A&L charges

[IanF]

WATCH THIS LOT LIKE A HAWK.

In Jan 2006, A&L wrote to me to say they decided to charge me £25 for bouncing a £250 standing order, despite the funds having been transferred in from my A&L internet online saver account the same day. I phoned them to get that charge reversed (also noting that their contact phone number on their own letterhead was wrong). They agreed to do so.
Logging on today (Feb 13th), I get another message saying they are charging me AGAIN £25 for the same event! In order to get THAT refunded, I have just tried to phone them again and found their automated menu has changed, so I couldn't get through. I called the previous wrong number on the last letterhead and they advised me to 'press option 1 and not enter an A/C number' (last time it was option 9). On finally getting an operator after 5 mins of hold, they told me I should not have bypassed security, despite being instructed to do so by their own member of staff! Disgraceful. In addition, I was told the second charge was triggered because the transfer hadn't credited until after the weekend!! (It's in our Ts and Cs, Sir!) Praise be when the FSA finally get this practice outlawed.

[Docubot]

It should be the OFT who are protecting consumers from this practice - alas, the deadline they published (and that they gave the banks to clean up their act) was 26th Oct 2005 - well, this has come and gone and they have done NOTHING!

Hence the protest in March outside their HQ.

We all need to fire letters off to their board of directors calling for action.

(hint: a letter for this is in the library I believe )

[IanF]

Yeah, consistent with what I heard i.e. it was going to be stopped towards the end of last year, and then there was some media comment very recently (within the last month) that electronic transfers would not now be made forcibly instant until 2007!
What is even more interesting is the number of financial institutions who claim to have heard nothing about the upcoming outlawing of this anachronistic practice. It is a disgrace that the banks can continue to hide behind a clearing system which was designed for cheques being repatriated to their bank of origin and which was never designed to apply to electronic funds transfers (INCLUDING BACS), never mind internet transfers between accounts, AT THE SAME BANK!!!
In my experience, the best thing is to hammer them verbally when the charges first appear - and do not let up until they agree to refund - they usually cave in pretty quickly without the need for litigation.

[Docubot]

Some banks do - mainly CC companies, but most will only listen to litigation - it's the only language they understand, sadly.

I am not litigeous by nature - but if I have to use the tools that were put in place to protect us, then I will.

[IanF]

Internet still shows overdrawn charge pending on my account. Impenetrable telephone banking service (security bypassed again), A&L confirmed the 2nd charge is removed, but apparently system can't show that until due date is passed.