[Paul Coleman]

Apparently, the advertising term "free banking forever" actually means "free banking until we feel like finding a way to removing it".
I already have my complaint number with Santander and have my complaint logged with the FSA.
They removed the facility for new customers a year or so back.  I think they will have a fight on their hands when they try removing it for the rest of us.

[Carl2009]

Hi

Where did you see this information? I bank with them too.

[SB Cleaning]

I was planning on switching from natwest to santander, what are they charging?

I thought cheques and bacs were free

[Paul Coleman]

Hi

Where did you see this information? I bank with them too.

I got a letter in the post this morning.  It was the usual garbage where they try to dress it up as if they are doing you a favour.  Many others got the letter too as I checked elsewhere on the internet.
It should be noted that a complaint to the ombudsman about an issue costs the banks £500 per individual case - though there is a filtering mechanism in the ombudsman system to try to prevent trivial complaints going through.  So they want to start charging me £7.50 a month do they? <whistles innocently>.

[ok cleaning]

Same here they say they improving tings and wiil start charging  £ 7.50  a month thats not on.

[Paul Coleman]

I was planning on switching from natwest to santander, what are they charging?

I thought cheques and bacs were free

Cheques (within the pre-set limits) and BACS will remain free - but the account will incur a fixed charge of £7.50 a month.  I'm not arguing that this is a bad deal.  As far as business banking goes, it compares favourably.  My point is that when I started this account, I did it on the basis of "free business banking forever" - their words, not mine (within the pre-set parameters).
IMO Santander will experience a big backlash if they try to make this one stick.  Presumably they will be happy to lose accounts because those who use them (such as myself) tend to use them because they can do so without charge or with very little charge.  Therefore, they would only be losing customers who cost them money.  Due to their past incompetence, they have already lost my mortgage and my life insurance.  A pity really as I've nothing left to bargain with.  However, that ombudsman fee looks tempting.  Every little glitch will bring a formal complaint and I will reject any offer they make.

[Paul Coleman]

Anyone affected by this should raise a formal complaint with Santander and get a complaint ID number.
Also, I checked with the Financial Services Authority and this does seem to be within their remit.

The complaint form is on their website at:

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/promo/report/form.shtml

The more complaints they receive, the more likely that this may be prevented.
Don't leave it to other people.
Although £7.50 a month isn't huge, the principle is that they are trying to break the promise that got them so much business in the first place.  If they get away with this, the charges will soon escalate.
Until a few months ago, Santander only charged a tiny amount on personal account overdrafts.  Then Halifax started charging £1 a day whatever the overdrawn amount.  It didn't take long for Santander to follow.  They started with 50p per day and limited it to 15 (I think) days in any charging month.  Total maximum of £7.50 a month.  Once they realised they could get away with it, the charge went up to £1 a day with a 20 day ceiling - a maximum monthly charge of £20.  Trust me, if these vermin get away with this initial break of promise, higher charges will follow.

[SB Cleaning]

I was planning on switching from natwest to santander, what are they charging?

I thought cheques and bacs were free

Cheques (within the pre-set limits) and BACS will remain free - but the account will incur a fixed charge of £7.50 a month.  I'm not arguing that this is a bad deal.  As far as business banking goes, it compares favourably.  My point is that when I started this account, I did it on the basis of "free business banking forever" - their words, not mine (within the pre-set parameters).
IMO Santander will experience a big backlash if they try to make this one stick.  Presumably they will be happy to lose accounts because those who use them (such as myself) tend to use them because they can do so without charge or with very little charge.  Therefore, they would only be losing customers who cost them money.  Due to their past incompetence, they have already lost my mortgage and my life insurance.  A pity really as I've nothing left to bargain with.  However, that ombudsman fee looks tempting.  Every little glitch will bring a formal complaint and I will reject any offer they make.

£7.50 i can handle, i got charged £48 with natwest last month!!!

[Mike55]

I've not received any such letter?

Is it only for accounts opened within the last year or across the piece?

[Carl2009]

I've not receieved a letter either, but i'm with Paul on this. I'll be complaining to the FSA. I opened mine Sep 2010.

[Steve_c]

As i'm a FSB Member i will be switching to CO OP Business Banking 100%
 free.

[Carl2009]

See this thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4074653

[Carl2009]

See also: http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1196151412542,CFSweb/Page/Business-CurrentAccounts?WT.svl=nav3

[Richard iSparkle]

I was planning on switching from natwest to santander, what are they charging?

I thought cheques and bacs were free

Cheques (within the pre-set limits) and BACS will remain free - but the account will incur a fixed charge of £7.50 a month.  I'm not arguing that this is a bad deal.  As far as business banking goes, it compares favourably.  My point is that when I started this account, I did it on the basis of "free business banking forever" - their words, not mine (within the pre-set parameters).
IMO Santander will experience a big backlash if they try to make this one stick.  Presumably they will be happy to lose accounts because those who use them (such as myself) tend to use them because they can do so without charge or with very little charge.  Therefore, they would only be losing customers who cost them money.  Due to their past incompetence, they have already lost my mortgage and my life insurance.  A pity really as I've nothing left to bargain with.  However, that ombudsman fee looks tempting.  Every little glitch will bring a formal complaint and I will reject any offer they make.

£7.50 i can handle, i got charged £48 with natwest last month!!!

HSBC charged me over £90! 

[Paul Coleman]

I was planning on switching from natwest to santander, what are they charging?

I thought cheques and bacs were free

Cheques (within the pre-set limits) and BACS will remain free - but the account will incur a fixed charge of £7.50 a month.  I'm not arguing that this is a bad deal.  As far as business banking goes, it compares favourably.  My point is that when I started this account, I did it on the basis of "free business banking forever" - their words, not mine (within the pre-set parameters).
IMO Santander will experience a big backlash if they try to make this one stick.  Presumably they will be happy to lose accounts because those who use them (such as myself) tend to use them because they can do so without charge or with very little charge.  Therefore, they would only be losing customers who cost them money.  Due to their past incompetence, they have already lost my mortgage and my life insurance.  A pity really as I've nothing left to bargain with.  However, that ombudsman fee looks tempting.  Every little glitch will bring a formal complaint and I will reject any offer they make.

£7.50 i can handle, i got charged £48 with natwest last month!!!

Sure thing.  A fixed charge of £7.50 a month is not a bad deal.  However, anyone who opened one of these accounts until about a year ago was promised "free business banking forever."  The other issue is that if they get away with this, the charges will rapidly escalate.  They have a recent history of this type of thing with the personal accounts.

[mikecam]

I'm with Natwest Business Banking, apparently our accounts have been (or are in the process of being) switched over /sold to Santander. The £7.50 per month flat fee looks attractive to me at the minute.

[traps7]

That co-op account is only free for members of the FSB. How much i that?

[Dave.]

It think the FSB is currently £150 the first year, then £120 per year after that.

Still cheaper than the bank charges I'm paying, and I could use my local post office to pay in

Plus the other FSB benefits

[Carl2009]

Yes but with FSB you get true free banking (saving £7.50 x 12 = £90 on Santander) plus they give you an annual "loyalty bonus" of £25. So that's £115, so real cost is £35 - not bad for the benefits it affords.

[KS Cleaning]

I used to be with RBS,i switched to santander about 3 months ago and for me the £7 50 per month deal is superb value as I am getting more and more customers paying by faster payment. With RBS it would be £55 and Lloyd's about £65