Santander free forever bank account changes

MeteredOut

Smurrfmo said:

Reminder for those coming here trying to work out what to do and who are affected by Santander's plans to charge for business bank accounts sold as free forever: ignore the sometimes pro-Santander noise and make sure that you : 1. Complain to Santander and get a complaint reference number and 2. Register a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman service.  In doing so you will be helping to get this issue resolved.

Can you point out the pro-Santander post pleases, so people know which ones to ignore.

(I feel we're not far off posters here being accused of working for Santander)

Kestrel_Patrol

Interesting discussion. It appears that there are many who don't like to hear opinions which don't correspond to their own. This proposed change has no effect on me as I don't have a Santander business account and didn't have a business when this free banking was being promoted. I am however an accountant and remember when Abbey began offerring free business banking. It was often mentioned but I don't recall any client switching to Abbey for the free banking but there were some new businesses who opened accounts. I doubt very much that any of them focused on the free foreever wording but were attracted by the ongoing free banking rather than the free banking limited to 1 or 2 years. The businesses which I knew with Alliance and Leicester accounts had them as former Girobank accounts which were a second to bank cash at the Post Office.

I expect that the best people complaining to FOS will get will be some compensation. I doubt Santander will forced to continue with the free banking. I also doubt that it will have any meaningful effect on their reputation or profits. I suspect that they are doing it to simplify their offering ready for if they decide to offload it, maybe under the TSB brand.

fest0r

noitsnotme said:

fest0r said:

noitsnotme said:

fest0r said:

subjecttocontract said:

fest0r said:

subjecttocontract said:

Wether you stay, go, open or close your accounts any loss to Santander is unlikely to have an affect on them. The only real effort will be on your part. Individual action won't achieve much, if anything.

I'm not sure if you're trying to stop individuals from taking action, or you actually believe what you're saying, but I have a question. Do you vote?

Neither, I'm expressing my opinion on a public forum, I don't expect everyone to agree with me and I'm not going to take a different view to keep you happy.

So, you're not trying to stop people taking action and you don't believe what you posted?

As you refused to answer the voting question, how about another one. If you're so negative about an individual's actions, why go to the effort of creating the post?

As you seem to be struggling so much with the concept...

Thanks for answering a question I never asked, but you seem to be getting upset that your views are being questioned. Quite surprising you would then go on to provide that particular definition. Here is another linked to yours:

I am definitely not upset, but thanks for the concern.  On the contrary it is you that is getting very angry at anyone voicing opinions you don’t like.  You really would be happier in the Facebook group where everybody has the answers you wish to hear.

Ironically your screenshot just clarifies exactly what I was getting at with mine (apart from the voting part obviously) and is exactly the concept you appear to struggling with.

You have previously suggested this is not the best place for my mental health. Now you claim I'm very angry? If you assume someone with opposing views is very angry and potentially unwell, it says much more about your state of mind than theirs.

You also keep trying to push people away to the Facebook group, or rather some people, with accompanying derogatory comments. If you don't agree that your views are open to debate, on a forum, it might be time to take a break.

eskbanker

Just an observation: the more heated and less civil the discussion becomes, the more likely it is that the thread will be closed or even deleted, which would be a great shame given its usefulness to those affected, so perhaps worth drawing a line under the above and moving on in a polite and respectful manner?

noitsnotme

eskbanker said:

Just an observation: the more heated and less civil the discussion becomes, the more likely it is that the thread will be closed or even deleted, which would be a great shame given its usefulness to those affected, so perhaps worth drawing a line under the above and moving on in a polite and respectful manner?

You’re right, point taken.

subjecttocontract

Do we have an estimate of when the FOS will deliver their decision ?

eskbanker

subjecttocontract said:

Do we have an estimate of when the FOS will deliver their decision ?

I don't recall any mention of anything beyond the standard FOS acknowledgements, other than some requests for business details, so don't believe there's been any indication yet as to whether FOS will be handling each escalated complaint individually or if they'll be collating them all together for a consolidated response, or if the matter will be dealt with by the FCA for that matter.

Their standard expectation management is about six months:

In general, it takes about two to three months for a case to be allocated for investigation. It can sometimes take longer, depending on what your complaint is about. We’re working hard to improve waiting times, so you may hear from us sooner than this.

[...]

Once the case handler has completed their investigation, they will give you an initial assessment of your case. Typically, this part of our process takes up to 90 days.

https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/expect/how-long-it-takes

Smurrfmo

Something I have mentioned before is the possibility of bringing an action for specific performance in the County Court, seeking an order to force Santander to honour the terms of the contract.  You'd need to prove that damages are not an adequate remedy which I think is possible as there is no real way of assessing those damages, eg £10 per month but for how long?  I am going to look into this as the FOS does not have this level of powers.  There is court authority that you can get an order in advance of the threatened contract breach.    

Smurrfmo

IanManc said:

Smurrfmo said:

Something I have mentioned before is the possibility of bringing an action for specific performance in the County Court, seeking an order to force Santander to honour the terms of the contract.  You'd need to prove that damages are not an adequate remedy which I think is possible as there is no real way of assessing those damages, eg £10 per month but for how long?  I am going to look into this as the FOS does not have this level of powers.  There is court authority that you can get an order in advance of the threatened contract breach.

Courts won't order specific performance in respect of contracts for services.

My research today says otherwise, it is not limited to property.

MSE_JC

Hi all,

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