Thread: Flash vs A&L

I stopped banking with A&L earlier this year; they'd messed up far too many times.

Recently I decided to claim back my charges. It took them 50 days to produce my statements (saying "oh we count it from when it reaches my desk not when we signed for the letter") and I had to call them twice to chase it!

If anyone else is chasing, call the complaints number on the website, then ask for Switchboard, then Sasha Charia who is the chap who deals with "Subject Access Requests".

Anyway, I totted the charges up and wrote a letter asking for the money back. It came to £275 - in fact it would have been more but I rang and complained at the time so a lot were refunded in full or in part at the time. I certainly never accepted it!

Today I got a letter, just 4 days after I sent my request, which said the following:

"I have noted your comments that you believe the charges that have been raised on your account to be unfair, please be assured our charges are reasonable and are competitive with the charges made by other financial organisations.

The OFT has commented that they consider the level of late payment charge to be unfair, however they were actually referring to late payment fees for credit card ayments which are quite distinct from a bank's charges on current accounts.

As yet, the OFT have not entered into any discussion with the banking industry regarding current accounts. However, should that position change in the future then Alliance and Leicester will participate as appropriate.

Given the above, I cannot accept that you have been unfairly charged as you suggest. I regret therefore that I am unable to agree to your request for a refund of charges on this occasion.

I am sorry if you are disappointed with my response, but as the charges have been raised correctly and in line with the terms and conditions of your account, they must stand."

So I will send them a letter before action... I'm not going to let it lie!

Anyone else had the same letter in response?

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Hi, and thanks for responding.

I did look at quite a few before posting but couldn't see anyone having copied out what they received. I must have been reading the wrong threads. Wasn't sure whether other people were claiming on credit cards, or if I got a different response because I've already left them, or if it was standard.

Thanks.

Finally got round to putting the claim in today. Hurrah!

And today I had a cheque for £305.

I'd worked out the charges at £245 with interest taking it to £333, and £30 costs to sue them - but I am happy to take £305.

It was easier than I thought and I wish I'd done it sooner. Good luck everyone else!

Please can a moderator move this to the A&L settled board? I cant see how to edit title or move thread. Thanks!

WOW. Well done, vampthing!