Argh, ******* banks!

Scarfacé · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:46

I pay my salary into a Natwest Bank Account each month. I have no overdraft (and technically shouldn't even be capable of going overdrawn).

Now, I knew a standing order of £25 was going out on tuesday, so last sunday I paid £200 into my account, online). Now, because it took till today to go in, on tuesday, I was about £22 overdrawn. I check my account today and I have charges of £38! For going £22 overdrawn for less than 2 days.

So, I ring up Natwest and I had this very rude scottish woman who said "it's your fault" and basically if I don't like it I "can close my bank account".

I just spoke to another woman who *really* got me angry, her attitude stunk. When I said it was my first time she said "no it isn't... you went overdrawn in december but you were not charged because you paid cash in the same day... (the lady in the bank said if I paid cash in the same day I wouldn't go overdrawn - no charge)... when I explained this she said "no, you went over drawn and it was only out of good will that be waived the charge). I again repeated I did *not* go overdrawn.

Then she *really* got me angry by calling me a theif. She said what I did was no different to "walking into a supermarket, picking something up and walking out without paying for it... you basically stole from the bank". :mad:

Then she said "out of good gesture I will refund half..." when I said "ok, then tomorrow I'll be closing my account".... she said "if you're closing your account I won't refund you the money... this if an offer I'll only make to customers". When I informed her I was still a customer she replied with "yes, but if you plan to close the account then I won't offer you this good gesture.

I said "fine, of course I'll keep my account open" in a very patronising voice, followed by the "can I speak to your line manager please", in a very patronising voice she replied with "um ... umm... err.... nope... no one around, all gone home".

I also explained to her how there is a lot of claims were account holders are winning because the charges for going slightly overdrawn are extortinate (it's all electronic anyway). When I explained this to her she said "yes, but this is the banks punishment for stealing from them". ARGHHHH! I'm fuming!

What shall I do next? I'm going to pop into my bank on Tuesday I think... I've got this lady's name and everything she has said to me... I want that other £19 refunded too (I would have paid the £19 for going overdrawn if she wasn't such a ****).

Oh yes, the only reason I actually went overdrawn is because they took a few days to take money out which I withdrew from a cashpoint the week before, and then again it took 4 working days to do a bank transfer).

This was a first offence also... and I do pay my entire salary to them each month.

[/RANT]

Raymond Lin · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:49

I can see why you are annoyed wuth £38 charge for overdrawn...but you did overdrawn so there is not a leg you can stand on technically.

Bracco · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:50

Maybe next time you should realise that bank transfers aren't instant, especially not on a Sunday. No cash transfer of any sort is instant, and it is your own fault if you can't manage your money properly, not the bank. I'm so sick of seeing people ranting on about how banks are so terrible, when they admit they've taken out money they don't have.

Alasdair · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:50

Move banks.

But first make a complaint against the call centre. Every banking call centre will record all calls to ensure not only a good service, but also in case of any disputes about the content of a conversation. The attitude of the agent is out of order, they should not be giving this level of service and it makes them look even worse than they already are.

Bracco said:
Maybe next time you should realise that bank transfers aren't instant, especially not on a Sunday. No cash transfer of any sort is instant, and it is your own fault if you can't manage your money properly, not the bank. I'm so sick of seeing people ranting on about how banks are so terrible, when they admit they've taken out money they don't have.

And I agree with you Bracco.

Nix · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:52

Report the people, they shouldn't speak to customers like that.

kitten_caboodle · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:53

Put complaint in writing. Say you realise you made a mistake but it is a first offence over x amount of years and that you were disgusted with the attitude you received. I'm having trouble with them at the moment because they have no communication between departments and because of a mistake at their end I ended up with over 100 pounds worth of charges which they have confirmed in writing is their responsibility and up to them to refund, but they still can't seem to manage to refund it without charging me again. Been going on since December now :rolleyes:

Pajeh · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:53

Complain and have them listen to the call. I work for HSBC and all calls are recorded, I'm fairly sure it would be the same with other banks

Raymond Lin · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:54

That woman on the phone probably get about at least a dozen calls like yours everyday, by being annoyed with her won't get you anywhere, you were lucky to get half of it refunded I reckon.

DRZ · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:54

Raymond Lin said:
I can see why you are annoyed wuth £38 charge for overdrawn...but you did overdrawn so there is not a leg you can stand on technically.

You are wrong.

Look up the law on what constitutes a penalty clause in a contract. If the OP decided to take this to court and the tape of the person he spoke to at the bank was submitted saying it was a punishment for going overdrawn, then the banks would be in even more poop than they are at the moment.

Small amount of research, small claims court, refund of the charge without fail.

Are NatWest signed up to the Banking Code? If they are, they undertook to help you in times of financial hardship - charging you when you go overdrawn is hardly helping you out! Thats another way you can get them to give the money back.

There are many ways to skin a cat

Scarfacé · 23 Feb 2006 at 19:56

Bracco said:
Maybe next time you should realise that bank transfers aren't instant, especially not on a Sunday. No cash transfer of any sort is instant, and it is your own fault if you can't manage your money properly, not the bank. I'm so sick of seeing people ranting on about how banks are so terrible, when they admit they've taken out money they don't have.

Did you not read my post? I even said to the woman that I would've been happy to pay a charge. Eg small admin fee + interest. But... £22 for 2 days... £38.... first offence... I'm their bloody customer ffs!

Why aren't bank transfers instant? Oh yes, so they can "steal" my money to make intrest on it. :mad:

Get off your high horse. Back in the days of manual processing, £25 was an accepetable charge because of the admin side of things... these days it's all electronical so £38 is extortinate.

If you read the news... you'll find that there is *a lot* of cases currently going through the courts and the clients are winning because the courts agree that these charges are very extorinate for what is effectively lending £22 for 2 days.

:rolleyes:

Bracco · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:01

Yes, I read your post. You can't manage your money and you're blaming the bank. Transfers aren't instant because IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. If you have ever used a bank account, you should be aware of this.
Too many people complain because they want banks to coddle them and say it's ok if you can't look after yourself, they won't charge you even though it's in your contract.

Who cares if it's your first time going overdrawn? You still did it, and the bank still has to make up for the money lost by you doing so.

Scarfacé · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:05

Make up the money? By charging me about 160% interest over 2 days? You have to remember I'm paying my salary into their account every month... for the next 55 years? As I have been for the last 3.

I am the bank's customer... you're obviously forgetting that. PS. Don't try opening up a business with your attitude.

SB118 · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:05

DRZ said:
Are NatWest signed up to the Banking Code? If they are, they undertook to help you in times of financial hardship - charging you when you go overdrawn is hardly helping you out!

Have you got a link or any further details of this? I've paid just under 400 in charges in the last year or so, and i'd love to have a pop at Barclays.

DRZ · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:08

SB118 said:
Have you got a link or any further details of this? I've paid just under 400 in charges in the last year or so, and i'd love to have a pop at Barclays.

There is loads of stuff about this on some of the money forums about but the URLs escape me. The one that sticks in my mind though is www.bankchargeshell.co.uk. They even have the pro forma to start a court action against your bank for everything within the statute of limitation (6 years)

Alasdair · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:11

Scarfacé said:
I am the bank's customer... you're obviously forgetting that.

You are a low value customer to the bank. Any customer that clears or almost clears their account on a weekly or monthly basis is low value, the bank offers you an account to facilitate the transfer of funds into your account by business. Banks make money from business, not from current account customers.

Retail customers drive business customers, if you didn't have a bank account you'd still be paid in cash, and this would cost both your employer and the bank more money, so it is in their best interest to give you a bank account.

Bracco · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:11

Scarfacé said:
Make up the money? By charging me about 160% interest over 2 days? You have to remember I'm paying my salary into their account every month... for the next 55 years? As I have been for the last 3.

I am the bank's customer... you're obviously forgetting that. PS. Don't try opening up a business with your attitude.

No offence, but to a company like RBS, your salary going in every month is probably very little to them.
Sorry if I hurt you by having a sensible attitude towards other peoples money and don't think it's my own to spend.

Otacon · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:12

Scarfacé said:
I am the bank's customer... you're obviously forgetting that.

You reckon it would really be so different anywhere else? Move your money and see.

I agree with Bracco. Learn your lesson, and move on.

ScarySquirrel · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:15

from what you said she isnt fit to do her job, i work on the phones and would never dream of speaking to customers like that...

about being overdrawn, i know its frustrating, but there isnt much you can do

JohnnyG · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:16

You agreed to their terms when you opened your account, can't really moan about them now as they've done nothing they haven't told you they would

Scarfacé · 23 Feb 2006 at 20:18

I don't care if it was not different anywhere else (although I'm sure it is) The fact is for borrowing £22 for 2 days I had to pay an extra £38... this in my opinion is.... extorinate.

I don't usually clear my account, there was a special reason this month for having an empty account.

I expected this "you were wrong, suck it up" attitude from quite a few people here... yes, I went overdrawn due to the banking system taking too long to clear/withdraw money from my account. Yes, small admin fee + intrest... fine... but £38?! I don't think so.

Then to be called a theif? and you all think this is acceptable? :|

Argh, ******* banks!

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