Abbey are pure evil- please help me!

[jh2008]

Hi All,

 

I am writing this because I am furious!!!!!! I am losing the will to live with Abbey, I must be bl00dy niave but I can honestly say I am shocked about how rude, imcompetent and down right heartless an organisation can be.

 

I have an account with Abbey and recently I wrote 3 cheques to a local business- all piddly amounts- under £15. As there were so small and I have written cheques to them before, I thought they had come out of my account. The company saved up these cheques for a few months and then banked them...all on one day. This took me overdrawn only for the 2nd time in my whole time as an abbey customer- the first was on June and only by £3 for 24 hours. I was charged £40 for this, and they refunded it.

Because I have had a charged reversed in the last 12 months they will not even look at the new charges...and they are for £95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have spoken to the complaints dept loads of times, written in 3 times(only one response) and have now gone to the FOB and they are investigating. My problem is I cannot afford to lose £95 from one months wages..I only work part time and am currently on long term sick as I have had a breakdown..not because of this obviously...but this isn't helping. They suggested I claim hardship- but it would take 4 weeks to sort out, which makes it totally pointless. We are ok finacially as we have my partners income, as long as everything is as it should be. £95 out of one months money and we are left very very short. which we cannot be- we have two little ones under the age of 2.

 

I have done everything they told me to, wrote in, rang collections and they can't help cus I'm not in collections, been into the branch..he was no help what so ever. So, out of desperation I asked for a temporary overdraft so I would lose £95 in one go...they wouldn't do that either.

 

Then, on friday the day the charges were meant to come out..only £40 came out. I was shocked. I had already cancelled all my direct debits and credits going in and out of the account. I rang up and asked why only £40 had come out and was told by TWO operators inc. one from complaints that the reason was due to the charges being on different statement cycles and therefore the rest of the charges would come out on nov 24th.

 

Although I am far from happy, I decided to pay my money back into the account and let the £40 come out- I mean, I could handle it in two lots...and hopefully the FOB might be able to help in the meantime..

 

Guess what happened....?? The next day they took the rest of the charges!!!!! I am absolutely fumming. I have rang complaints AGAIN and luckily I know the name of the girl I spoke to and she had made a note on the system so they know she did give me the wrong info. They are esculating it to management level again on the basis of me recieving incorrect info. I have nothing left now to cover my bills...I am sure they'll charge me again..I am back to square one.

 

I am closing my account as soon as I can...Is there anything I can do?? I am so upset about this...I am sick of having to shout down the phone like a crazy woman!! Please help!!

 

J xx

[Gazza112]

Hi jh2008

 

I know what you mead about Abbey, they will not listin to you and will not refund charges. They will only reverse the first charge and no more, which i think is this is quite criminal. I went overdrawn by £1.56 and was hit with £95 charges, and because the charges came out again was hit with another £40 charges. I've written to head office, but you might just talk to the wall for all the help they give.

 

Hope you get your charges back, i'm still fighting for mine.

 

Gaz

[jh2008]

Ok...I feel I must update..credit where credit's due.

 

Gazza- Keep trying because just after I had written this I recieved a call from one of the complaints managers. He was really apologetic and agreed to reverse £55!! I was totally stunned. It would never have happened if I hadn't been given the wrong info on friday but even so...at least they could admitt when they were wrong. He keep saying he was so sorry I'd had such a nightmare with them and he hoped I didn't close my account!!

 

So...I have to take it back...but only a bit! ;O)

 

J

[eyeofhorus]

"I have an account with Abbey and recently I wrote 3 cheques to a local business- all piddly amounts- under £15. As there were so small and I have written cheques to them before, I thought they had come out of my account"

 

I guess the lesson here is to check your account regularly seeing as it is your responsibilty to do so.

[Rooster-UK]

Hello Abbey employee.

 

As an Abbey Employee, I think that you know, very well, how easy it is to rack up that order of charges.

 

Reference......

 

Quote:

14th August 2007, 20:43 #16 (permalink) eyeofhorus vbmenu_register("postmenu _1078066", true);

Basic Account Customer

 

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 8

 

 

Re: Bank Cashiers? Do they sell to?

Only just joined this forum as im getting really fed up with where i work. Abbey cashiers or CSA's as they are known do indeed have targets. Each day they must make a minimum of 4 referals. That means either booking an appointment or the customer sees someone on the spot. Failure to continually meet these targets will lead to you being 'performance managed'. Their bonus scheme is linked to their referals and % over target. They also are required to fill out various questionnaires while you are at the counter. These will cover savings, mortgages etc. On some days they will have a 'race day' and gain prizes for doing the most.

Reference....

 

Quote:

14th August 2007, 20:54 #7 (permalink) eyeofhorus vbmenu_register("postmenu _1078112", true);

Basic Account Customer

 

Join Date: Aug 2007

Posts: 8

 

 

Re: Abbey Appalling Customer Service

I work for Abbey. Im not surprised at the trouble you are having. Myself and my colleagues are at our wits end with the way we have to do things. The Indian call centre contract was supposed to have ended in May and we were told that it was being moved back to the UK.

 

Im not sure if this right section to vent my anger as an employee but there are so many things that are wrong and they prevent us from doing a proper job. As a member of staff im disgusted with the way the customer is treated and that there is little we can do. It is not the staffs fault that we cant serve the customer in the manner they deserve as we are not given the right tools to do the job.

So given your insider knowledge, how about you telling us how easy it is to run up unlawful penalty charges?

 

Regards, Rooster.

[woodwa5]

Rumbled!!!!!!!!!

 

Lol

[eyeofhorus]

You what chaps? Is it not a fair point to say that a person who has a bank account should check it so you know what goes in and what goes out? Regardless of where i work or worked the point is true.

 

As for bank charges i cant claim any back as never had any.

[woodwa5]

I think the kind of support you offer people on this forum is not needed, i have looked through your previous posts and you have made some good points but also points like:

 

How on earth does someone 'run up' £4000 worth of charges??? You would think after the first few that you would perhaps organize your finances better?

 

Can i claim back library book charges? My local library charged me 5p per day when i took a book back 3 weeks late.

Obviously your outlook on this is very simplistic and indicates an individual lacking in intelligence or compassion (more than likely the former). If you have nothing of use then just shut up and p*** off back to the Abbey

[woodwa5]

oh and aren't you the special one for never incurring bank charges

[eyeofhorus]

Not really, just like millions of others who do not incur them. Maybe you should try running your affairs correctly for a change? Too many people will not take responsibilty for their own actions. The library book thing is indeed sarcasm although looks like it went over your head. Swearing just shows your level.

[stardust_john]

Original poster abbey are great untill you ask for the slightest help I found. I had no charges, they just said oh my god your on benefits you shouldnt have had it...... They even read my benefit letter to prove my id and money.... I have no sympathy with them now and am not going to worry in my case. By the way genuine posters here do not judge and are willing to listen. Attackers are considered trolls.

Edited November 1, 2008 by stardust_john
changed mind arguing with shabby abbey poster

[woodwa5]

in retrospect i should not have stooped to eyeofhorus level and applaud stardust john's sentiments on those who judge.

[eyeofhorus]

You started swearing, i have not sworn. Go wash your filthy mouth out with soap and water..

[woodwa5]

hmmmm....i think you live in a very strange world if you think that's swearing, offensive yes and for that i apologise but swearing? i don't think so

[woodwa5]

i also think we have hijacked jh2008's thread and although i am sure you don't care, i do and this is my last response to you

[eyeofhorus]

Agreed as getting off topic now so i concur to close this discussion.