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I could not find a recently updated thread that covers this situation.
I have been living abroad for the last 15 years but have kept an account at a Scottish branch of Lloyds TSB for a small amount of savings and spending money when I'm visiting my mum.
Recently, on holiday in New Zealand, I inadvertently overdrew, not expecting to be able to, using a debit card in the absence of any overdraft agreement.
Lloyds TSB have advised me that they will be charging me £15 per month plus £15 per day that I was overdrawn. I was overdrawn for 9 days at the end of Jan and beginning of Feb. This means £210 in charges.
The first lot, I am told, will come off in March.
I have written to Lloyds TSB explaining to them that I believe the overdraft was due to their authorising payment when they should have not authorised it and that I had no intention of requesting an unplanned overdraft. Thus I requested that they do not deduct any charges. I have not yet received a reply.
I have taken the precaution of removing all but £1 of my money from the accounts (current and savings) I have with them. So, if they proceed with the charges, my accounts will go into the red again and they will write to advise me that I'm being charged £15 per day and £15 per month again. At this point I will ask them to close my accounts because the essential trust that needs to exist between banker and customer has been breached.
I'm not sure if they will attempt to pursue me for the charges which will, in any case, be the subject of an ongoing High Court case brought against Lloyds TSB and other financial institutions by the FSO; and arise from a doubtful question of responsibility.
As I understand it, a debit card transaction sends an authorisation request to the bank or its agents which must then come back as "approved" or "not approved". The fact that the requests which took me overdrawn came back as "approved" imply that the bank or its agents acted without my consent in providing what they call an "unplanned overdraft".
What means could the bank use to pursue an overseas resident for payment of fees and how should I defend myself against this?
Lloyds TSB Unplanned Overdraft Charges
TSB for a small amount of savings and spending money when I'm visiting my mum.
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