Santander free forever bank account changes

Smurrfmo

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/AD_documents/business_banking_general_terms_conditions_anb90361jul23hcd_lr_3.pdf

The infamous section E14 relied on by Santander is in the above general business terms, starting on page 27.  On page 29 is the condition that Santander are trying to rely on: the tight to convert one account type to another.  But a right to convert a forever fee free current account to a fee paying account using this condition is a very big stretch.  The Santander claim that the free forever promise was not carried over in 2015 is as shonky as relying on section E14. How they can claim this gets around the promise of free business banking forever when that promise did now allow a get out for just changing the terms or account type I am struggling to see.  I have little doubt that the free forever promise is a core term that cannot be overridden in this way.

solidpro

"free forever" was a huge strapline - possibly the headline on this account in 2008. I have the same business account and sort code as I did back in 2008, with the same rules. Saying 'yeah but we dont like doing it for free anymore' is shonky.

flickadee001

Lightning360 said:

Section62 said:

Lightning360 said:

Section62 said:

noitsnotme said:

solidpro said:

noitsnotme said:

Most Santander personal customers won’t give a hoot about business customers getting shafted.   I don’t think it will have the impact on their brand you think it will. And I don’t think all the business customers who leave will make even the tiniest dent in Santander’s business.

I run a business but don’t bank with Santander for that.  I do have personal accounts with Santander but won’t be moving them.  This decision of theirs doesn’t change my view of Santander.  I’m pretty sure it won’t change the view of the majority of their personal customers either.

I'm not sure what 'not caring', not having a business account with Santander and having a personal one has to do with this at all.

Because you insinuated that Santander’s reputation would be damaged by all this and I was attempting to point out that the majority of Santander’s customers won’t care, therefore their reputation is unlikely to be tarnished to the extent you think it will.

You might have a point if it was only Santander customers that mattered.  But the reality is the 'court of public opinion' (if not the ombudsman) will determine how this story pans out (if at all).

As I said about a dozen pages ago..... 'optics'.

If Santander customers don't care, then the public won't care.

How many Coutts customers cared?

Lightning360 said:

It really isn't the end of the world anyway if businesses end up getting charged some extra money.

Cost of living crisis passing you by?

If a bit of extra money is impacting a business that much, then just move banks. 

And if this fee is impacting a business that much, then something is clearly going very wrong for that business already.

I'm interested to see where this goes, after having 3 accounts with Santander and joining up in 2004/2005? for the free business banking.

However in response to this, I think with Santander doing this, and the backlash  - already has my back up.

So 2 of my accounts with them will be closed and I'll move to another bank.
My Business Account, I will keep for now, to see how this all pans out, but happy to move to somewhere else if needs be, its just the hassle of setting up a new account.

But even as an Everyday Personal Acc Customer, after this, I've decided its time to move on, and I guess I won't be the only one

Lightning360

Smurrfmo said:

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/AD_documents/business_banking_general_terms_conditions_anb90361jul23hcd_lr_3.pdf

The infamous section E14 relied on by Santander is in the above general business terms, starting on page 27.  On page 29 is the condition that Santander are trying to rely on: the tight to convert one account type to another.  But a right to convert a forever fee free current account to a fee paying account using this condition is a very big stretch.  The Santander claim that the free forever promise was not carried over in 2015 is as shonky as relying on section E14. How they can claim this gets around the promise of free business banking forever when that promise did now allow a get out for just changing the terms or account type I am struggling to see.  I have little doubt that the free forever promise is a core term that cannot be overridden in this way.

The claim is pretty obvious. The free forever applied to that specific account. They are removing the free forever account and moving people to another account, which has a fee.

Smurrfmo

Lightning360 said:

Smurrfmo said:

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/AD_documents/business_banking_general_terms_conditions_anb90361jul23hcd_lr_3.pdf

The infamous section E14 relied on by Santander is in the above general business terms, starting on page 27.  On page 29 is the condition that Santander are trying to rely on: the tight to convert one account type to another.  But a right to convert a forever fee free current account to a fee paying account using this condition is a very big stretch.  The Santander claim that the free forever promise was not carried over in 2015 is as shonky as relying on section E14. How they can claim this gets around the promise of free business banking forever when that promise did now allow a get out for just changing the terms or account type I am struggling to see.  I have little doubt that the free forever promise is a core term that cannot be overridden in this way.

The claim is pretty obvious. The free forever applied to that specific account. They are removing the free forever account and moving people to another account, which has a fee.

Obvious to you but not to me and I would think others.  The promise was free business banking forever, with certain very limited provisos, none of which apply and which provisos did not include converting to a fee paying account later as a way of trying to get around the promise.  Not sure therefore why you are so confident that the promise applied to a specific account, for which there is no evidence, but your theory will be tested.  And I guess we'll see who is right on that.

amyfairweather

Lightning360 said:

Smurrfmo said:

https://www.santander.co.uk/assets/s3fs-public/AD_documents/business_banking_general_terms_conditions_anb90361jul23hcd_lr_3.pdf

The infamous section E14 relied on by Santander is in the above general business terms, starting on page 27.  On page 29 is the condition that Santander are trying to rely on: the tight to convert one account type to another.  But a right to convert a forever fee free current account to a fee paying account using this condition is a very big stretch.  The Santander claim that the free forever promise was not carried over in 2015 is as shonky as relying on section E14. How they can claim this gets around the promise of free business banking forever when that promise did now allow a get out for just changing the terms or account type I am struggling to see.  I have little doubt that the free forever promise is a core term that cannot be overridden in this way.

The claim is pretty obvious. The free forever applied to that specific account. They are removing the free forever account and moving people to another account, which has a fee.

It didn't say "free banking forever on this specific account", it said "free business banking forever".

It also said no time limits in some of the documentation.

Lightning360

It is pretty obvious that that is what their defence is. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, but that is clearly what they are saying.

MeteredOut

Lightning360 said:

It is pretty obvious that that is what their defence is. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, but that is clearly what they are saying.

Anyone wanting to challenge this has to, I believe, show the "free forever" applied to the customer, not to the account. I suspect that will be a difficult thing to prove (but I've not looked at the T&Cs).

Lightning360

MeteredOut said:

Lightning360 said:

It is pretty obvious that that is what their defence is. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, but that is clearly what they are saying.

Anyone wanting to challenge this has to, I believe, show the "free forever" applied to the customer, not to the account. I suspect that will be a difficult thing to prove (but I've not looked at the T&Cs).

Which is why I'm trying to make a point of addressing it, yet some people are so defensive they can't possibly accept that they may be wrong about what the promise applies to. It is good to be prepared for the fact the promise may be referring to a specific account rather than a specific customer.

Smurrfmo

If Santander think they have pulled a rabbit from a hat with these legal shenanigans they are wrong.  For their case to be accepted the original promise of free business banking forever would have to mean nothing and the circumstances in which it could be withdrawn would have to mean nothing as the promise could be overcome by merely changing the account type.  Will an independent decision maker uphold this?  I can't see it.