LTSB Account closed

[sempei]

Hi all, it's been a while since my last post

Well, my personal account has gone over the overdarft limit, I asked LTSB to increase it, which was refused. Since then it's got worse, I have just worked out the charges over £4K in 15 months. Prelim letter sent today to claim these back.

Well, I also have (had) a business account with them which has never been in arrears or even close. This week I went online to check the balance and was denied access, the following day I called the business centre and was told I had been informed in writing (nothing received) that they had closed my account and that if I had a complaint to put it in writing and he hung up !!!

i have written a 3 page statement of events and took into my local branch to be forwarded to the ilusive complaints dept..... I have given them 14 days to respond before I send a copy to the FOS etc.

 

Can they just close my account which has been in credit since opening and without any 'issues'

[Guest Old_andrew2018]

They seem to think they can, however any reasonable person would view this a retaliation by LTSB,

[GuidoT]

I know a little late, but do not maintain your personal and business accounts at the same bank, keeps temptation away from the bank, like offsetting a business overdraft against a personal account, your example etc.

 

By all means complain to the FOS etc.

 

I know with personal accounts the banks can close at will, so long as they give you 30 days notice, not sure with business accounts though.

[Aterlatus]

I'd agree on keeping business account at a separate bank wherever possible. Had a new venture a while back that didn't all go to plan, although it didn't have any debt. Made it hell to get anything done with my personal account though - even ordering a new debit card because the old one was damaged had to go through the business account managers :S

[sempei]

Hi, I know it's too late now lol

I went to the NatWest Monday 18th to open a new business account and it was declined !!!! Hmmm, the business manager was quite apologetic and I filled out a manual form for a basic business account without O/draft facilities, which is what I wanted anyway. She said she would know probably Weds 20th if it was ok.

I wonder if LTSB has done something to my credit file, I hope that the basic account is opened or I am not sure what else I can do....?

Edited August 19, 2008 by sempei
mis typed

[sempei]

ok, got the basic business account open today - Yeah, thanks to Natwest. Also received another letter today, sorry to hear you are unhappy etc from LTSB we will respond within 4 weeks etc.

Do I stick with the timescale in my complaint letter ie 14 days before sending that and follow up letters to the financial ombudsman service, is this deemed as a reasonable amount of time ?

[Kinc]

Did they offset any of your debts against your business account? Did they give 30 days notice of account closure?

[Belville]

Hi Sempie,

as far as I know you have to wait until you get the final responce letter from Lloyds before you can take your case to the FOS

having said that I do believe that The FSA take retaliatory measures very seriously.

make sure you keep a record of any calls you make or receive, take the name of the person you talk to and note the date and time of the call.

If you don't get a satifactory responce then contact the FOS and FSA with as much detail as possible and include copies of any letters that you write or receive

Good luck with this

Shooter x

ps. Buisness accounts are not covered by the test case!

[sempei]

Kinc - They did not transfer funds between the accounts. I did not receive anything in writing before they closed the account, I only found out by calling them, he did state that they had written to me, which I have not received or I would have put measures in place to prevent any loss of business.

I have received a ' we have closed your account' and attached is a cheque for the balance £***.**

I have also had five letters refering to my personal account ranging from you have an agreed overdraft for £1000 and £4300 written on the same day also one stating that I cannot use the account (already given the card and cheque book back) and an Enforcement notice telling me that I need to pay back the full amount!!! Do they know what they are doing ??

I have received two 'sorry your not happy' letters as I took a 3 page complaint letter into my local branch, they posted it to Birmingham as they didn't have a fax number for them.... I received one letter from Birmingham stating they sent it to Andover as they specialise in cases like mine?!!? and received one today from -Bristol (not Andover)

I have kept copies of all these which already fill a plastic wallet.

The 'voicing your concerns' letter allows them 8 weeks to respond, I want this sorted and don't really see why I should wait.....

They are also charging me £60+ a month in interest against the personal account payment plan, I have read on this site that someone had a plan put in place where they froze the interest....

 

Anyone else had this ? I would want this as part of a remedy. What sort of response do you think I will get from my complaint.??

[Belville]

Hi sempei

 

Kinc - They did not transfer funds between the accounts. I did not receive anything in writing before they closed the account, I only found out by calling them, he did state that they had written to me, which I have not received or I would have put measures in place to prevent any loss of business.

I have received a ' we have closed your account' and attached is a cheque for the balance £***.**

I have also had five letters refering to my personal account ranging from you have an agreed overdraft for £1000 and £4300 written on the same day also one stating that I cannot use the account (already given the card and cheque book back) and an Enforcement notice telling me that I need to pay back the full amount!!! Do they know what they are doing ??

I have received two 'sorry your not happy' letters as I took a 3 page complaint letter into my local branch, they posted it to Birmingham as they didn't have a fax number for them.... I received one letter from Birmingham stating they sent it to Andover as they specialise in cases like mine?!!? and received one today from -Bristol (not Andover)

I have kept copies of all these which already fill a plastic wallet.

The 'voicing your concerns' letter allows them 8 weeks to respond, I want this sorted and don't really see why I should wait.....

They are also charging me £60+ a month in interest against the personal account payment plan, I have read on this site that someone had a plan put in place where they froze the interest....

That would be me!!

 

Anyone else had this ? I would want this as part of a remedy. What sort of response do you think I will get from my complaint.??

 

Personally I would now write to

 

Jon Bundy

Customer Service Recovery Centre

Queen's Rd Quadrant

4th Floor

BRIGHTON

BN1 3XJ

 

He's the one that helped me

 

See My thread here,

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/lloyds-bank/114478-belville-lloyds.html

 

if you want any help just post and help will be along

 

belville x

Edited August 21, 2008 by Belville

[sempei]

Thanks Belville;), I have been reading your thread over the past few weeks with interest. My Son is also ill and we have to drive a 120 mile round trip every week for treatment. I have also added this into my complaint letter. keeping my fingers crossed.

Sempei

[Belville]

Sempei please feel free to pm me if you need a shoulder.

Are you on benefits cause if so are you receiving your fares back from your hospital trips?

(((hugs)))

belville xx

[sempei]

Hey Belville appreciate the offer:wink:, we only have family tax credit, I have been looking online about refunding of transport costs via NHS and DSS etc but it's not too clear.

[sempei]

Hiya,

 

Ok, update. I have received a letter the end of last week stating that Customer service recovery- Andover had received my complaint and if it was about bank charges- read on, it went to mention the OFT test case etc. If not and it was due to another issue please let us know !!!

I called the number and got an answer phone, left a very curt meassage stating that had they read my letter, they would have known what the complaint was about etc.....

Received a call Monday from Andover, explained the history etc and she appologised and put me on hold, when she came back she stated that I could in fact log the complaint over the phone and gave me a telephone number, I called and left a message. Received a call back today Tues from a company, they went on to say that I had left a message on their answerphone etc and it was in fact the wrong number. I have checked the number I was given and it matches the one I called!!!

 

The only thing I can think is that Birmingham sent it to two centres, Andover for the charges, Bristol for the complaint about the account closure. I really don't know what's going on now, LTSB has really confused me :confused:

Is it worth ssending the FOS complaint form with supporting letters yet ??

[OLIVE.FAMILY]

Hey Belville appreciate the offer:wink:, we only have family tax credit, I have been looking online about refunding of transport costs via NHS and DSS etc but it's not too clear.

 

Ask the hospital for a form to claim back the transport fare. We have the same prob as we live in essex and travel to GOSH every 6 weeks. I can not for the life of me remember what the form was called but the hospital will be able to advise. There should be a office where you would ask for your fare back at the hospital. Go there, they will help.

 

Good luck

 

olives xx