Excessive Bank Charges *updated* - Sucess!!

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

Hello

I'm kinda new to vets, so I might run away again after this -/ Im Kirsty and I'm 19 and all I do on RYL is lurk -)

Anyways, I need some advice on Banks and Bank Charges.

I have a bank account with a £1,000 overdraft limit (Student account so is interest free, which I love and need!!)
and in January, I went over that limit by £24 at most. So I was told that on
Feb 1st there would be a £20 charge, and on Feb 29th another charge of £28.

Now, the £20 charge was fine, but the £28 charge I forgot about, and so I ended up £4 over again.
I am guessing I will get another set of charges. Which is just excessive -/
For being less than £30 overdrawn over the last 2 months, I am looking at being charged £96.

My bank arent taking any more complaints/case logs of anything to do with charges, their call center line says so -/

Am I stuck until all the court cases are decided? or can I complain and try to get the most recent charges reversed?

I don't even spend that much. I owe my boy tons for supermarket stuff, since my work arent giving me enough shifts and my student loan is hardly any, and my parents don't give me any money (although they do pay my rent each term)

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Heya Kirsty

Nice to see you in vets! Yeah banks are good at making charges and ll keep making them if they think that they can get away with it! Some banks ll be reasonable and if you only stray over once or twice a year then they'll reverse the charges! Others ll bleed you dry!
Can't understand why they're hitting you with two loads of charges in one month!! Unless perhaps they are charging you for the pleasure of sending out letters!!!
As you said there are court cases going on just now but I would still reccommend talking to your local citizens advice bureau because they usually have financial specialists on their staff who know the laws in and out and as you'll be aware its a free service to use! Also they'll keep everything on file and they can help by contacting the banks etc and perhaps trying to get some of the charges reduced!

As an immediate financial solution, universities sometimes have a student hardship fund whereby you can apply for some emergency money (not a lot, but u don't usually have to pay it back, or at least you didn't use to!)

Hope that this helps!

Craig

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

I'm failing uni/am rarely in class, so I doubt that would work. My parnets *would* bail me out I think, but they wont be happy about it and cant afford to what with my sister still living at home and being a huge financial drain. Also, I dont want to end up owing even more people money (and the uni do treat it as a loan)

I'll try and hunt down the CAB tomorrow, and also a new, better job. I plan to go into the bank and query it aswell, as it is ridiculous levels of charges -/

[bobidrawpictures]

http://www.askforitback.com/steps.htm

here is a useful website it has the letters which you are required to send to the bank, the first letter they will more than likely say no to so send the second and then you should get you charges back hope it helps

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

but if the 2nd letter doesnt work, I dont want to have to take them to court


how do you change banks if you have an overdraft? do you just use one overdraft to pay off the other one?

[bobidrawpictures]

the likely hood till the current court case goes through is that you wont have to take your bank to court they will pretty much pay you back, its always worth a try only cost at most two stamps

on that issuse i do not know sorry, maybe go to another bank open up a student account and see what overdraft you can get to pay the other one of?

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

I went into a branch today. And I was told that as it was my first set of charges, they could refund the £28 charge, but not the £20 charge.
And I am not getting any charges for them making me over draw
And, I found out that my interest free overdraft limit is £2,750, not £1,000 like I though it was. So hopefully tomorrow I will have £500 added onto my overdraft-)

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Well done Kirsty but I'd still chase up the twenty pound and see if u can get that one reversed as welll!!!

[random.swirls]

Congrats :)

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

see, the £20 I can live with, since that was the amount I went over my limit anyways. After the court case is decided I might try and chase it up. Depends if I remember then or not.

Now just waiting to see if my overdraft extension request went through okay -/

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

|Ok Kirsty, It depends on how ur feeling, but if you give banks an inch they can take a mile, but I understand it can be a lot of effort for twenty pound! Well done on getting that back though, thought you would mind!

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

see, the way I was looking at it, I could spend £20 on a pair of shoes that I would then rarely wear *shrugs*
yea, im happy I got it back, will be even happier when it re-appears in my account later this week!! (this is a good week for me for money, what with my student loan and wages going in in 2 days!!)

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Yeah i suppose! Saves on any more stress! Glad you got it sorted out! Take Care, hopefully hear from ya again soon

[Kangaroo]

at least you got some of it back. can you set up a thing with your bank so you cant go beyond your overdraft limit. if you can then it means you wont get into this situation. a better paid job sounds a good idea. good luck.

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

my overdraft was extended successfully!!
but now they are messing about with putting the charge back on and have so far (I think) taken £28 off me by messing up -/ since my account isnt balancing at the moment -/

[Eir]

get yourself a product disclosure statement about that particular account. sit down with a finacial advisor from the bank and get them to explain to you what that fee is. from my understanding, an overdraft facility means you are allowed to take more money than you actually have, kind of like a credit card. there is generally a fee for this, plus interest for the amount you are overdrawn. however there is no overdraft penalty.
if, being a student, you are exempt from account keeping fees, the only money the bank should take out of that account should be the interest on the amount overdrawn, and when money goes into the account, the amount overdrawn.
but i honestly think you should discuss this with a customer service officer at your bank.
take care and good luck.
Annie

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Awe Kirsty, thought that you'd got this sorted out! Don't let them away with the charges!

Craig

[griddlebone]

i worked out in the last year of my bank messing up with a SO and therefor overdrawing me nearly every week has cost me about £2000 in bank charges.bah.

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

my bank still havent returned the charges. if I get any of my essay done I will take a walk down to the bank today. Since they messed up and put a transfer in rather than a charge refund, then had to take it back out. And my available balance and actual balance dont match by £45 (and havent for like, a week)

gah, i hate banks -/

[Tears of Solitude]

Its nice to meet you Kirsty, Hope we see more of your posts on Vets.

I hope you get everything sorted

Jade xxx

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Any updates Kirsty? How did you get on?

[Just a girl, Interrupted.]

I didn't go the bank (read, i had a PJ day playing games) but will go tomorrow after getting my hair done probs.

[DUNFERMLINEBOY]

Ok let us know how u fare!