[GAZZA B]

Just received a letter this morning, saying its going to start charging me for my account, but I was one of the people who applied for and got free banking for life. Can they do this? They have tried in the past and failed. What should I do?

[dazmond]

Suck it up or change bank.....

The problem is it'll be a ballache as no doubt most of your customers pay into it. I changed my bank a few years ago and it took a good 6 months for some customers to stop paying into my old bank even though it was closed(it bounced back) despite notifying all of them by letter/text and new slips.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Yea, had the same email, although I was paying £7.50 for my account which was still a bargain for a business bank.   They have put it up to £9.99. month which I've been expecting for a while as they have never increased their prices for over a decade.  It's still very good value.   

They have now added a charge for paying in cheques, think it's 70p per cheque.  But I stopped taking cheques years ago.

Suck it up, like we expect our customers to do when we increase prices.

A Lifetime Product only really refers to the period during which the product is on the market which is embedded into their terms somewhere.

If you want free banking just use your personal account.

[AuRavelling79]

Just received a letter this morning, saying its going to start charging me for my account, but I was one of the people who applied for and got free banking for life. Can they do this? They have tried in the past and failed. What should I do?

You say that they tried in the past and failed. What did you do for them to fail? Can't you do it again?

[AuRavelling79]

Also ...

My  business account with HSBC was charging £8 a month until June. I have been notified it's now F-o-C.

Also - the few cheques - less than five a month - I receive I pay into my joint personal account via mobile phone. So that's free instead of 50p.

[NBwcs]

Just received a letter this morning, saying its going to start charging me for my account, but I was one of the people who applied for and got free banking for life. Can they do this? They have tried in the past and failed. What should I do?

Me too, very annoying. As Daz says though, there is free business banking out there but changing your custards over will be a nightmare. And any new bank you change to might do the same in the near future and then you'll be doing it again. They did this a few years back but there was such a big outcry from their customers that they reversed it, cant see them backing down twice. I'll send them an email registering my feelings anyway, At least if everyone does so they will feel the weight of opinion. I have about 20 custards left who pay by cheque (mostly elderly) so it wont go down well but guess its time to stop the cheques.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Just an idea about cheques.  You could always give them the option after telling them you'll be stopping them, that they could always put the cheque in your personal name,  then pay into your personal account.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I'm with TSB and I have been paying £5 a month for years. If I leave £10k in the account then they will wave the fee. Not sure what will happen after the takeover.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I'm with TSB and I have been paying £5 a month for years. If I leave £10k in the account then they will wave the fee. Not sure what will happen after the takeover.

I bet they do.  £10k should be earning you £30 in interest a month rather than saving £5 in fees 🤣

[KS Cleaning]

As long as they aren’t going to charge you per transaction better to just suck it up. Let’s say it’s around £10 per month ( tax deductible ) it’s not gonna ‘ break the bank ‘ so to speak😉