[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Royboy39

I will refer you to a former post
GMTV - Are you the victim of unfair bank charges? Get advice from Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com
We do not have an overdraft facility (Never needed one or requested one from the Halifax)
She joined the Halifax many years ago and they wer'nt charging £39.00 then.
They moved the goalpost not us

You quite clearly do need an overdraft facility. If you have one and do not use it there is no charge. If you'd had one and gone overdrawn by 6p the interest charged would have been minimal compared to the £39 fee incurred for a returned cheque. It may not please the person to whom the cheque was returned either as their bank may well charge them for representing it. You could save a lot of problems all round by taking the overdraft facility option.

When any goalposts are moved, charge increases and so on, customers are informed.

Of course the local manager has a say in the refunding of charges. Perhaps you were fobbed off with the telephone if you were becoming stroppy in the branch and no-one wanted to deal with you.

I have often found that a polite request accompanied by an explanation of the error and oversight, with intentions made clear that it will not occur again is more likely to be listened to with a sympathetic ear than marching in with all guns blazing and a determination to have a row in front of all the other customers as previously suggested.