Thread: Not Smiling vs Non Ethical Bank - success!!

After my prem letter and lba, I received the bog standard 'complaints procedure...4 weeks....will get back to you...blah blah, I have forwarded via the secure messages, my intention to go to court. I am STILL receiving charges against me (you would think they would learn!!) I have read that some people have experienced their overdraft disappearing - my experience with them is finding that because in 1 month I got charged over £90 on my current account - they cancelled all my direct debits and told me I couldn't reinstate them for 3 months. I bluffed my way through 3 months with cheques to the mortgage company (never again) and the 3 months came and went. I contacted Smile (!) and re-instated them. They then bounced them all and then charged me! I had money in the account to cover these DD's but they told me to pay by cheque and start again next month!!! My bank causes me more problems than my job and I thought that was stressful!
By the way, am I the only person not to know that a cheque guarantee card only covers a cheque for 3 days after the date it was made out? Or is this another Smile ploy to fleece me of more cash??

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Sounds complete rubbish to me as the cheque has to go through a central clearing house and many take 3 days to clear (even though they have the technology to do it same day).

Thats what Smile told me! So they bounced my cheque, charged me £25 for doing it and the company who I paid the cheque to charged me also for it being bounced. Smile told me that I had written the number on the back. I told them that I hadn't. When that was proved that I hadn't written it they then told me about this 3 day rule!!!

Just received this from the bank this morning. A tactic to put me off I presume?? Never mind, here goes with the N1 form

"Thanks for letting us know. With regards to the charges on your account how is it that they were unlawful charges, they are explained clearly in the terms and conditions you were asked to read upon opening the account.

The charges you mention are these the charges for not staying within the limits of your agreed over draft or the charge of £25.00 for unpaid items (using your card without the avalible funds)

As both charges are neither a bank error nor in need of refunding, you don't run your account within the terms and conditions which is why no refund has been offered. "

Waaahaaaaaayyyyy!!! Received a letter this morning stating they are refunding my charges within the next 14 days - just under £800! Thanks for all your help. Didn't even need to to send the court letter!

Waaahaaaaaayyyyy!!! Received a letter this morning stating they are refunding my charges within the next 14 days - just under £800! Thanks for all your help. Didn't even need to to send the court letter!

I started my claim mid April and went from there really. I sent them an lba with my statement. They sent me a letter saying it was a complaint, go through the usual channels. I replied through the secure messages that I was taking them to court. I had been up to my eyeballs in work so I didnt get to send the N1. I was going to do it this weekend when I received the letter yesterday stating that they were refunding my cash.

Go for it - you have nothing to lose and loads to gain!!

Now for Lloyds TSB ..................