Overdraft row man: 'I'll glue myself to bank'

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Saturday, November 15, 2008
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This is SouthDevon

ANGRY Roy Wilson is threatening to glue himself to his Totnes bank after bank bosses penalised him for an internet banking error.

Roy and his wife Sally, who are both disabled and wheelchair bound, failed to cover £25.50 worth of standing orders when Sally transferred the necessary cash to the wrong account by mistake.

The bank billed the couple a total of £114 and immediately took it out of their account.

Because that made the account overdrawn, the bank then billed them another £28 for exceeding their overdraft facility, declared Mr Wilson.

The National Westminster Bank's actions have left both Mr and Mrs Wilson furious and they are now preparing to take their complaint to the banking ombudsman.

Meanwhile, Roy declared: "I am prepared to glue myself to the bank as a protest.

"It would teach them a lesson so they realise they can't just walk over people.

"It's nonsense. They have no sense of humanity at all."

Mr and Mrs Wilson live in Sea View Terrace, Thurlestone, but bank at the Nat West at Totnes.

Roy, 67, suffers from spinal and neck problems while 62-year-old Sally suffers from arthritis and Fibral Myalgia which affects her arms and legs.

Both have to use wheelchairs to get around and as a result most of their banking is conducted through the internet.

Sally explained that as soon as she realised her error, and that the standing orders for relatively small sums had not been paid, she corrected it — but it was too late.

Although the bank agreed to let the couple off £38 worth of charges, it is still insisting they pay the rest of the money — which they can ill afford.

The couple are currently preparing to move house and have scraped all their savings together to pay for the move, explained Sally.

She said their joint income meant they were not 'poverty stricken' but added: "It's the principal of the thing really.

"This is very important to us. We need every penny we can get at the moment."

A bank spokesman said: "All our charges are clearly explained in our fees and charges leaflet, given to all customers at account opening and on request and on our website.

"The bank has already refunded part of the charges as a gesture of goodwill when Mr and Mrs Wilson informed us three days after they made the transfer in error.

"Mr and Mrs Wilson use online banking several times a week and are, therefore, very aware of the confirmation process when making payments which gives two opportunities to verify the instruction before it is complete and check the new balance of the accounts.

"Even after the transfer, one can still reverse the payment online or call telephone banking or the branch to ask for the payment to be reversed."

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19 Comments

  • Profile image for This is SouthDevon

    by Dee, Torquay

    Tuesday, November 18 2008, 2:13PM

    “We all make mistakes sometimes, but it was not the bank's error, it was theirs. I mde a similar error many years ago, just the once thankfully, and it cost me money, but at least it sharpens the mind against making errors in the future.”

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    by Ruth, torquay

    Monday, November 17 2008, 1:43PM

    “I am curious as to how glueing yourself to a bank will treat the bank a lesson. I recieved a parking ticket in the summer maybe i should have glued myslef to the traffic warden that would have shown him wouldn't it. Next time my council tax goes up i'm going to glue myself to the town hall. bet you councillers are worried now.”

  • Profile image for This is SouthDevon

    by Gluey Armstrong, Torbay

    Monday, November 17 2008, 1:22PM

    “I'd be interested to hear exactly what type of glue they were thiniking of using. Superglue isn't waterproof and is therefore pants. The only glue that would seem up to the job is epoxy resin, and the couple would have to remain in position for at least a couple of hours for the glue to set. Also, what were they going to glue themselves to? The wall outside? The door? If you are going to make threats then you really need to think them through.
    Personally I think that it was their foul up, so they should take responsibility - not threaten people with a tube of UHU (which also isn't waterproof...)”

  • Profile image for This is SouthDevon

    by Ruth, Torquay

    Monday, November 17 2008, 10:42AM

    “It is so sad when people play the I've got a disability card. You only have a physical disability not a mental one so there is no reason to use this as an excuse for getting your money back. The bank should not be held responsible for peoples own stupidity. I am disabled but if i buy a lottery ticket and don't win i wouldn't dream of phoning up camalot and saying i am in a wheelchair and meant to put the winning numbers down but instead i put the wrong numbers down by mistake can i have my winnings please or at least my monney for the ticket back. your mistake you pay end of story. yes banks do make alot from charges but thats the way it goes do you think banks offer you there services for the good of the people they are a business not a charity. get over it.”

  • Profile image for This is SouthDevon

    by Sue, Paignton

    Monday, November 17 2008, 8:44AM

    “How disgusting that this couple have tried to use their disabilities to gain a sympathy vote. Shame on you both. You made a mistake - deal with it!”

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