6. Press
6.3 The Times
It is always interesting to see how HBOS treats it's
customers, and how they are never to blame for failure.
Mortgage lender blames technology after it empties borrowers' accounts
(19 Oct 2005)
Thousands of
homeowners have empty bank accounts after HBOS, Britain’s
biggest mortgage lender, repeatedly withdrew home loan
repayments from their current accounts. About 7,000 Bank of
Scotland mortgage customers have had up to three mortgage
payments taken from their current accounts on consecutive days
this week.
Bank of
Scotland, which is owned by HBOS, the group that also owns
Halifax, became aware of the problem on Tuesday, after borrowers
whose payments were due on the 14th, 15th or 16th of the month
had another payment withdrawn from their account. But the bank
was not able to rectify the problem in time to stop some
borrowers being forced to pay their monthly mortgage bill for
the third time yesterday.
As well as
being left out of pocket, borrowers without enough money in
their accounts to cover the extra payments are likely to have
incurred penalty charges. Banks and building societies levy
punitive fees for those who slip into the red without
permission. Halifax and Bank of Scotland charge their current
account customers nearly £40 if a direct debit is unpaid because
of insufficient funds in the account.
My question is,
will HBOS offer £80 (2 x £40) in compensation to all their
borrowers who have been affected, or will each have to write in
an complain?
Page created on 26 June 2002, last
updated:
22 October 2006 22:29
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