Abbey: when does an account become dormant?

Mad_Mac

New here, hope someone can give me some info.

I emigrated to the US almost 6 years ago. Yesterday, my son returned from visiting his mother. About a month ago, a letter from Abbey arrived at my old address - he brought it back with him, and I read it this morning.

The letter came from Abbey's "Debt Management Operations" in Sheffield, and was regarding an "Instant Plus" account which I thought I had closed in late 1999. This account was one which "transferred" from the Safeway "ABC" account (remember them?) I had a couple of years previously. They claim I have an overdraft of 97 quid! Quite an achievement for an account I thought I had closed almost six years ago - even if I'm mistaken and I haven't closed it, there's certainly been no activity since I withdrew my last salary from my old UK employer in November 1999.

I'll be speaking to them on Monday re this - I just wondered if anyone found it rather strange that they would authorise a payment on an account which at best, had been inactive for almost six years?

Fatboy_NSS

Chances are the account was slightly overdrawn when you requested it to be closed, which meant the closure didn't happen. There would have been a charge for the transaction or transactions which took the account overdrawn, plus 6 years worth of interest which could easily add up to £97.

Mad_Mac

Took their b....y time telling me, then. I'll find out more tomorrow.

Mad_Mac

Well Fatboy, you called it absolutely right! I spoke with them this morning, and in view of the circumstances, they're cancelling the charges and closing the account. Fair play to Abbey on this occasion.