First let me say my experience with A-L current has been good apart from at the start when I didn't realise that their "Switching Service" could not be left to them without keeping a watching brief - relax we'll do it all is not helpful when various things went wrong and A-L said "We can't sort it out... Data Protection Act.

Having said that A-L say

"If you find yourself in financial difficulties, you should let us know as soon as possible so we can discuss with you the best way to help you overcome your difficulties."

Did you approach them and, from what you are saying negotiate a modest overdraft?

You talk about DDs being paid first and then credits - I've had that, in principle, but it's been on the same day when I have gone into the red but A-L say not to worry it's the running balance and as long as that matches up before bank closure no problem and I've never had one.

You say as a shareholder... probably have a lot to lose... I don't understand as A-L is now part of Santander, one of the world's largest banks.

Sadly, in my view, all large companies are amoral and worse but what is your evidence for saying their banking practices are fraudulent?

The penultimate paragraph tells a horror story but the real villain of the piece is DWP.

Good and bad has been written of A-L on this forum over the years and by the nature of forums there has been rather more bad than good.

I don't mean this thread to be a defence of A-L but my experience has been good and when I have had a problem telephone banking has been quite satisfactory. I think the branches are good for one thing the suped up ATMs which allow me to pay in the occasional cheque without waiting in line for a teller.

If you are on a low fixed income then this is not the bank for you. I am among A & L's first credit account customers and everything worked well while I was working. My husband and I were not high earners and had to retire from the Civil Service on health grounds and rely on Disability Living Allowance, Pension Credits and Carers Allowance. Due to a bank holiday and the bank's insistance of paying all debits (the run is usually around 0.01 am on the due date) before making any credits to the account I was forced to exceed my overdraft limit by £2 for less than 3 days. The bank charged me £105 for this. I complained on hardship grounds since we exist on a low fixed income and the bank kindly returned my money but not before charging me a further £125 in June and a further £150 in July which they are refusing to refund. I am now concerned that I am left with insufficient funds in th4e account and my mortgage will go unpaid (uncurring further charges). This bank usually informs customers in writing if they are making these charges, or if they are refusing a direct debit. Not so in this case.

As I have said this is not the first instance. In 2007 DWP erroneously forgot to cancel my mortgage payments while I was working. The lenders in turn forgot to advise me they were increasing my mortgage payments for the life of the debt. Insufficient funds to meet the extra £50, left me with £350 worth of bank charges, which swollowed my entire salary and tax credits leaving us with no disposable income for 4 months until the Financial Services Ombudsman sorted out the whole ghastly affair.

I am a shareholder in this bank and probably have a lot to lose when I advise any prospective customers to stay clear. Their banking practices are amoral and fraudulent. They have already been chased by the FSA for their unfit insurance policies. As the phrase says caveat emptor.

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