bank charge

last night i spent 50 mins !!!! on the telephone to my bank. I had intended an early night after a hectic bank hol when i checked my statements online to ensure that i had not gone over my overdraft limit.

I had a charge of £25 and could not understand where it had come from and so I called the bank who informed me that it was a renewal fee of my bank overdraft. it appears that First Direct have changed their terms and conditions which was allegedly sent out to me some time ago. this states that if i go over my agreed overdraft limit when the annual renewal is determined they can charge me a further fee for having gone over the agreed amount without authorisation.

I complained to the supervisor whom said that it is simple as long as I do not exceed my limit without authorisation this fee will not be applied.

i could not understand the policy so to clarify ... if in the year i exceed my overdraft limit even by pennies i am charged a penalty for this .... yes is the answer ... OK and now the bank annually look at the overdraft limit and if in previous 12 months i have exceeded the limit without authorisation, they will charge me AGAIN ! for renewing the same limit. ..... yes

BUT i have now been penalised TWICE .... well don't exceed your limit in the first place.. it is your responsibility not to...
but it is unreasonably to charge so much again and again as the last time i went over my limit i accrued charges of £75.00 ( 3x £25.00) 3 transactions over my limit and now 3 months later a further £25.00 for renewing my agreed overdraft limit.. Particularly when i increased my limit and the bank charged me ... guess what ... £25.00 for increasing my limit to do so...

tell me i am going Mad ??!! i thought there was litigation regarding bank charges not devising more ways to make the customer pay??