Bank Charges

Lithium · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:23

Ahahahah. Looks like theres a few HSBC workers not so happy with their jobs... yet they still seem to think them getting charged as being ok. hahahaha.

Well unlucky suckers, your life not mine, and since i've had money paid back to me already i wont be taking any more crap from any banks any more.

Alasdair · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:28

Lithium said:
Well unlucky suckers, your life not mine, and since i've had money paid back to me already i wont be taking any more crap from any banks any more.

So you're going to continue to badly manage your finances and incur more charges? The whole point that the majority of us bank employees are making is that bank charges are a good thing and if you get charged, you deserve it.

DRZ · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:34

Alasdair said:
So you're going to continue to badly manage your finances and incur more charges? The whole point that the majority of us bank employees are making is that bank charges are a good thing and if you get charged, you deserve it.

I have never been charged by my bank. If they ever tried to, I would remind them that it is ILLEGAL and demand the charge be reversed.

I have no doubt whatsoever that my demands would be satisfied by an English court. The banks know this too, which is why not one case has got there

What does that say about how deserved these fines are?

Alasdair · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:41

DRZ said:
I have never been charged by my bank. If they ever tried to, I would remind them that it is ILLEGAL and demand the charge be reversed.

I have no doubt whatsoever that my demands would be satisfied by an English court. The banks know this too, which is why not one case has got there

What does that say about how deserved these fines are?

It says that the bank are not going to take you to court because that will set a precedent, it doesn't say whether they are a good thing or not, which I think they are.
If we remove bank charges, there's a good chance the banks will look to other revenue generators, i.e. account maintenance charges. I'd rather some people got charged for their mistakes as opposed to everyone getting charged for it.

Oracle · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:43

Lithium said:
Ahahahah. Looks like theres a few HSBC workers not so happy with their jobs... yet they still seem to think them getting charged as being ok. hahahaha.

Well unlucky suckers, your life not mine, and since i've had money paid back to me already i wont be taking any more crap from any banks any more.

Umm, have I said that!? I was unhappy with my job, and IMHO until recently they have been an excellent bank.

I am however, (maybe to Kitchsters disgust) persuing recent charges that they have applied to my account, but, only for repayment for the carp way they treated me as an employee!!

Kitchster - I was the same. I think I did, Auth Sig, Shardealing, and Business Account courses in the SAME week!! Cumberland House, Southampton.

Kitchster_uk · 13 Apr 2006 at 23:28

I think we should start charging for everything - end free banking but remove overdraft charges. That way, all those who persistantly abuse their facilities can be subsidised by the rest. Won't affect me anyway as I'd get it free.

By the way, the latest OFT ruling did not say charges were illegal, it has merely challenged the levels and asked the industry to come up with answers - something the banks are currently doing.

singist · 14 Apr 2006 at 00:02

Alasdair said:
It says that the bank are not going to take you to court because that will set a precedent, it doesn't say whether they are a good thing or not, which I think they are.
If we remove bank charges, there's a good chance the banks will look to other revenue generators, i.e. account maintenance charges. I'd rather some people got charged for their mistakes as opposed to everyone getting charged for it.

Precedents already set: not the way you believe ..... the opposite! check the law.

DRZ · 14 Apr 2006 at 01:28

Alasdair said:
It says that the bank are not going to take you to court because that will set a precedent, it doesn't say whether they are a good thing or not, which I think they are.
If we remove bank charges, there's a good chance the banks will look to other revenue generators, i.e. account maintenance charges. I'd rather some people got charged for their mistakes as opposed to everyone getting charged for it.

Why should those who (arguably) cant pay or are bad with their finances pay for me to write a cheque or hold my account with the bank? Why is that right?

Pay for what you use.

IF the charges were reasonable - ie actually covered the expense the bank was put to, I would be fine with that - but they arent. They make a profit from those charges, which tends to suggest that it doesnt just "cover" it at all - it is a revenue generating exercise.

If your bank signed up to the Banking Code then you, as a bank, are DUTY BOUND to help them in times of financial need - I put it to you that charging £38 for going over an agreed limit is the exact opposite of helping the customer in what is quite clearly a time of financial need.

Johnny Girth · 14 Apr 2006 at 01:47

I wouldn't be surprised if in-house banking lawyers start to come up with some clever drafting to get round this.

They could introduce several hundred pound banking charges for having an account with them that are automatically refunded if you don't go over your overdraft limit etc.

SB118 · 25 Apr 2006 at 13:07

Johnny Girth said:
I wouldn't be surprised if in-house banking lawyers start to come up with some clever drafting to get round this.

They could introduce several hundred pound banking charges for having an account with them that are automatically refunded if you don't go over your overdraft limit etc.

The OFT wouldn't let them.

Had my copy statements arrive this morning, just typing up my letter to ask for my £1285 pounds back

Bar · 25 Apr 2006 at 13:14

Niceone I will be joining you shortly on this journey.

fatiain · 28 Apr 2006 at 13:21

Grr, wasn't going to bother but got my bank statement this morning, first direct charged me £30 for going, wait for it.........

49p overdrawn for 3 days.

Extorsion? I should say so.

jhmaeng · 28 Apr 2006 at 20:31

I've been charged £30 a few times by First Direct too, but two things stop me from writing to them demanding a refund:

1. As a bank, they're so top notch with first class service and... well, just the sheer reasonableness of their staff. No dealing with strange accents (except for the Yorkshire accent

) and having to repeat yourself just to be understood, knowledgeable staff that actually know what they're talking about and willingness to help out with things like overdraft limit increase when I really needed it. I don't want to somehow damage the relationship (in the most extreme case, some people have been told that their accounts will be closed after the fees are refunded)

2. I'm ~£800 overdrawn and if they decide (however petty it would be, it would be still entirely within their rights) to either withdraw the overdraft facility and/or close the account, I don't have a spare £800 lying around just to pay them back.

Also, at least FD actually paid the items out while charging me £30 for the privilege - NatWest the ******** charged me £30 per item past the limit, while also not actually paying the item in question and landing me with furthe hassles about unpaid direct debits.

I plan to hassle NatWest into refunding the £120 or so I've been charged (never will forgive them, it's an idle account now) but not sure about First Direct.

Kitchster_uk · 28 Apr 2006 at 20:40

fatiain said:
Grr, wasn't going to bother but got my bank statement this morning, first direct charged me £30 for going, wait for it.........

49p overdrawn for 3 days.

Extorsion? I should say so.

I went 82p over this month because of the £2.50 charge for text banking and for 1 day. Ok, I saw it the day after the charge had gone on and before it was pre-notified (the advantage of working for the bank) so I rang up, said I thought it was unreasonable and what do you know, it was cancelled. Guy on the phone agreed 100% and did it there and then.

Give 'em a ring mate

Tru · 3 May 2006 at 11:17

Thought I'd bump this to see if anyone has made a move on their banks yet?

I took the time to go through all my statements for the last 6 years and my charges come to over £4K, so I'm going to make a claim. I've got a feeling they'll offer me a settlement, which I may well take to avoid the courts and because I still have a large overdraft with them.

kitten_caboodle · 3 May 2006 at 11:27

fatiain said:
Grr, wasn't going to bother but got my bank statement this morning, first direct charged me £30 for going, wait for it.........
49p overdrawn for 3 days.

Extorsion? I should say so.

it's probably automated. Go over the limit and *DING!* *FLASHING LIGHTS* As said, give 'em a ring they'll probably waive it (and act like they're doing you a huuuuuuge favour too

)