Lloyds
Back about 12 years, maybe more, I was well overdrawn with Abbey so had the cunning plan of opening a second account with Lloyds and getting my wages paid into there so I actually had money to live on that wasn't being swallowed by an unauthorised overdraft on an overdraft.

After a few weeks I noticed that I was going overdrawn with Lloyds too, unauthorised. Turns out they hadn't put any kind of zero limit on the account so even with no cash in the account I could still withdraw money, albeit incurring charges at the same time.

I walked into the bank to chat to one of their staff and explained that I wanted them to put a limit on the account to stop me overdrawing through the hole in the wall. They told me they only do that to bad customers. No matter how much I begged and pleaded they refused. Even when I told them I was a bad customer and would continue to be until they limited it. They still refused.

So I continued to be a bad customer until they eventually did it. Probably cost me a fortune in charges.
(Jboy, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 1:59, 7 replies)

Did you get your carer to type this for you?
Because you are an idiot.
(St Sepulchre's Belle tolled for thee on, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 6:13, closed)

^ LOL
I'll steal that, although I am sure it's just a cliche I had not yet encountered.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 23 Jul 2009, 4:03, closed)

They have had an amazing facility for some time now
Where if you press 'Balance' it tells you how much money you have in the account. If you don't have any, you know not to take any more out.
(turtles head is touching cloth poked a dwarf on the forehead at, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 7:04, closed)

You know how
fmylife.com has a "you totally deseverd this" button..........
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 8:06, closed)

Get yourself ...
a Woman.

Hand her the reins of your finances.

Breathe deeply. Now ... isn't that soooo much better?
(Que?, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 10:58, closed)

Meh
With the benefit of hindsight and all that. I had major cash problems when I was younger, and at the age of 18 I had a lifestyle I couldn't afford. It's all very well seeing a zero balance and telling yourself not to withdraw any more, but the fact that I was in a lot of debt should indicate that back then my will power was somewhat lacking. Zero cash, need to eat, need to fund stupid lifestyle, fuck it - grab another tenner from next weeks wages. I merely asked the bank to help me get myself out of that situation. It worked in the end.
(Jboy, Wed 22 Jul 2009, 22:37, closed)

This is why banks are evil
They force you to take credit, knowing that enough people will. They make money off the weak and stupid, which I generally don't oppose (some notion of meritocratic capitalism), but you are /forced/ by the system to have a bank account.
Nuke the whole site from orbit.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Thu 23 Jul 2009, 4:06, closed)