Thousands of Lloyds Bank customers to get refunds for incorrect overdraft charges

THOUSANDS of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers are being refunded overdraft fees after the bank failed to tell users it would bill them for dipping into the red.

The blunder is part of the same administrative error that saw some 200,000 Lloyds banking group customers get a share of £6million earlier this year when they weren't told introductory savings rates were about to drop.

But this latest payout is on top of the around £30 customers got last time round, and affected customers are in addition to the 200,000 from April.

The Sun has seen a letter sent to one such customer who has been refunded £12.89, including interest.

Lloyds says it is writing to "thousands" of customers by the end of this week to notify them of the refunds.

It wouldn't tell us exactly how many people are affected or how much they'll get on average, only saying the numbers affected and payouts are both smaller this time round.

How to complain about your bank

IF you're unhappy with your bank, you first need to complain directly to it.

If it doesn't respond within eight weeks or you're unhappy with the response you do get. You can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

This service is free to use and the Ombudsman can force banks to payout.

 

Affected customers will get back any fees they paid for dipping into both arranged and unarranged overdrafts between October 1, 2011 and October 1, 2017, plus 8 per cent interest on top.

Lloyds says affected customers don't need to do anything, and it will also trace customers who have since left the bank.

In the letter seen by The Sun, the former Lloyds customer was sent a cheque as their account is now closed.

A spokesperson for the bank said: “We previously identified that some of our customers received delayed information relating to their account with us.

"We are continuing to contact customers to apologise and make them aware of any missed information.

"We will, where appropriate, offer redress. Customers do not need to take any action as anyone affected will be contacted.”

Lloyds came under fire at the start of the year for making overdraft fees more expensive and complicated.

While Santander also paid £1.4million to 20,000 customers who weren’t warned they’d gone into overdrafts.

But bank overdraft fees, which are "ten times as high as payday loans" are to be stamped out.

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