Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
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a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
Hi, just wanted to vent some frustration about charges I just received, so appolagies for the slightly long rant!
I opened my account with A&L about a year ago and have never gone over my overdraft.
A few weeks ago (3rd Feb) after we'd just moved house and money was all over the place (and in short supply!), I completely forgot about a cheque I'd written, which when cashed, put my account £6.39 over my overdraft.
Alliance & Leicester IMMEDIATELY (and I mean IMMEDIATELY, i.e. on the same day) charged me a £25 "PAYMENT REVIEW FEE" for authorising the payment.
Already annoyed that they didn't take into account the fact it was the first time I'd ever done it, OR it was only for a few quid! They then sent me a letter informing me they would also be taking another £20 from my account on the 6th March. This was the daily fee of £5, for the 4 days I was overdrawn (I paid money in as soon as I realised).
So, they've charged me £45 for borrowing £6.39!! That's a pretty hefty interest rate!?
Anyway, I called them this morning to complain and explain about moving house, etc. The woman on the phone was completely uninterested, which made me more annoyed! I managed to remain calm and polite, although perhaps a bit abrupt! She's passed it onto a "payment review" department, or something like that for "review". To let them decide if they'll refund it as a "good will gesture"! But she said it could take a month or two, due to a backlog of requests .. ;-)
Well, I hope the bank has some "good will" left! I imagine it's very rare these days!? .. maybe it's in a small jar at the back of a top shelf gathering dust somewhere? ;-)
grr, anyway rant over, sorry about that, but feel a bit better now
Surely there must be a better way? An alternative to the big banks?
Will do, will update thread when I hear from them.
Just wondering whether to send a letter to them as well, just to follow up the call and confirm in writing I'm requesting the charge to be "reviewed"? .. hmm .. or to give it a week or two to get some kind of acknowledgement from them.
Well, they credited the £25 "PAYMENT REVIEW FEE" back to my account pretty quickly, but no sign of the £20 for the daily fees yet! I assume they would have done this at the same time, so maybe they "forgot " about them, or won't be refunding them! Time for another phone call I think and letter!
Was wondering whether to mention the recent appeals success, or failure from the banks point of view ? I'm guessing the person in customer services won't be in the slightest bit interested though
GOOD NEWS .. I called them again this morning to see why they hadn't cancelled the daily fee charges of £20 and .. shock .. amazement .. it's flagged on their system to be refunded. But the refund will be made on the same day as the charge, which is why I don't see anything yet.
So if all goes well, they will have refunded all my money within 2 weeks! Can't help but wonder if this had anything to do with them failing the appeal!
Venting Frustration about Charges!
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? I'm guessing the person in customer services won't be in the slightest bit interested though 
