complaint to abbey after bank charges success

[itsamomentintime]

original thread here:

http://http://www.consumeractiongrou...nlawful-4.html


however - i when i tried to withdraw some money via a cashpoint, i was instructed to go to my local branch. when i did this, the teller rang some number, and was given various instructions, one being to retain my card. not only this, but my overdraft and internet access were also withdrawn. all because i exercised my legal right to reclaim unlawful charges.

now i am sure that this is against the banking code, so i have sent the following letter yesterday with rec delivery:

Dear sir/madam

My debit card was recently taken from me and retained on a visit to my local Abbey branch. Also I have noted that my online access has been suspended, meaning that I have no way of accessing my account and my overdraft facility has been removed.

As a result I would like to complain to you about the way I have been treated. Please provide me with a copy of your complaints procedure.


Regards


will keep you posted

[Lula]

if you take id into your branch then you can withdraw money from your account, but i would continue with your complaint as this seems to be a retaliatory action

[itsamomentintime]

thanks Lula thats what i thought about them

[kev2b3]

lula may be able to correct me on this if i am wrong, but i thought the banks needed to give notice before they suspending your overdraft and taking the debit card from you.

[Lula]

it is 28 days, they cannot just cancel if they do you need to contact the Banking ombusman and complain

[itsamomentintime]

letter signed for on 11/1/08

[itsamomentintime]

complaints procedure recieved, the following is off to the complaints dept, similar to the first letter but adjusted to suit:

Dear sir/madam

My debit card was recently taken from me and retained on a visit to my local Abbey branch. Also I have noted that my online access has been suspended, meaning that I have no way of accessing my account and my overdraft facility has been removed.

I would like an explanation as to why this has happened, as I believe the Banking Code advises that any change in circumstances requires you to provide me with 30 days notice. Also I would like you to explain to me just how I am supposed to access my bank account, without the aforementioned facilities being available to me.

I consider your actions to be retaliatory, due to my to successful claims against you for bank charges. Please be aware that, if no satisfactory outcome is forthcoming to my complaint, I will not hesitate in reporting your actions to the Office of Fair Trading, the Financial Ombudsman Service and the British Bankers Association.


Regards

[louis wu]

glad to see you using your timescale, and not theirs.

How typical of Abbey, no doubt they will stall until the eleventh hour, just to inconvenience you.

As lula says, take 2 forms of ID into the branch (a bill and a driving licence/passport), and get your money that way.

best of luck

louis

[HONESTKNOB]

Don't expect a straight answer from the bank regarding the account closure but you will get Around £250 compensation if you take it to the Ombudsman,
Alliance & Leicester closed my account following a claim and told me there was nothing they could do too. I took it up with the Ombudsman and got £250 in no time.

[itsamomentintime]

hello HONESTKNOB

its not actually closed, but it might as well be as I cannot access it

[HONESTKNOB]

I see you've already written to the bank, expect the fob off letter back. Demand they give you a final answer in writing. Once you have this then off to the Ombudsman you go. Open a new account with another bank and wait for the compensation cheque to arrive.

[itsamomentintime]

HONESTKNOB you must be psychic - the reply did not address any of the issues i raised, so another letter on its way to them....

[itsamomentintime]

letter on its way:

Dear sir/madam

I am receipt of your response to a complaint that I have raised with Abbey. Unsurprisingly however the letter fails to address the issues that I raised, namely:

• Why has my debit card been retained by my local branch?
• Why has my overdraft facility been removed?
• Why has my internet access to my account been removed?

Please reply with a satisfactory response within 14 days, and make it your final answer on the matter.


Regards

[itsamomentintime]

UPDATE

I have recieved a reply, stating that the services were removed due to 'activity on my account'

i.e. i have reclaimed bank charges so they have effectively closed my account in revenge.

i believe this is retalitory, and am going to complain the FOS.

watch this space!!

[Lula]

any updates on this?