Just received a double bank charge

chris1huk

Hey, i've just received a bank charge of £35 for a "paid item" which took me over my overdraft limit.. which is fair enough.. but im also being charged £28 for going over my overdraft limit, is this right?
i've never actually had a paid item charge for a debit card taking me over my limit. Surely they only need to do one credit check and are only sending one letter, so there should only be one charge?

daisykinn1

It's probably one for going over then another for still being over the limit. They can pretty much charge as much as they like until the test case is resolved.

natweststaffmember

That is NatWest/RBS. Basically they have charged £35 because when the item was presented for payment the account exceeded and agreed or unagreed limit so they had to pay it. THe £28 is a maintenance charge, which is similar is where the account exceeds the overdraft limit within a charging period and goes out a month behind, so for example, February would go out at the end of March. You can almost zigzag across within and over the overdraft limit and only 1 charge for actually exceeding it goes out ie Maintenance charge. Until the OFT test judgement and appeals process is heard, it is legal to do so.

chris1huk

ahh, i see thanks, i wish they'd just reject the debit card transaction if the funds arent in the account. and yeah it was halifax, which i think has something to do with rbs.
and also yes it was a 28 charge to be taken out on 19th april, and 35 to be taken out on 31st of may(or the otherway round)

natweststaffmember

not anything to do with RBS cos Halifax and BOS are the connected parties.