Abbey National Sneaky

adamtango

I opened my bank statement from Abbey last month to see that they had given me two seperate charges for "Advance overdraft access" and "Instant overdraft access".
They only totalled £3.25 but i was certain i had kept my balance in credit the whole month, i checked my statement and the lowest point my current account reached was zero.
After a call to the customer services i was given an apology and told that the fees would be reinbursed to my account. Ok so not a problem.

I opened my new bank statement this morning. This month i have kept a minimum credit balance of £200 and yet the same two charges, this time totalling £4.75.
So i call the customer services again, this time i am informed that the charges are for use of my overdraft facility.
I disagree and inform the agent that i have not used my overdraft facility. He then disagrees with me.
After he has spent a few minutes looking over my statement i am told it was due to a technical error and the funds will immediately be reinbursed.

So it happened last month and it happened this month, will it happen next month ???

They are only insiginifcant amounts of money but this is purely principle.

I wonder how many people either don't notice the charges, or just can't be bothered going through such a long phone process just to retrive a couple of quid.

Greedy, sneaky Abbey, if this happens again next month i vow to take my custom elsewhere.

Displaced_Yorkie

Look around this site - you'll find other threads showing Abbey has been doing this since February! My own incorrect and unjustified charge of £81 was levied the month (June), but it's been repaid already, following my letter of complaint. This looks like a nice little earner for Abbey, from all those who don't check their statement or don't bother to complain - or from those who are charged correctly for having been overdrawn, but have these spurious charges added. How would you know?

PBA

There has been a problem affecting people who have money paid in and withdraw it the same day, which meant some people who had stayed in credit were being charged a small amount of interest. It's meant to be being refunded automatically, though not sure when that will happen and if you call up or go in to a branch it will be done straight away.

Displaced_Yorkie

That wasn't my experience. When I called them, I gave up when the guy tried to put me on hold for the fourth time, and when I went into the Branch, all they could do was fill in a form and send it away. And I wouldn't call £81 a small amount either. But if you're right about why this charge is being levied incorrectly, then Abbey must be raking it in - how many people withdraw money on the same day their salary hits their account?