Avoid being charged in the first place...

bram stoker · 11th May 2006, 11:34

Discussion in the office this morning:

Me: HSBC charged £50 for going over the overdraft limit.

Colleague: What do you mean? I never get charged and go over the limit all the time.

Me: Are you sure?

Colleague: Positive, I'm sure they only anyone who just takes the p**s.

Me: Oh, hold on, doesn't your wife work for HSBC?

Colleague: Yeah, maybe that's it. It might be that we've a special kind of account.

Me: But you've got a limit, right?

Colleague: Yes, but I just ignore it, and I've not been charged yet.

Any eligible HSBC batchelors about looking for a wife???
Look out Spiceskull, you could be getting thread-dumped!!

Spiceskull · 11th May 2006, 11:42

Thread-dumped? Bloody hell, technology moves quickly. Last year it was e-dumping, last week it was text-dumping and now it's gonna be thread-dumping...whatever next? Being dumped by letter?

See the steps I took to get my bank charges back.
Spiceskull v HSBC.
Thank you Consumer Action Group.
Read my blog.

Don Quioxte · 12th May 2006, 00:13

Ya well what do you expect.. she's only just found out your are a BAG-HAG.. personally speaking i'd act in exactly the same way.

bram stoker · 12th May 2006, 00:17

Lol. Actually it was a pun on my daughter being text dumped last week, but don't tell her I told you.

But what about the conversation I had! I couldn't believe my ears - fringe benefits or what!

howardbrown · 12th May 2006, 21:54

wish we had that at the halifax

joneshousehold · 12th May 2006, 23:54

Hey wait a minute this is important. Vamps you are right - that means special treatment for staff, is that really allowed!

How does it work I wonder? Does a member of staff go in and remove the charge or is there an automatic buffer (used to apply at Abbey but they pulled the plug on it). If it's good enough for staff though surely it's good enough for customers.

Of course how it works may also give us more ammunition to attack the 'service' argument the banks so clearly love. Is there any way we can find out?

alanfromderby · 13th May 2006, 00:07

I think we have to be careful not to take these conversations out of context. We have other bank personnel who have indicated very vociferously that they have been subjected to the same charging regime, but cannot risk seeking repayment for obvious reasons.

joneshousehold · 13th May 2006, 00:14

Hmm, I notice that the conversation went along the lines of

Quote:

Me: Oh, hold on, doesn't your wife work for HSBC?

Does your colleague really know what is happening with the household finances. I know my OH is unaware of things at times and I think that's because he is a bloke. Still this is not always the case and I am still concerned about what you say.

bram stoker · 13th May 2006, 10:26

The minute he said it he kinda started to shut up. He knows about me and BAG, and I can't push for more info as it's his own personal affairs.

He definitely stated that he has a limit, goes over it and doesn't get charged. It may have nothing to do with his wife working for HSBC.

And it's his finances not theirs.

I will try for more info but only if I feel I can without jeopardising my working relationship with the guy.

Sorry that's all I have.

joneshousehold · 13th May 2006, 10:38

Thanks for the information anyway. No worries that you don't think you can get more. It's definitely one to be stored under 'interesting'. One day we might find out more.

I was more interested from the point of view of how it works. If the automated system merely ignores the fact that the account has gone overlimit it is good evidence that the actions are automated. The alternative is that someone at the bank sees the account in a manual intervention and sanctions what is happening - this is not very likely. However as Alan says staff can be penalised. BUT if the account is in the name of a spouse of staff the bank probably can't take any action. This implies that staff and family have a different signal set on their accounts. If his wife is canny enough she will have made sure it was in his name only so the bank can't touch her and any overspend is channelled through that account. Neat eh!

Anyway, it has given me something to think about!

krakan · 17th May 2006, 20:11

Just a thought on the matter:

I used to work at a bank. I shan't say which one, but, well, it had connections to Shanghai..

Anyway, whilst it was nowt to do with my job, Oasis (the IT system there) allowed us to wander over all kinds of crap that was none of our business. That's actually directly linked to the reason I don't work there any more

Anyways, I used the system to check my bank balance. On there one could also see your 'buffer overdraft' which everyone had, and which was calculated with a 'system decision' - presumably based on the amount you pay in each month, a calculated probability that you'll pay it off (on, say, payday) and past performance (that's pure speculation, though)..

Which is why it's different for different people.. It's the 'system' being mean..

As an aside, there's also an accessible, pre-calculated 'pre-approved' overdraft figure for each account.. Turns out my old dear could have had a massive overdraft if she'd only asked..

Ho hum

bram stoker · 17th May 2006, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by krakan

As an aside, there's also an accessible, pre-calculated 'pre-approved' overdraft figure for each account.. Turns out my old dear could have had a massive overdraft if she'd only asked..

Ho hum

Not too great a thing though. They kept upping my overdraft limit and now I have a huge debt I can barely pay with no charges to reclaim. Grrrrr....

joneshousehold · 17th May 2006, 20:20

Quote:

On there one could also see your 'buffer overdraft' which everyone had, and which was calculated with a 'system decision'

That'll be the manual intervention then (NOT)!

No wonder we get cross with the banks. They know it's all automated, we know it's all automated and they still think if they say it's not we will believe them.

whistleblowing fairy · 14th June 2006, 23:24

hi

Vampiress asked me this in a pm and I thought I'd put my reply on hear for all to see (hope you don't mind me saying so)

'I can't comment for certain, but it sounds like something known in the business as 'insider dealing'.

This is not only considered as gross misconduct and you'd be instantly dismissed, it's also v.illegal and the bank could take legal action as it's technically stealing their money. (although from all that's going on with charges I wouldn't like to be the solicitors arguing that one)

Capital One makes us do a training package on insider dealing every 6 months, they treat it that strongly. We're not allowed to look at an account if we know who it belongs to, even if it's our next door neighbous great aunty we only ever receive an xmas card from.lol '

So please don't think that bank staff get special treatment, that usually stops at being the guinea pigs to test the new offers. As soon as we mess up, we're treated the same as jane and john do.

bram stoker · 14th June 2006, 23:29

Thanks Fairy. No I don't mind.

joneshousehold · 15th June 2006, 00:13

Whistleblower, this is what I would expect every organisation to do. I know my employer does and I have seen good staff sacked for just looking. I actually expect my bank to be the same. It's the reason why I don't believe Ian Mullen and comments by the banks that not all manual interventions are recorded. They certainly will be because the bank as indeed any organisation will, want to be able to take action to prevent abuse. I also have a feeling they have to show they are complying with Data Protection Act in that information is only accessed and used for a business reason and no other.

I remember when Jill Dando was killed, some bank staff were punished or sacked for accessing her records, so it is clear that the banks do know and record what happens every step of the way. It just highlights that the statements over manual interventions being unrecorded are not sustainable.

Anyway rant over, sorry Vamps, hope we haven't got anyone into trouble

22nd June 2006, 19:27

As anyone who reads the job pages for working in a bank will know you do get certain perks of the job and yes some fees are not applicable, however charges for returned DD cheques and card misuse are applicable. Youhave to remember Bank staff can check their account every day so they should not have problems with charges. Most banks DO have an automated system which will return DDs for some but not others

22nd June 2006, 19:39

When I worked for Vodafone it was the same, and we were not allowed to check a relatives account, however i know of staff who did.

Also I know for a fact virtually all computer systems leave a footprint of who has accessed a particular account, what time/date and thier user name.

Even if they do not amend anything or write notes, as soon as you type in an account number and access someones information you are automatically logged as doing so.

CAG Products - We think that these will help you to make your claim or Reclaim your Right These sales also help us to keep helping YOU and keeps this site free of third party adverts!

Small Claims Kit	Small Claims Court Guide New Edition	CallBurner - Skype CallRecorder Review	Last Will & Testament Kit	Fight a Motoring Ticket

Alternatively you could purchase a CAG email address here, or maybe you'd prefer our address labels here
UPDATE: Consumer Forums ConsumerWiki is now LIVE - click here: ConsumerWiki N.B. Please note - due to postage costs these products are only available in the U.K.