£25 bank charge for 33p over limit
- Thread starter Jon12345
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Indeed. I am completely happy with the direct debit system, along with paperless billing it really does take all the hassle away from running so many utility accounts. Its a superb way to pay and to be honest its hard to imagine a world without it.
Exactly.
Also people saying "it's only 33p" don't seem to realise that a line has to be drawn somewhere, and it is - at £0 - and is set the same for everyone. It's about as fair as you can make it, just as long as you bear in mind that you have a responsibility to regulate your finances.
I haven't gone overdrawn for as long as I care to remember simply because I actually manage my finances properly and don't spent money on a McDonalds or whatever when I haven't got it in the bank.
Speaking as someone who is out of work and starting to get low on money...you adjust your outgoings as much as you can, talk to your bank, etc. Plan ahead rather than just bury your head in the sand and hope it all comes out OK.
Soldato
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Just because it's contractual does not mean it's fair.
Unless it's spelled out during the application / purchasing process, it's not unreasonable for people to get out of these 'small print' agreements.
It is also not even remotely proportional to the costs incurred by going into overdraft. The systems that run this are automated mostly, the actual costings would be a fraction of a pence.
Unless it's spelled out during the application / purchasing process, it's not unreasonable for people to get out of these 'small print' agreements.
It is also not even remotely proportional to the costs incurred by going into overdraft. The systems that run this are automated mostly, the actual costings would be a fraction of a pence.
Except the freedom some companies give themselves with it. I've had a company Direct Debiting an account they had previously told me they weren't able to Direct Debit, which landed me a bank charge as I'd put my money in another account.
I also know of companies trying to DD money they think they're owed without sorting it out with their customer first. Mistakes where a huge bill had been generated for example and wile it was in the process of being sorted out, they tried to bruteforce a £1500 or so Direct Debit.
Direct Debits aren't perfect, I had a hard time getting anyone to own up for the messed up direct debit I had with my bank, the company tried to pass it on to the bank and the bank did the same thing.
It's never as black and white as you seem to put it. 90% of my bank charges have been errors beyond my control.
I am out of work, and I haven't had a bank charge for some time now, but just because that's the case, it doesn't change my opinion on how the system works.
It's to easy to assume people are acting a certain way when you base it off yourself.
Just because I'm arguing a point doesn't mean I'm trying to justify a certain way.
But there are too many people in this thread who are saying "I'm fine, so you should be to, because you're the same as I am and in the exact same situation".
those are the issues with DD that i hate.
I think we have thrashed this out as much as it needs to be. Just be there with the thought that some people seem to be hit with repeated charges, others never incur any. I would question where the weak link in the chain is, as i do not believe it to be the bank or any vendors.
Also please note that with the direct debit system YOU are in control. You can cancel one at any time. If you have any problems with one simply cancel it, and the company will be forced to write to you requesting payment by other means.
I dont moan about it i pay it and nothing more is said. Yes i need to sort it out, its not something that makes me happy. One day when I am not to busy working my butt off i will fix it.
You must be on a very decent income for a monthly £180 charge to not be worth sorting out
Man of Honour
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An awful lot of people do...
Again, you're basing your experience on what everyone else experiences.
I've had my bank tell me they can't cancel a direct debit, they're not allowed to for example, or I've had direct debits I didn't know about, for example.
It's not this great system you seem to think it is.
You didn't know you had some DDs?
I've already stated it, phone company told me they couldn't DD the account I was going to use, so I put money in another account. They ended up DDing my account that they previously said they couldn't and wouldn't.
Rather worrying that you had DD's which you didn't know you had. Again i think you are actually backing up my feelings as to where the weak link lies.
You had Direct Debits you didn't know about!? Completely agree with above.
Well put.
I am astounded at the blinkered outlook and arrogance of some people on this thread. Anyone with a decent amount of life experience will know that peoples situations can be very different. The assumptions many seem to be making bear no resemblance to my situation.
Some points:
1. If you are employed you are likely to have a steady income. Therefore, budgeting is far easier. The self-employed are in a completely different situation, where clients can end up paying you late, the level of business you have fluctuates (short-term and long-term), cash flow can get very tight and so on. It appears many of the detractors on this thread clearly have no insight.
2. The argument from some seems to run that if you go over your overdraft, £25 is reasonable. But it should fit the 'crime'. Sure, if you go over your limit and especially for a long period of time, you should have a penalty. But a pro-rata system would be reasonable. Yes, you could chop someones head off for breaking the speed limit but it doesn't mean to say it is fair.
3. I'm quite sure if you were paid late by your employer by 1 day, so went 33p overdrawn and were charged £200, you would view that as completely out of order. Although the fee is £25, your argument suggests that if it is in the T&C its fine. But its not. There are plenty of unfair agreements out there. Why do you think there is a huge court case over the matter if there wasn't room for doubt?
Get real.
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