Can they do this???

[vinegarvera]

Hi all,

I have recently claimed 325.00 bank charges back from smile.

They repaid no promlems, all fine there you may think? well so did I!!

I then transfered all my D/D payments and my wages transfered in to this account.

THEY then cancelled my overdraft online ( I was away ath the time and couldn't check the internet banking site) wich caused me to go £31.12 overdrawn for 20 days!

They applied charges of 315.00 I wrote to them explaining the situation. asked that hey increased my overdraft temporarily until the account was fully switched. They said no to both!!

I then advised that the account would not be overdrawn for long as my husband is paid weekly.

THEN I GOT THIS LETTER TODAY:

 

 

"Dear *****

In view of the conduct of your account, all standing orders and direct debits, with the exeption of any payments to us, have been cancelled.

 

It is essential that you phone us as a matter of urgency on 08456003550 so we can discuss the situation in detail.

Any of our advisors will be pleased to assist you. We are here between 8.00am and 7.00pm Mon- Fri and Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm In the meantime DO NOT make any further withdrawals on your account.

 

Overdrafts not agreed by the bank are subjuct to our unauthorised overdraft charges as published in the Banks tarriff of charges.

 

We look forward to hearing from you shortly.

 

Yours

 

Judi Dicks

Customer services manager."

 

In the same post I received notification that my 2 mortgage payments had been cancelled!

 

I arrived home from work too late to call these clowns and wondered if anyone had any advice before I call them tomorrow??

[Miss Pink Panther]

I have had a similar thing happen to me - Smile told me they had cancelled my direct debits and standing orders as some of them had bounced which had made me go overdrawn. I negotiated with them to give me a 3 month 'probation period' where I would demonstrate to them that I could manage my account and that it would not go overdrawn or have any direct debits bounce. I did this for 3 months and now everything has been reinstated permanently. (Thank goodness!)

 

The bank is not obliged to honour any direct debits or standing orders you may have set up, they are allowed to run at the bank's discretion. If the bank won't agree to reinstate them, or offer you a probation period, don't worry too much as most companies you'll have DDs and SOs with will accept payment by giro at the Post Office, by debit card over the phone, and some companies allow payment by the online BillPay site:

 

https://www.billpayment.co.uk

 

If you hold a debit card from any UK bank you can pay bills via the internet site free of charge. All you need to do is register, and then search the database online of companies that accept BillPay. Most councils do (for council tax) and most electricity & gas suppliers do as well.

 

But it probably won't come to this - call the bank tomorrow and try to negotiate that they reinstate your SOs and DDs. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

Miss Pink Panther

[vinegarvera]

Thanks for the advice Pink Panther,

To be honest, I am fuming!!! I have another account with HSBC that I can transfer my D Debits to but I have over £500.00 in this account that I need to get to, they have cancelled my card and I cannot phone them this week as I am arriving home from work too late!!

I can't beleive they have done this I am livid.

SMILE -yeah right!

[Miss Pink Panther]

Try and call them at lunchtime, or 1st thing in the morning. They are open from 8am to 7pm, so I hope you don't work a 13 hour day.

 

Call them tomorrow and try to sort this out. If they won't play ball I think you may have grounds to refer this to the Financial Ombudsman as this could be seen as retaliation from the bank as they have just paid back your bank charges.

 

If you need to get at the £500 in the Smile account, just log onto the internet banking and transfer it to your HSBC account - if the funds are in your account they can't stop you from doing this.

 

Pls let us know how you go tomorrow, fingers are crossed for you.

 

Miss Pink Panther.

[vinegarvera]

Thanks again Miss PP.

I will try to get a quiet min after dropping the kids at school before my commute to work!

I dont work a 13 hour day but it sure feels like it sometimes!!!

 

P.S I am already in contact with the FO regarding Alliance and Leicester closing my bank account after claiming back charges!

I will know him by first name soon!

[Miss Pink Panther]

You go girl!!!!

 

Fingers are crossed for you, and let us know how you get on with the phonecall to Smile.

 

Miss Pink Panther