02/11/2009

Halifax Customers Defy Overdraft Costs

There's rebellion in the air as banking customers have expressed anger at Halifax's plans to effectively increase their overdraft charges six-times over.

Halifax bank, which the government part owns, will shortly vastly increase charges for overdrafts.

Under the guise of making charging clearer - Halifax customers using an arranged overdraft up to and including £2,500 will be charged £1 a day for each day they use it, instead of the current typical 19.5% interest.

Some customers are angry at the proposed overdraft fee changes

The proposals could mean some people face hundreds of pounds in annual fees every year.

If they use an agreed overdraft of more than £2,500 the daily charge is doubled to £2.

One customer said the new charges were "a bloody disgrace" while another said: "I am voting with my feet and looking for a new bank!"

According to MoneySavingExpert, a Halifax customer who is overdrawn by an average of £300 for 15 days a month would currently be charged around £30 a year for the privilege.

Under the new system, the annual fees would be six times higher at around £180.

Customers have circulated an email highlighting the overdraft changes and urging people to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

(BMcC/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

04 April 2016
Water And Sewerage Charges Frozen
Water and sewerage charges are to be held at the 2015/16 levels from the beginning of April, NI Water has announced. The decision to freeze measured and non-domestic unmeasured tariffs will mean nearly 80,000 non-domestic customers will benefit from a 'real' reduction to their water and sewerage charge.
05 March 2002
Halifax withdraws £7m for customer payouts
The Halifax is to pay out more than £7 million to 10,000 of its borrowers. The mortgage lender made the decision after a ruling by the Financial Ombudsman found that it was wrong to keep some types of mortgage holders on higher rates while offering cut-price loans to new customers.
28 April 2011
'What A Relief' As Water Rise Pegged
Businesses in NI won't face huge hikes in their water rates after the Water and the Utility Regulator agreed an annual review of charges to metered customers at just 4% more for combined water and sewerage services. Non-domestic unmeasured customers will pay 3.5% more, despite retail price inflation running currently at around 5.3%.
16 August 2001
Banks may face charges probe
Banks that charge extortionate fees to customers who accidentally go overdrawn or bounce cheques could be facing a full-scale investigation. The Banking Code Standards Board (BCSB) claims that people who run into financial difficulties are neither getting a fair deal nor being treated sympathetically by the banks.
15 November 2005
Petrol prices lead to inflation drop
Consumer price inflation fell for the first time in over a year last month, aided by a drop in petrol prices. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 2.3% in October.