Ongoing money problems caused by repayment worries led to chequebook theft
I called Santander to cancel all my chequebooks as I'd lost them. The bank assured me this was done and everything was in order. Two weeks later I noticed that a cheque for �100 had been cashed. Santander found only one cheque book had been cancelled.
I asked them to block it and they assured me it was done. They couldn't give me my money back at once because of the investigation, but at least they gave me a �50 ex gratia payment to get me back in credit.
A week later I noticed that another �100 cheque had been cashed. I called the bank in tears. The person I spoke to assured me that they would put back my �200 by the end of the day.
I logged into my account the next morning. Not only was the �200 not there but a third �100 had been cashed. This time they said it was a technical problem. I said it was their mistake and they had to refund the money that day. I also asked why they cashed a cheque for �100 when I had only �14 in my account. They couldn't answer.
My account has been frozen and I am left overdrawn with no money to feed my two-year-old daughter. I just want my �300 back. I am desperate. SL, London
This is a sad story but, you have since admitted, it isn't entirely true. I asked Santander to contact you, then you decided to come clean. The real story is that your chequebook had not been stolen and it was you who cashed the three �100 cheques.
Two years ago you took out a payday loan with The Moneyshop after your partner lost money gambling. You have managed to repay the interest every month since then but still owe the original debt. No wonder you were desperate.
In April you wrote out cheques to The Moneyshop and then asked Santander to cancel them, believing the cheques would bounce and the lender would contact you to arrange a repayment plan. But the cheques could not be cancelled, even though you didn't have enough money in your account, because you had used a cheque guarantee card. At least that means The Moneyshop is satisfied.
Santander accepts you panicked and has granted you a monthly reducing overdraft for �300 with no charges and no interest to pay. The overdraft reduces by �50 every four weeks. Santander will not put any of this information on your credit file, which is a great help, but it will close your account when the overdraft is repaid and you will have to find another bank.
You can email Margaret Dibben at your.problems@observer.co.uk or write to Margaret Dibben, Your Problems, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU and include a telephone number. Do not enclose SAEs or original documents. The newspaper accepts no legal responsibility for advice.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/22/santander-deceived-payday-loan
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