Whilst unemployed i didn’t used to have any overdraft but an employment agency i did some temp work for last year paid me by cheque and at first i needed to get a £50 authorised overdraft for the first monies paid else i wouldn’t have been able to eat or get into the job in the next week after first being paid by cheque, i needed the overdraft until the cheque cleared.

But such as things have been, i’ve kept the overdraft facility and was regularly going around £10-20 over but no charges.

I went into the Hammersmith branch of Halifax in December and asked them about the changes after first hearing about the changes on “The One Show” BBC1, i discussed it and was advised to keep the buffer zone of the £50 as if i went a couple of pounds unauthorised overdrawn it would be crippling, i asked about the £10 buffer before the new £1 per day charges and the person didn’t seem to know about it.

But i checked and there’s references to this being the case, no charges to any customer for the first £10 overdrawn on authorised overdraft.

I’ve not gone over by more than a few pounds in the past couple of weeks, repaid by the benefit payments before any amount over £10 was overdrawn.

But now i’ve got 2 statements which are charging me £4 for 2 weeks ago and £4 for last week, which will be taken out on the 21st Jan and 31st Jan respectively.

But i’ve not gone over £10.

This is going to cripple me as my finances are so tight, i have made sacrifices in my diet etc in order to maintain an Internet connection and it may be a case of my having to isolate myself from my main interaction and jobseeking methods etc, because although it’s stated HBOS which includes Halifax, are charging me for going a few pounds overdrawn, when i have so little to start with.

Can anybody actually tell me if Halifax are supposed to allowing a buffer of the first £10 before £1 a day charges are incurred, as is being said is the case?
Because it isn’t the case with me, i intend going to see them on Monday and having it out on them.

Out of everybody in their customer demographic, to do this to people on the lowest state benefit, is despicable!