Last Christmas I went 27p over my limit on a joint account, the day before my wages went in (easy mistake to make) - got clobbered with a £30 charge. My wife complained and the charge was lifted - literally, didn't appear on the statements or anything. Like it had never been there...

forgive me if I'm covering old ground because I'm new on here. But looking at this thread I have these points: 1 - If your bank bounces a cheque, they shouldn't be able to charge you for this - they are 'selling' you something that you didn't ask for. They are not providing a service because you have neither asked for it or benifited from it !! also, dictionary.com provides this: Service, n *Work done for others as an occupation or business: has done service for us as a consultant. *An act or a variety of work done for others, especially for pay: offers a superior service to that of his competitors; provides full catering services. *A facility providing the public with the use of something, such as water or transportation. *tr.v. ser·viced, ser·vic·ing, ser·vic·es To make fit for use; adjust, repair, or maintain: service a car. To provide services to. To make interest payments on (a debt). note the bit in bold - a service is something for your benefit!! 2 - if they you to go over your limit they triple the interest rate you have to pay and often charge you for advice letters - a win-win situation for the bank then. 3 - bank charges are illigal under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 because you have no power to negotiate, the prices are pretty much fixed & standard from bank to bank and they are to the deitriment of the consumer. Extract from the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 Unfair Terms 5. - (1) A contractual term which has not been individually negotiated shall be regarded as unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations arising under the contract, to the detriment of the consumer. © Crown Copyright 1999 Also, note that CORGI only charges £2.50 to send out around 3 letters to 3 different addresses (a non-profit making establishment doesn't hammer you, you see) - charging around £30 for the sama similar service is therefore, unfair.

I'm not against banks making money or having charges, I'm not saying they are sneaky because they do inform us of charges. But for anyone to offset this argument by saying card/chequebooks/statements cost money that aren't charged for, then they are either very niave or stupid - the interest you are paid on your savings is automatically adjusted for these and other running costs. Charges are all profit!!!