Have you been unfairly charged?
The High Court and the OFT are a long way away from working out what the rest of us know already - that overdraft charges are unfair and can be completely out of proportion.
But bank charges aren't the only fees that infuriate us all on a daily basis.
Last March, Ros Fernihough, from Sutton Coldfield, took BT to court over the telephone giant's £4.50 levy on customers who refuse to pay by direct debit. She claimed the rules penalised those who pay by cash. Mrs Fernihough's case was dismissed by Walsall County Court, but she is considering an appeal. BT isn't the only company that forces non-direct debit customers to pay a surcharge. In fact, Virgin Media charges even more than BT!
We want to hear about the charges that have hit you in the pocket that you think are unjust or disproportional in the comment space below. The charges can be from banks, your energy company, your phone provider or almost any other company. However big or small, if you've had to shell out for a charge you thought was simply unfair, let us know.
Posted by James Charles
Thank you to psd for the image
Its clear that many people are careless about running their accounts, but the banks etc have set up systems that compound the initial error and that is where the inequity lies. Those who want to remain in the old world, by sending cheques by post risk loss or delay in the post and the credit card company will not be liable. Set up a direct debit for goodness sake - even if its for the minimum payment due.
Posted by: Peter Salter | 27 Jul 2008 07:14:06
What's wrong with people? Is the world full ofimbeciles? If you don't like the punishment, then don't commit the crime! Don't like the overdraft charges? Here's a radical thought, DON'T GO OVERDRAWN! I'm sick of hearing about irresponsible whiners claiming how they've been hard done to. Well, that's what happens when you spend money that doesn't belong to you.
Posted by: Someone who lives in the real world | 22 Jul 2008 21:37:10
What's wrong with people? Is the world full ofimbeciles? If you don't like the punishment, then don't commit the crime! Don't like the overdraft charges? Here's a radical thought, DON'T GO OVERDRAWN! I'm sick of hearing about irresponsible whiners claiming how they've been hard done to. Well, that's what happens when you spend money that doesn't belong to you.
Posted by: Someone who lives in the real world | 22 Jul 2008 21:36:28
i get charged £5 every month from Virgin and when I try and set up a direct debit they say my bill needs to be paid in full which equvelates to 2 months in advance!
Posted by: Andy Bill | 7 Jul 2008 14:38:58
recently holidayin usa; bought international prepaid phonecard 600 minutes $20. dial no. insert pin dial uk.&states icludes cellphones. On return ORANGE have charged us £628. perminute charged dialling.state they do not recognise any phonecards. as usa dial is 1800etc atleast they could have emailed stating obvious useage not free and unsual dial pattern endless 1800....etc. we asked orange prior to leaving uk for int. roaming bundle. sad
Posted by: lesliecurwood | 26 Jun 2008 05:07:42
Orange - both broadband and mobile service - have tried to claim that i have not set up a direct debit but a continuous payment authoriseation, and have such been charging me £2-3 per month on top of my bills. Now ive been told i cant get out of my contract unless i pay up the remaining months even though thay have been keeping my banking details illegally
Posted by: Mike Doherty | 23 Jun 2008 13:05:23
A £10 charge by my mortgage lender (C&G) for paying some of my mortgage off! I think that's unfair and certainly wouldn't encourage me to do it again.
Posted by: L.Lennartz-Nuttall | 21 Jun 2008 15:11:11
TalkTalk also charge extra to pay by cash and charge on top of that for a paper bill.
My advice is not to use them.
Posted by: Leon Maurice-Jones | 16 Jun 2008 11:32:38
Yes, I have been stung by unfair hidden charge, when I buy gasoline on the gas stations, simply I would like to see on the bill what is the margin of the refinery and the margin of the gas station, too.
Posted by: Miroslaw Majewski | 16 Jun 2008 08:01:21
I work for a high street bank and agree charges are a rip-off and nothing but a money making SCAM.
Posted by: sarah | 15 Jun 2008 20:52:10
I think i am on the fence in this issue. Whilst i agree that charges are unfair should postal payments be held up by things such as bank holidays and easter, i cant help thinking that a bank has every right to charge fees for overdrafts and late payments. It is stated on bills clearly when a payment is due, how long it takes to process and what you will be charged should payment be late, and everyone knows there is no post and banks are closed on bank holidays -so really this cannot be a valid excuse. With a bit of organisation there is no need to make payments late even marginally. As for overdraft fees, same goes,- it is stated on bank statements and on applications that charges will be made should you go obver your limit. Easily avoided if you follow the simple rule of 'if you havent got it, dont spend it!'
Posted by: Sophie | 13 Jun 2008 09:53:05
Alliance & Leicester credit cards charged me a late payment penalty as well as interest charges even though I had posted a cheque within the alloted time.
Easter intervened, they were closed for 2 working days and my payment wasn't recorded by them as having been received until the day after it was due. I paid the interest but refused to pay the £11 penalty.. since I had kept my end of the deal. I closed all my Alliance & Leicester accounts, cut their credit card up and sent it back to them.
They are now continuing to add interest to interest on the original £11 and bill me every month for the ever bigger amounts.
According to their view, I will owe more than the original credit card debt of £500 at some future stage.
Posted by: John Needham | 12 Jun 2008 10:30:10