Hi everybody

This site was recommended to em by a work colleague and I was hoping some members could give me some advice regarding recent charges I have incurred from Halifax.

1. I recently exceeded my overdraft facility after my pay was incorrect as such due to a miscalculation on my part and forgetting about a cheque I wrote for £50 I went overdrawn. Halifax have charged me twice, once for the cheque and again for this taking me over my agreed limit. As such the charges combined are well in excess of £50. Surely I can't be double charged for 1 mistake. Is there anything I can do the branch just says those are the charges and treat me like I am a criminal.

2. After relocating for my wifes work I was out of work for approx 2 weeks before securing a job. My new job did not start for a further 6 weeks with pay a month in arrears. Therefore I was without pay for approx 3 months, during this time I continued to pay my Halifax loan using my savings. I then enquired whether or not my insurance would have covered this and was told it might have but there was nothing they were willing to do about it as 'what was my problem I had already paid' surely this is against the sole reason of paying extra on the loan to cover such eventualities. Again seeing staff in my local branch (not my home branch due to reloaction) I am again treated with total apathy.

Any suggestions on where I stand would be greatly appreciated

Hi there,

I myself am with the Halifax and have experienced the evil that is their 'reasonable' bank charges. I also had the opportunity to gain some inside info on these matters.

Handy tips - It only costs the banks est. £5 to return a DD, also to stop a cheque free of charge tell them you believe it to be stolen they can't charge for prevention of fraud or theft.

Q.1-A: Did you called the bank to pre-warn them of your error in your calculations?, as this isn't clear.
As a loyal customer with an existing overdraft they could have offered to increase the overdraft for 1 month to cover the cheque so you didn't get the 'over agreed limit' charges of £39 + interest & or cancelled the cheque for the lesser charge so you could inform the recipient and re-issue the cheque when the funds were available.

As for loan protection it's all in the wording of the policy - if it specifically says in the agreement that your circumstances will be covered then they should come to some arrangement. Try asking to be put through to the branch you hold your account/loan with.

I hope this helps.

Hi,

Can only help on point 1, if this is the first time you have exceeded your overdraft I would write to thier customer services department, or complaints department, and explain that you always operated your account correctly, and as it was a one off see if the can waiver the fee. My bank (Nationwide) refunded my fees one month (I had a fraudulent transaction on my account for £8,500!) Its worth having a try - the worst they can do is say no.

Claire

Thanks fourleaf,

After a while chasing my tail, I finally got put through to my home branch and they were extremely helpful. Apologised for the standard of service I received at the other branch whom I informed of the error and have cancelled all the charges.