I sent in my initial letter to Cahoot a few weeks ago. As the amount I am claiming is only small I thought I'd give them the benefit of the eight weeks they ask for to investigate. Well today I got a reply. They aren't refunding (suprise suprise). But, shockingly, in the letter, it tells me I can check my balance by calling 08459 724 724, which is actually Abbey's telephone number. And they've kindly enclosed a tariff of charges...for an Abbey account. Abbey's charge structure is different to Cahoots. Which begs the question, did they even read my letter? or what the hell were they doing for the last eight weeks? He claims to have carried out a full investigation - how can he have, when he hasn't even worked out which bank I am complaining about?

It shows your account number on the card anyway, so not really a major risk. To be honest if someone was close enough to me to read details on the screen, I'd be more alarmed that they may have seen my PIN, or that they may be about to mug me.

Abbey online banking hasn't been working properly for a few weeks now. Your account might still be open, give them a call to check

Abbey keep one year of data on their live systems, so send this straight away. The rest is on microfiche so has to be retrived and takes longer. They are obliged to supply this within 40 days, but I am aware it is taking longer for some people. Best thing to do would be to call and check the remaining statements have been ordered, then wait the rest of the 40 days. The law gives them this timescale so they're entitled to take this long, if they want.

The thing with solicitors is that, because their client accounts hold lots and lots of money, they're valuable clients to the banks and therefore can negotiate a better tariff. Probably, my local taxi company pay less when one of their taxis needs a new tyre than I would, because they'll get a discount because of the other work they give to the garage. I have read a bit about the replacement for BACS. One thing I haven't seen is what it will cost. Given that BACS is free (to personal customers), people are expecting this new system to be free. I doubt this will be the case though, and I think we can expect to start paying for BACS payments, say 50p or thereabouts. You can't have your cake and eat it, as the saying goes.

I used to work for Barclays, not any more though. The card/chequebook remain their property, so you have to give them back if asked. Technically, not doing so could be treated as theft and if they wanted to get nasty they could ask report you to the police. In any case, your card won't work any more, and next time you try to use it, the ATM will retain it. Or if you try to use it in a shop, the shop may be instructed to retain the card and return it to Barclays. They would, however, have to honour any guaranteed cheque payments in the meantime. In all honesty, this kind of action by banks is only going to become more common, as they look for other ways to prevent accounts going overdrawn as they have to stop relying on fees and charges as a way of dealing with these accounts. I am aware that banks are now looking carefully at accounts before issuing replacement chequebooks (to stop customers "stockpileing" cheques). I am also aware of one bank whose chequebooks only consist of 15 cheques rather than the usual 25. I am not sure what the reason for this is, though.

Hi, any reason why I'm not allowed to reply to the credit unions thread in "other organisations"? Just curious...

When I worked there, it was the 23rd, but if the 23rd was a Friday it was the day before. The reason for this was because the 23rd is usually not a busy banking day (so the bank can process their own payments on this day using "spare" capacity). Also, in the days when people dealt more with cash (i.e. before ATMs) they wanted to avoid members of staff adding to the queues in branches during busy days. I guess most banks will pay around this time for similar reasons.

Hi, I've been reading this site for a while (I actually work for a bank, and yes the site admins do know). Because of working for the bank I've never had any charges on my account/credit card (simply because it's so easy to keep track of money, being in the bank every day, not because I'm perfect). I do, however, also have a car loan with GE Money (taking that out was the most stupid thing I ever did). I know I've paid quite a lot in charges to them so my New Years Resolution is to get my money back. I estimate it will be about £200 that they owe me. I've typed up my SAR and am ready to send it off tomorrow when the Post Office is open again. But I wondered if anyone here had claimed against GE Money and whether they'd had any sucess or otherwise? I've found some GE threads but they mostly relate to store cards. Any advice?

Sadly, this does happen. I used to be involved with bank accounts for international students, and the amount of fraud was significantly higher than on uk student accounts. That is somthing that the banks have to consider too.

Some banks do offer facilities for people just arrived in the UK, which often include credit cards and overdrafts. However, you have to be earning a good salary (these accounts are aimed at doctors, university lecturers etc). You may also have to maintain a minimum balance and/or pay a fee. I know Barclays offer such an account, and think HSBC do too. Be aware that these accounts are quite uncommon to branch staff, so I'd suggest doing some research on the banks websites first so at least you know what to ask for.

Abbey don't like faxes, and as far as I'm aware don't publish any fax numbers, so I'd suggest sending it by post to a recognised address, as this method seems more "valid".

Sometimes a bank will ask for proof, sometimes they will trust the customer - it depends on their relationship with that customer. But they will have asked her about affordability. Is it possible she didn't answer truthfully?

I know first charge mortgages aren't regulated, but have a feeling second charge loans are. However I don't think any loans for over £25,000 are covered by the CCA - although it's been a while since I worked in lending so may be wrong...

I don't think your message is in the right place - PM a modorator and see if they can move it because you won't get many replies here. I would suggest you make a full subject access request - costs £10 but you can request every piece of information held including transcripts of any recorded phone calls.

If you write to Head Office Customer Relations, they have a freepost address - not sure what it is but it's on the website under contact us and then complaints. They'll end up dealing with your letter anyway, so unless you plan to use recorded mail you may as well save the price of a stamp.

You're entitled to be able to withdraw your benefits - but you need to tell the bank you need to do this. I don't specifically know about A&L but there is more than likely a certain department you need to speak to in order to authorise this. The Phone Banking staff probably won't know much - ask if they have a debt management department you can speak to. Alternatively, divert your benefits into another account, set up no DDs on the new account and ensure you don't ever get into a situation where charges can occur. If you are planning on claiming back the charges from A&L, these should clear the overdrawn balance on that account.

They are obliged, under the DPA, to provide a copy of the recording, or a transcript. I'm not sure if playing it down the phone meets the DPA requirements, so I would investigate whether, if you made a formal DPA SAR you could obtain a tape or CD of the call. I would also ask them to provide details as to the exact time of the start, and end of the call, and then compare these details, and the length of the recording, to the call details on your phone bill, if you have it. I don't believe they would edit the call in all honesty. Certainly the bank I work for would not even have the facility to do this.

My understanding, having worked for two different banks, is that you cannot credit check someone without their specific consent. If A&L have credit checked you (you can get your report from Experian/Equifax to confirm this) then I believe they have broken some "rules" if not the law.

Historically, Barclays used to charge a monthly fee to customers who had an agreed overdraft facility. I don't know when this was scrapped (long before my time) but I do know that before it was scrapped, it was £5 per month. Therefore, I feel it is unlikely that you will be able to claim this back, as it wasn't a penelty. However, if the amount was £20 then this must refer to an unauthorised overdraft fee, which is chargable.

I wouldn't be too harsh on Abbey - the Financial Services Authority says they have to treat any "expression of dissatisfaction" as a complaint, and lays down a complaints framework all banks have to follow. This is why anyone who writes in about charges is treated as though they have complained - because if they didn't Abbey or any other bank would be in lots of trouble with the FSA.

I agree banks are sometimes guilty of irresponsible lending, but how about those customers who are quilty of irresponsible borrowing? That does happen too, and since you have to be over 18 (i.e. a grown up) to take out a loan, the customers do, I feel, have to shoulder some of the blame. Personally, I've refused people loans because I didn't think they could repay them and been sworn at. I've had to have the police remove one person from my branch because he told us he wasn't leaving until he got an overdraft increase, and two hours later all the staff wanted to go home. Natweststaffmember's mentioned their audit process - Barclays have a similar system where loans and other accounts are chosen at random for checking. I can confirm that staff could be sacked for irresponsible lending there too.

Never bought a phone from Carphone Warehouse, and never will after the terrible service I recieved from their ISP/Home Phone company "Talk Talk". Even I cancelled my service at the start of July, they're still billing me for it. And threatening all sorts of nasty things if I don't pay. I beat your record though - 18 promises of call backs have still not been met! If you stand outside the branch, let me know and I'll happily join you, so long as your leaflet includes a warning about Talk Talk too!

Possibly. With the bank I worked for, anything where there was CIFAS was referred to a special team who made a decission.

Barclays shouldn't take it either, but when I worked there, if for some reason they did, the charge was £5. We used to be able to take the bills subject to payment from anyone, and occasionally people would ask us to reduce the amount they were paying by the amount of our fee, although if I ever took one I'd get them to alter the amount of their credit slip and sign it before acceptance.