Cashback?

Well, well, well. Avid readers of my maunderings may recall my diatribe just after Christmas about the bank charges I'd incurred because there hadn't been enough money in my current account to pay my credit card direct debit. At the time, it seemed as if an unstoppable avalanche of charges was accruing despite my switching of funds to deal with the matter, and I was very fed up indeed.

So it seems only right that I should share the modified raptures with which I have been blessed this week, when I received a letter from the Customer Relations Manager of BoS telling me that I was to be refunded the largest of the three charges. This is what he says:

Having reviewed your account, I accept the application of these unarranged overdraft charges will not have a positive effect on the maintenance of your account. As a gesture of goodwill, I am prepared to refund £35.00 in full and final settlement of your complaint.

I love the admission about the effect of bank charges on keeping your account in the black - I had pointed out in a letter that it was hardly likely to assist the truly impecunious to keep penalising them. It is - though I didn't actually say this - a bit like those miserable teachers who dole out punishment exercises to a hapless kid who never finishes his homework. I'm grateful to those who reminded me that this was a good time to complain about bank charges - and exhort anyone else in the same boat to brush up their naggy-letter-writing technique. For it strikes me forcibly that there must be loads of people who lack the gall to hit back in writing and who have to put up with this sort of treatment.

But I must be humble. As the letter goes on to say,

ultimately it is your responsibility to manage your account.

Indeed.