I've Been Stung!

dt3000 · 9th February 2006, 16:43

I've just had Abbey take £110 from my account for being £140 overdrawn for 2 days - unknown to me - there was no contact from them to alert me to this problem, if so I could have resolved it same day. Although no neg balance appears on my statement they seem determined to re-define the meaning of "CURRENT" as in their use of Current Balance - their so called Current Balance doesn't give a true picture of your finances becuase they include uncleared funds. I've just fired of a letter of complaint because I got nowhere with my phone calls...they tried to offer me a portion of the amount as a "Goodwill Gesture" - I refused. This procedure of theirs takes 8 Weeks for them to give an answer.
Is there anything I can do to get my money back quicker without incurring any additional charges???

Needless to say I've just opened an account with another bank this morning and I'll be transferring my funds over in due course.

Russe11 · 9th February 2006, 16:46

yes you move bank, but where they lose one customer they gain another.

It really does not make a difference imo

Docubot · 9th February 2006, 16:46

Have a read of the FAQ's - most questions (and probably some you didn't know you wanted to ask

are answered in there.

There is also a step by step guide to getting your money back in there too.

The whole process should take no more than 42 days (in my estimation) - which, while 2 days longer than Abbey imply it will take them to reply to you - you KNOW you will get the money back - rather than a letter from Abbey saying 'it's in your t&c's etc...'.

dt3000 · 9th February 2006, 16:48

Thanks...looks like I'll have a bit of reading to do tonight.

dt3000 · 10th February 2006, 11:13

Well I read everything last night but I had already sent this letter. Should I wait for a reply to this or should I send the Sample Letter in library also?

Can someone advise.

Letter to Abbey dated 9 Feb

Re: Account Number 90011743

I recently discovered charges to the amount of £110 have been debited from my account. This appears to be due to some confusion surrounding a cheque I deposited on the 31st January, 2006. I read the ‘Current Balance’ using your online banking system to mean that as defined in the Oxford dictionary “• adjective 1) happening or being used or done now” – your definition appears to be different. According to my statement and my current balances online at that time I was never overdrawn, if I had seen a negative balance this would have been remedied immediately.

I find these charges totally out of proportion to the costs incurred by your bank and therefore unfair. If there were problems with my account, I would have resolved these immediately after a simple automated email or phone call from your bank.

I don’t think your online banking system appears to be very clear, would it not be better to show the actual balances on the transaction page rather than including funds which have not yet cleared.

I respectfully request a full refund of the charges made.

Docubot · 10th February 2006, 11:29

No, that's fine - you'll probably get the 'We're sorry you're not happy - take a look in our T&C's. A tarrif of our charges etc....blah, more lies, blah. We will endevour to look into your complaint within 73 years...' letter back.

When they haven't replied, or sent you the 'fob-off' letter, sent the letter in the library (amended for your cause) and then, after 7 days, start proceedings.

You will find that this is the way to get the money back out of Abbey.

...although...I must say - it's getting easier to get money back out of Abbey - I think they have realised that they have pushed people too far and are now seeing the retaliation.

When Stephen took them to court, they (after the inital cock-up) threw lots of resource at it - when I (and another member of the bankchargeshell group) took them to court, they attempted to scare us off with an externally appointed solicitor sending letters implying huge costs etc...

When my partner took them to court, they offered half straight away (more or less) - she refused and got a letter from their INTERNAL (corperate) solicitor paying up in full.

They, for one, seem to be getting the message - WE ARE NOT TO BE MESSED WITH - We WILL go to court if they do not pay up.

dt3000 · 10th February 2006, 11:37

Nice one - cheers for the info...I just hope they send the reply soon...they do say it can take up to 8 weeks....but then again at 8.9% who cares!

Docubot · 10th February 2006, 13:06

Sadly, just 8%APR.

dt3000 · 15th February 2006, 13:59

Spoke to a person at my branch couple of days ago and asked to speak with the branch manager (was out to lunch) and was told the manager would call me later in the day. Got a call from a man who I assumed was the branch manager, turns out he was in an Abbey office in Belfast (my branch is in Harlow, Essex). Just got a letter from him this morning confirming I had refused an offer of a Â£30 refund, together with their T&Cs and a leaflet with the Bank Ombudsman's details - talk about pouring fuel on a fire!

Have had no reply yet re my letter of complaint to their Customer Satisfaction Centre.

Watch this space!

BankFodder · 15th February 2006, 14:49

I don't understand why you want to wait 8 weeks. It's your money. They have to understand that they will now being doing business on your terms and conditions.

As far as accepting their goodwill money, if you do not accept it in full settlement then go ahead and accept it. It will make their job hanging onto a lesser sum later on all the more paltry and ridiculous.

I think that you should write to them and tell them that you have noe reflected and that you consider that their targets are too long.

Tell them that undless they can fully justify the charges which they have levied in detail and within 14 days that you will issue and without further notice.

Before you start any of this you should have an alternative account set up elsewhere

dt3000 · 15th February 2006, 15:14

Bankfodder....I'm in no hurry and I'm a very patient person...the longer they take the more I'll recoup from them in interest....as far as I'm concerned they can take as long as they want....but my resolve will not waiver! I've sent them a letter...I'll await their reply...if it's not positive then I'll send the library copy to them and then proceed after 7 days.

I've already set up an alternative account...I did that last week. By the time they reply...my personal and business accounts at Abbey will be closed.

BankFodder · 15th February 2006, 15:18

Fair enough.

alf_child · 15th February 2006, 15:25

Last September I was having great difficulties with Abbey. They'd allowed a certain internet company to take money out of my account and also bounced standing orders when was told don't get charged for them and was charged a total of Â£196. I have over Â£250 per week going into the account and as I was at the end of my teather trying to sort all this out. just let them take the money (even though couldn't afford it). I was overdrawn for 1 day before my wage went in. after that I started to receive letters stating things hadn't been paid that would usually go out of the bank. I couldn't take money out of my account or access it to cancel things. This went on until the beginning of November. I had no warning that Abbey was going to do this. I couldn't even get money out to buy my family food or pay bills. This has caused me great problems having bills built up and borrowingoff people due to no funds. The best was that Abbey staff couldn't explain why it had happened and said it was wrong but yet nobody could help. I was told cards and pins were ordered and wouldn't receive them, then received a card no pin and was charged Â£6 for drawing out when had no choice.

I am now waiting to the ombudsman to look into it even though they've had it for now over 3 months I still continue with problems.

dt3000 · 20th February 2006, 13:40

Just got my latest statement today - they've charged me 6p interest for being overdawn (when their statement shows no negative balance ... therefore not overdrawn in my view) - if my calculations are correct this shows their penalties levied on my account to be their losses multiplied by a whacking 2,016 %

dt3000 · 20th February 2006, 13:40

Just got my latest statement today - they've charged me 6p interest for being overdawn (when their statement shows no negative balance ... therefore not overdrawn in my view) - if my calculations are correct this shows their penalties levied on my account to be their losses multiplied by a whacking 2,016 %

BankFodder · 20th February 2006, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by dt3000

Bankfodder....I'm in no hurry and I'm a very patient person....

Well you said that you are a patient person. I hope that your patience is holding up well

BankFodder · 20th February 2006, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by dt3000

Bankfodder....I'm in no hurry and I'm a very patient person....

Well you said that you are a patient person. I hope that your patience is holding up well

dt3000 · 20th February 2006, 13:48

Bankfodder...I'm holding up fine thanks. Also got a letter from them saying one of their colleagues is investigating and they hope to get back to me with a solution which I'll be happy with. One thing though...I thought if a letter of complaint was sent then it would be investigated by a 3rd party...am I incorrect in that assumption?

dt3000 · 20th February 2006, 13:48

Bankfodder...I'm holding up fine thanks. Also got a letter from them saying one of their colleagues is investigating and they hope to get back to me with a solution which I'll be happy with. One thing though...I thought if a letter of complaint was sent then it would be investigated by a 3rd party...am I incorrect in that assumption?

CAG Products - We think that these will help you to make your claim or Reclaim your Right These sales also help us to keep helping YOU and keeps this site free of third party adverts!

Small Claims Kit	Small Claims Court Guide	CallBurner - Skype CallRecorder Review	Last Will & Testament Kit	Fight a Motoring Ticket

Alternatively you could purchase a CAG email address here, or maybe you'd prefer our address labels here.
UPDATE: Consumer Forums ConsumerWiki is now LIVE - click here: ConsumerWiki N.B. Please note - due to postage costs these products are only available in the U.K.