My A&L update (and advice needed)

[MemmaJ]

Hi everyone.

 

I was wondering if I could have some help and advice, as to how to deal with Alliance & Leicester.

 

I opened an account with them in March 2004, because I HAD to, due to working in the Telesales department of a call centre for them.

 

I only lasted a few months there, but that's a different story!!

 

Anyway, I only have a £100 overdraft (they wouldn't give me any more).

 

They have charged me so much money in that short space of time, that I am getting fed up with it now.

 

I have recently recieved another statement, with another £50 worth of charges on it.

 

I am unable to pay off my overdraft at the moment, due to having young twins and I've just gone back to college, so have no income of my own.

 

This time, I was something like £98 overdrawn and they charged me £3 'Monthly Overdraft Charge', which of course put me £1 over my authorised overdraft limit.

 

SO, they charged me £25. Which put me £26 over my authorised overdraft limit.

SO they charged me ANOTHER £25.

 

Again, as I'm unable to pay anything into it, they are going to keep charging and charging me, putting me more and more over my overdraft - and I still can't pay it.

 

Can anyone advise me on what to do?

[richardc]

Welcome. First of all read the FAQs and around the forum. This will take some time but you will find the answers you want and more. Then if you have questions come back.

[MemmaJ]

OK I've had a look, and I think I need to request a list of charges as I have some statements missing.

 

I've just phoned and asked where I write to and is there a £10 charge, and he said to put it in writing and they will inform me if I have to pay, once they've recieved the request.

 

I wonder if the 40 days they have to send me the list, starts from today (when I will send the letter) or from when they recieve the £10 from me.....

[nickmack]

I wonder if the 40 days they have to send me the list, starts from today (when I will send the letter) or from when they recieve the £10 from me

 

If they have requested payment then it starts when they receive the money.

[MemmaJ]

Thank you for your guidance - I've never done anything like this before and it all seems a bit scary to me, at only 20 years old myself!

 

I will give it a go though, as I do believe they have been extremely unfair.

[MemmaJ]

But if they DON'T want a fee for it, the 40 days starts from the date of the letter I've sent?

Or if they just don't get back to me at all?

[BankFodder]

OK I've had a look, and I think I need ....

 

You will need to do much more than to have a look.

 

Please read the FAQ and the form material as thoroughly as you can. Allow 2 - 3 days.

[MemmaJ]

I've printed off the step by step instructions in the FAQ forum, and gone through it all with my mum who is staying here.

 

We also had a look at all of the Library forum together.

 

Because I have about 5 whole statements missing, and the final page of a few other statements also missing, I need to request a list of charges and trasactions from them.

 

If nothing else, at least I will know for myself, how much I have been charged over the years!

I know it's not in the thousands or anything like that, but it's certainly a few hundred, which is more than I can afford!

 

The thing is, that I NEVER knowingly go over my £100 overdraft myself as I just wouldn't do that.

EVERY time this has happened, it is because of them charging me £3 "monthly overdraft fee", and that £3 fee, as well as interest they take out - and that's what has put me over the limit, and therefore allowed them to charge me another £25.

And by them charging me that £25, it's put me even MORE over the limit, and allowed them to charge me ANOTHER £25!

 

It just goes round and round

[BankFodder]

But the £3.00 ovedraft fee is probably legit

[MemmaJ]

But is them charging me £50 a time, because their £3 charge has made me go over the limit, legit?

 

Sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult honest!

I don't understand the whole process very well!

[Beardedlaydee]

You must be fuming.

Its a disgusting system.

Sorry no advice to offer but just wanted to say good luck.

[BankFodder]

But is them charging me £50 a time, because their £3 charge has made me go over the limit, legit?

Of course not but you sounded as if you were going to complain about the £.00 charge as well.

[bonniebergin]

Get the ball rolling girl, i get so frustrated with this carry on. They charge you because they've taken you over the limit!!! Just seems very unfair that banks can get away with this. Good luck in your quest!!!

[MemmaJ]

Thank you for your help and advice everyone.

 

I have sent a letter to them, requesting a list of charges and transactions on my account since it was opened in March 2004.

 

I am just so angry because I only opened an account with A & L because I had to when I was working for them.

Before then, I would never have opened one because I have another account with Halifax, which I have NEVER had any problems with.

Since openeing the A & L one, I've had nothing but problems.

 

So when I get the list of charges back, I'll see what the damage is (!) and find out what to do from there.

[BankFodder]

Hmmm. If you were basically forced by them to open the account then this could raise some new and interesting issues.

Can oyu pm me, please when you get your info. Post it as well but let me know.

[MemmaJ]

It wasn't so much forced, I just did it at the time because everyone who works for them, has to have an A & L account.

They would only pay our wages into an A & L account, so everyone who didn't have one, had to open one.

 

I have never been able to close it, because I haven't been able to pay off the overdraft.

[MemmaJ]

Juts a quick update - I have recieved a letter from A & L this morning, with a form to fill in:

'DATA PROTECTION ACT - SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST'

 

It doesn't ask for any money, so I will fill it and and send it back ASAP.

And then I suppose the 40 days will start from then?

[Guadge]

Juts a quick update - I have recieved a letter from A & L this morning, with a form to fill in:

'DATA PROTECTION ACT - SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST'

 

It doesn't ask for any money, so I will fill it and and send it back ASAP.

And then I suppose the 40 days will start from then?

 

MemmaJ - I had that same form from A&L and filled it in, and sent it off and was THEN asked for £10. They are just stalling for time. I would send the £10 now, as they will def ask for it later!!

[MemmaJ]

Dammit, I didn't see the previous post yesterday and I've already posted the form back!!

 

I can tell already that they like to string it out though!

[dave]

No it is not.

 

The £3 is probably fine - it's for providing a service (albeit a little steep for £100 OD IMHO).

 

The £3 pushing you over your limit so that they can make a punitive charge is not ligit.

 

You have summised correctly.

[MemmaJ]

OK, so a little while ago, I sent back the form from A & L to request a list of all the charges on my account.

 

A couple of days ago, I recieved a letter from A & L, saying that they are withdrawing all my banking facilities and terminating my contract with them.

 

This is because I haven't been able to pay any money in my account (their charges put me over my overdraft), and the same with the charges - I haven't been able to pay them.

 

So what do I do now?

Do I just leave it? I mean, I don't really want to get any defaults on my credit file, as it's just starting to get back on track!

Or shall I find a way to pay them, and hope that they're refunded with everything else when this process is over?

[Unholy Alliance]

I wouldnt put up with that personally, but it depends on individual circumstances. Have they threatened this because you are claiming against them,(in which case take a look at OFT thread) or because you have been avoiding them up til now, unaware of your rights?

 

Do they owe you a lot, and if this was refunded, would that then put your account in credit rather than debit? Ill be happy to help where I can, feel free to PM me if you want. Good Luck anyways!

[MemmaJ]

Well I have been over my overdraft for quite a while, as I've been unable to put anything into my account to get it back in credit.

 

They have sent me a few letters about it being over the overdraft, notifying me of chrages and telling me I have to put money in the account to get it back in credit.

But I just couldn't - I simply didn't have the money.

 

That's why they're withdrawing my account.

I mean, it's fine because now I can finally get rid of the account, but I will still have to pay them what I owe wont I?

 

All I have done so far is request a list of charges from them, so I don't think they're doing it because I'm trying to get a refund of all my charges. I haven't mentioned getting a refund to them yet!

 

They've just done it because I haven't been managing my account properly.

 

I don't know what to do though. Somehow pay money into it, so I don't get a deafult on my credit record, and add that to the charges I want refunded? Or leave it and go ahead with the process of trying to get a refund, and add this onto the list?! LOL!

[BankFodder]

How much is charges and how overdrawn is the account? In other words, who owes who money?

 

How long have they given you to repay?

[MemmaJ]

My agreed overdraft was £100.

 

My account is now overdrawn by £170.12.... So £70.12 OVER the agreed overdraft.

 

Since 3rd April, they have charged me £75 (three lots of £25)!!

- this is what has put me to £170.12 overdrawn!

 

The letter is dated 5th April 2006, when it was £142 overdrawn, but since then they've charged me ANOTHER £25. (as well as the £3.00 monthly overdraft fee).

 

I haven't got the whole list back from them, but I think since my account opened they must have charged me in the region of £500.

 

They haven't given me a date to pay by, they have just said I must make 'immediate repayment' (they spelt 'immediate' wrong on the letter though! LOL!)