recent increase in 'charges' applied

[ianh]

Greetings

 

I'm in the process of claiming back money from LloydsTSB and surely cannot be the first to notice that many of these carges have gone *up* recently. For example, the overdraft excess fee (basically an unarranged borrowing fee) has increased from £20 to £30 in just over a year.

 

A 50% annual increase! How can this possibly reflect an increase in actual costs - therefore this is more evidence that this is a penalty charge, not a service cost. The letter is printed and sent by computer, without even a human signature, and I would have thought that because of tech improvements, the 'cost' of the computer's time would have dropped over the last few years, not increased.

 

My suspicion is that they're charging all they can, while they can. Does anyone have records going back say, ten years, to see how they've increased and their reasons for it? I suspect the graph would be interesting. And do all the banks stay 'in step' with this?

 

Ian

[bluecat0208]

Dear Ian,

 

I posted this in the RBOS forum, but The One Account have also just increased their charges from £20 to £29.

 

I see as a last chance grab before they are forced to change

[Mairi]

hi

BOS increased their charges way back in August 04. i had a charge of £20 on 29/7/04 and another on 4/8/04 for £30, both for going overdrawn.

This was just after the merger with Halifax.

Maybe TSB are playing catch up after having a look at HBOS profits.LOL Or heaven forbid HBOS charges are going to rise even further

[ppauls150]

This looks like that it is a backlash from the charges being claimed back. They are going to reap in even more money now especially from the people who dont even know about the unlawful charges. At this moment in time the bank just seem to be in a win win situation until the OFT and more publicity brings the awarness about these charges. This seems like it is a reaction from all banks and credit cards over the last couple of months though with all new pricing stratagies coming through the post.

[Guest ian cognito]

Don't know if you've noticed but both the banks and credit card companies have also increased their interest charges as well, as there doesn't seem to be much we can do about this, it seems they will get their money back one way or another - anybody thought of the CAG bank? You've probably got 80,000 customers already!small monthly fee, no penalty charges and a credit card to follow......i wait with interest

[Prospero]

At this moment in time the bank just seem to be in a win win situation until the OFT and more publicity brings the awarness about these charges.

Dunno about "win win". Sounds more like a desperate last gasp to me. They know the writing is on the wall.

 

The silly thing is that if we do get a ruling about this the OFT or whoever is likely to want to punish those who have tried to screw the system for every last bit right up to the end by increasing their charges in this way.

[sirowealot]

I've just had a letter from tthe Halifax that my credit card is going up to 21.9%... and I haven't even started a claim against them yet. They did cheerfully mention in the letter that it would "only cost me an additional 35p per £100"...

 

so that's ok then:rolleyes:

[rogerebaker]

At some stage one of the financial empires will grasp the opportunity to offer accounts that dont rip people off and grab all the unhappy customers. Its only a matter of time.

 

Lets be honest the first one that does is gonna have about 100,000 new customers from this site alone

[Bookworm]

Easymoney, here I come!!!!

 

(Wouldn't want to go near Ryanomoney, though, lol)

[simonjohn]

Easymoney, here I come!!!!

 

(Wouldn't want to go near Ryanomoney, though, lol)

 

But bear this in mind, (When, not if) ,These charges are deemed both unfair and unlawfull, (either by the oft or a test case in law) That the financial organisations will have to refund, not only the penalty charges, but any extra percentage rate increase that they might apply.

[howardbrown]

But bear this in mind, (When, not if) ,These charges are deemed both unfair and unlawfull, (either by the oft or a test case in law) That the financial organisations will have to refund, not only the penalty charges, but any extra percentage rate increase that they might apply.

why is an increase in the percentage rate wrong?

 

the charges ou can argue, but the interest rate?

 

not trying to antagonise (spelling?) just wondering?

[Guest NATTIE]

There is to be an investigation on overdraft charges that may well incorporate interest charges as well. I would like to see the OFT investigate interest charges on Credit Card interest as well as this seems to have been directly as a result of their ruling re charges for ovelimit fees, but hey we all wish for some things we may not get.

[angeljen]

I have also noticed an increase at Lloyds TSB and also at Barclays.

 

I really do think a new bank, with no penalty charges, just a small monthly fee, is the way forward.

 

The CAG Bank. Shall I post this in the Suggestions and Comments section?

[meagain]

why is an increase in the percentage rate wrong?

 

If you have taken money by unfair means, and have been told it's unfair, you are not entitled to keep it - raising tariffs on legitimate business to compensate for the loss of unfair revenues is de facto unfair in itself. If you steal £5, you can't later do something to justify keeping it.