejnr1, is there a possibility that Ulster Bank did actually write to your UK address, and that their letter(s) got mislaid/lost whilst you lived in 5 different countries? 

No, the UK address is a family address so I have been getting other comms to this address.

joeyjoejnr1

Thanks for the feedback. I sent a letter to Ulsterbank on 24th August asking for the account to be closed. Will keep everyone posted.

Petriix

At some point (possibly around 2013) Smile deducted a £20 overdraft facility fee from my account. I complained and they apologised and refunded it immediately. 

Under UK law at least they would have a pretty hard time unilaterally changing the terms of a contract for an ongoing service without making reasonable attempts at communicating with you first.

I suggest that you make a formal complaint. Presumably Ireland have some kind of financial regulator so look into your options for escalation if they don't resolve things satisfactorily. 

jbuchanangb

The Irish regulator is the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Lincoln House, Dublin 2, D02 VH29.
I had cause to submit a complaint to them in August 2016, and it was resolved in my favour in October 2018.
The financial institution concerned contested my complaint, so a full investigation & adjudication was necessary.

joeyjoejnr1

UPDATE: Wrote a letter of complaint to Ulster Bank a few weeks back. Just got off the phone with them and they are refunding all fees and closing my account. They accepted full responsibility.

They had my current address since 2010 so I've no idea why they didn't send me any comms on overdraft fees, they can't explain it either.

Thanks to everyone who helped, and a big up yours to everyone who tried to make me feel like I was an idiot. 

gsmh

Thank you for letting us know of the outcome. many posters don't do that.

joeyjoejnr1

gsmh said:

Thank you for letting us know of the outcome. many posters don't do that.

100%  gsmh - it's important we all support each other when dealing with these big organisations.