Im amazed that the manufacturer of a 'quality' would treat their customers so badly. I can only offer sympathy Im afraid, and recommend Honda. I had an Accord for years and the dealer was always a pleasure, but the thing NEVER went wrong. Honda make probably the most refined diesel in the market these days. (No I dont work for Honda!)

Just a quick update, to close off this thread, and thanks for this site. We need more of this so that consumers have power over poor suppliers. The Internet and forums have transformed the balance of power! Decided to try the 'nice' way to start with and complain to the Financial Ombudsman (FOS). It worked a treat. As a summary, we knew the money that had been taken illegally (£90) so didnt need data disclosure. We asked for the £90 to be refunded in 3 separate letters, and an email message left on their website - Nationwide rejected every letter saying Ts and Cs had been agreed to - (and that they needed to be equally unfair to everybody!). To give Nationwide their due - they replied promptly to every letter, (it must have cost them a fortune) - but still didnt budge over £90. FOS were really helpful, took the details over the phone, sent out the forms to complete and sign, sent me a reply about 2 weeks after returning complaint saying that NWide had a certain number of days to respond to compaint (40 days I think). 1 week later had a reply from Nationwide saying refund in full. Great result - no worries. I just cant understand why they argue - they know they'll refund in the end, and all thats happened is that a complaint is now logged, and they've upset a long term customer and they've incurred the costs of all that correspondance. Wouldn't it have been so much nicer if they'd replied 'you really shouldnt do this but as your a good customer we'll refund the money' that would have turned the situation round immediately.

Just a quick update, to close off this thread, and thanks for this site. We need more of this so that consumers have power over poor suppliers. The Internet and forums have transformed the balance of power! Decided to try the 'nice' way to start with and complain to the Financial Ombudsman (FOS). As a summary, we knew the money that had been taken illegally (£90) so didnt need data disclosure. We asked for the £90 to be refunded in 3 separate letters, and an email message left on their website - Nationwide rehjected every letter saying Ts and Cs had been agreed to - (and that they needed to be equally unfair to everybody!). To give Nationwide their due - they replied promptly to every letter, (it must have cost them a fortune) - but still didnt budge over £90. FOS were reallyt helpful, took the details over the phone, sent out the forms to complete and sign, sent me a reply about 2 weeks after returning complaint saying that NWide had a certain number of days to respond to compaint (40 days I think). 1 week later had a reply from Nationwide saying refund in full. Great result - no worries. I just cant understand why they argue - they know they'll refund in the end, and all thats happened is that a complaint is now logged, and they've upset a long term customer and they've incurred the costrs of all that correspondance. Wouldn't it have been so much nicer if they'd replied 'you really shouldnt do this but as your a good customer we'll refund the money' that would have turned the situation round immediately.

This is the situation. My daughter has been charged £90 for 3 cheques written at Christmas for approx £20 each (she didnt understand how long it takes banks to credit an account). She is 17 yrs old and a full time student without income. We have written 3 letters to Nationwide complaining that the charges were excessive, and they refuse to budge. I have suggested (gently) that they have had my business including mortgage for over 20yrs - and that all my business is at risk. But they still refuse to budge - so now the action is starting. Thought we would start a MoneyClaim action, but you cant unless you are over 18. I think that I can do this with her, but still investigating this. In the meantime I thought that I'd give the F.O.S a try. So started a complaint through the Ombudsman. I guess that theres nothing to lose - although I have to say Im not full of confidence in the Ombudsman! Lets - see, I'll give it 2 weeks and then approach the court to see if i can start a claim on duaghters behalf.

Anyone any views on how to proceed against a bank for unfair bank charges on a 17 yr old? My daughter has been charged £90 for 3 cheques written at Christmas for approx £20 each (she didnt understand how long it takes banks to credit an account). We have written 3 letters to Nationwide complaining that the charges were excessive, and they refuse to budge. I have followed the proceedure and now wish to raise a court action through Moneyclaim - but I find that this service is unavailable to anyone under 18. Is there another approach we chould take? It seems unreasonable as the charge is still unfair (maybe more so as she is a student without income).