Mother sues over 33 calls from bank
By Richard Savill
Daily Telegraph Last Updated: 2:22am BST 19/04/2007
A mother is suing a bank for allegedly harassing her over charges incurred in connection with her overdraft.
Alison Turner, 31, claims that she suffered anxiety and stress because the Halifax contacted her 33 times after it had allegedly agreed not to pursue her.
Miss Turner's solicitor began negotiations in January to remove £775 of charges, which had been imposed after she went over her overdraft limit.
Neil Mercer successfully argued on Miss Turner's behalf that a string of £30 charges had unlawfully penalised her. On Jan 23, Miss Turner said the bank agreed to stop contacting her, but the debt was not cleared until March 13. In the interim, she claimed that the collections department contacted her 33 times by telephone and letter.
Miss Turner, a personal assistant from Plymouth, alleged the "unprofessional and disrespectful" calls "at all times of day and night" left her so stressed she suffered emotional problems.
She has begun a civil action under the Protection from Harassment Act
1997, seeking an injunction against the bank to prevent further calls and damages. The case is due to be heard at Exeter county court on May- Mr Mercer claimed the continued contact had caused "significant alarm and distress".
He said: "What you have here is the case of a woman who had hundreds of pounds worth of charges put on her account for going a few pounds overdrawn.
"The bank subsequently agrees to remove the charges, but in the interim period the customer services department and the collections team seem to have no contact.
"She was constantly harangued for money she no longer owed. The calls were coming at night, in the morning and at weekends."
Miss Turner said: "There has been a lot in the news about banks not being allowed to charge excessive overdraft penalties. It made me think and I took legal advice."
Halifax said: "We cannot comment on any individual case in advance of a court hearing.
"When accounts are in arrears we make calls to customers and try to make arrangements.
"If there are other circumstances involved we will always consider them."