Alliance and Leicester -

[werthers93]

I opened an Alliance and Leicester telephone banking current account in May this year looking to transfer from Barclays. Initially I had trouble agreeing the overdraft with A&L and asked to have my standing orders and direct debits put on hold, this was done with the exception of a standing order to a linked savings account, subsequently funds were being transferred to the savings account and the current account was overdrawn and I was being charged £20 per time. After complaining I had these refunded to me, however now I am faced with a further situation:

 

On 21st October I went into the branch and withdraw remaining cash from the current account following the refunds and asked them to close the account. I left the branch thinking it was all closed and that would be the end of the matter, no such luck:

 

Received a statement this morning saying my current account was £5 in debit and further charges to be applied for £75 - £5 per day that it was overdrawn. Having telephoned them it appears the £5 initial charge was for 'under-funding' the account due to me not paying £500 per month in. I am also due to be charged another £65 in further fees up to the present day.

 

I have complained about this to the branch in person and they are saying that no closure forms were ever completed, and told me to ring head office. Head office are are refusing to deal with it as it was a branch error. Obviously this isnt helping me as I am being charged £5 per day.

 

They have referred me to a charges specialist (again) to see if they can be refunded but I am getting sick of this, every month there are new charges appearing on an account I have never used. I am also worried as I cannot afford £140 in bank charges if I am not succesful and do not see why I should pay £140 because they made an error.

 

I have also been charged for weekends, is this right?

 

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site.

Have ammended your thread title as part of it was inappropriate.

 

You need to put your complaint in writing.Dont deal by telephone

Include a log of what you say here,and give them 14 days to respond.

[werthers93]

Sorry, I was in a foul mood with them, I thought it was the most appropriate title I could think of at the time.

 

Thanks for the advice, I shall put my complaint in writing.

 

Am I right in thinking they cannot just use the test case as an excuse to fob me off as it was their fault I incurred these charges?

[kevrah]

Hi,

 

I had the same problem except I closed my account 18mths ago in the branch and they wrote to me March 09 to say I was overdrawn and they were charging me £5 per day blah blah blah. Still complaining and have written to Ombudsman so waiting to hear back. A&L are illegal traders in my eyes, I will never do business with them again.

 

Kevrah

[werthers93]

Hi,

 

I had the same problem except I closed my account 18mths ago in the branch and they wrote to me March 09 to say I was overdrawn and they were charging me £5 per day blah blah blah. Still complaining and have written to Ombudsman so waiting to hear back. A&L are illegal traders in my eyes, I will never do business with them again.

 

Kevrah

 

Thankfully the matter is sorted now, I sat on the end of the phone and refused to go until I dealt with someone senior. I had all the charges wiped as a gesture of goodwill and the account closed.

 

Their business plan is disgusting. They base their charges around their systems that do not work and inefficient staff.

 

I hope you get your situation sorted, they are a disgrace to banking (which bank isnt though?) and dont deserve any custom!

 

Mark.