This topic was closed on 11 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

I have decided this is actually better for me. Initially, I didnt want the account closed because my husband had been with them for forever. However, its actually a benefit in several ways: 1) Nationwide has a branch right near my office, whereas A&L is about a 15 minute walk away. (so it can take a whole lunch hour if I have to go there) 2) Nationwide doesnt charge a load on overseas withdrawals with a debit card. Super for us since we travel so often) 3) Nationwide gives a far higher interest rate on the current account when you deposit over £1000/month into the account (which we will be doing) I opened our Nationwide account the day after I received my letter from A&L. They are currently setting up the direct deposits now. I have asked them today for the status, but I may have to prepay several companies just to ensure there are no snafoos. This isnt really as bad as I thought.

I think Alliance & Leicester is being just silly now. A few weeks ago I received a cheque for my claim (all £90 of it), with the standard letter saying now that it's apparent that I don't agree to their terms further action will be taken at a later time. I did as they asked, contacting Moneyclaim and stating the case was settled satisfactorily; then I wrote to the legal department to let them know this and to advise that I would like to continue my relationship with the bank, as it would be churlish to end a longstanding relationship over £90; considering I have 4 accounts with them; all with high balances. I could kick myself because I started my claim before A&L made this decision to close the accounts of those who complain. Well, I received a letter from them yesterday saying my account will close on 7 August. I called Customer Service this morning and was advised that there is nothing that can be done at this point. Apparently, the closures department received my appeal and sent me a letter yesterday stating that the closure will stand. I reiterated that this is silly because A&L makes alot more than £90 from me every day, and that to close my account, and potentially 3 others (If I get bitter) is counterproductive. However, they wouldnt be swayed. Has there been anyone who has sued and successfully remained a customer of theirs? I know alot of you say who would want to bank with such an institution, but I havent really had any problem with them before.

I received my cheque for £92.50 today with a letter stating they will be contacting me in the near future to discuss further (most likely to close my account) I know this sounds terrible, but I really dont want them to. Except for the charges, OH & I have been happy with A&L. Has anyone written a letter to A&L asking them to reconsider, and has this worked? We have an exceptional history with them otherwise (the overdraft that one time was due to a miscalculation on my part). I'm thinking of contacting them as a customer and asking them to keep my account open. Going to another account would be really inconvenient at the moment. What do ya'll think?

Just got home to a letter in the post. It is a Notice that Acknowledgment of Service has been filed. Group Legal Services has ticked the I Intend to Defend All this Claim box. Signed by their solicitor. Is this bad?

Thanks Lueeze, thanks Caro! I have submitted my claim! I am so nervous: Submitted today for £92.50 total. This includes 1.5 paid item charges at £25 (so £37.50, since they refunded 1/2 of one) THe £25 unauthorized charge theyre about to hit me with. and £30 court fees. I know its not a great deal of money, but it belongs to me, not them. If this works, I might have more nerve to take AbbeyLife to court over the high penalties they levied when my husband moved his pension. Problem is, its already been through the FOS and there isnt alot of precedient for cases like that, plus the court charges are at that point in the hundreds of pounds. Still thinking on it.

They really have some nerve. In April I went over my overdraft for two days. They charged me £25 for the three different bills they had to pay within those four days, so £75 total. THey initially refunded me half of that (£37.50) I sent my preliminary letter in for the remainder, and they have till 2 June to reply (thats the 14 business days) I just received a letter yesterday saying they are charging me £25 on 4 June for an Unauthorised Overdraft Charge. So I called them & spoke to Ginnesh. Ginnesh told me that the £25 pound overdraft charge is "different" to each of the £25 Paid Item Charges. He also had no idea about the letter, and said they will take the money no matter what. When he asked me if there was anything else he could do, I told him he better find my letter and give it the attention it warrants. I read these posts and am so glad of all the money you have all received back. I'm asking for a very little bit; and I'm afraid they just wont pay it.

I'm currently considering litigation against Abbey. I know I flunked the FOS part but my financial advisor is pretty certain we can win. My argument, I feel, has shifted to the point that the OFT has deemed high penalties for cancellation of contracts to be unlawful & unfair (5th April 2006). From what I understand, under UK law a company cannot profit from breach of contract, and they need to clarify that my husbands leaving actually COST them £4000 (keeping in mind that they cannot claim loss of future earnings) (this is all from you fine folks here) If the above is true, then I have hope HOWEVER, the manager of the FOS that I appealed to wrote in his dismissal letter to me the following: 2. The transfer charges reflect the costs of expenses, charges and other adjustments to in turn reflect the fact that the policy has not been held to term - they are not penalties. Again, the key features document details these. What does THAT mean? That there is no hope?

I am also very concerned. My claim is for very little (£37.50 now, they took out £75, but repaid me 50% already) I certainly don't want to hijack the thread, so I just want to be sure for everyones benefit. Would they close the account for such small sums? I am merely claiming out of principle, but we have 4 accounts with them (current, savings & two cash ISAs). I would hate for them to drop us because its the best current account at the moment (and my husband would kill me) Why on earth would they close an account? HOW can they do that?

That is excellent, thank you so much. My IFA suggest small claims court (which would cost about £120) but I was apprehensive since the FOS made a decision which is usually quite final. I didnt see how small claims court would see it my way if the FOS didnt, but you give me hope.

Last June per my financial advisors recommendation we moved my husband's Abbey pension to Legal & General (since it had never grown in the 12 years he had it). The pension was about £27000, & they levied charges in excess of £4000. Again at my IFA's suggestion (but with little guidance from him) I fought, what I deemed, the excessive penalty for prematurely moving the pension. They didn't budge. So I went to the Financial Ombudsman, who upheld Abbey's side. I know the FOS is the end of the road so to speak, but I'm still pretty sure £4000 is a tad excessive for such a small pension, & no one has been able to tell me otherwise. I know a penalty for moving a pension isn't the same as excessive banking charges, but I cannot find anywhere in the original pension that outlines these charges, & Abbey (and the FOS) haven't provided proof of this after many many requests. Do I have a leg to stand on?