THE MORIARTY TRIBUNAL 2nd March 1999

 

Wow!   What a response.   Thank you for all your contributions.   Watch this space for further news. ( Response so far from them )

 

Actual case

 

I'd like to tell you about my dealings with a large Irish Bank.

A number of years ago I used to own a small business in Ireland.   Several years into running this business I borrowed £6000 from the Bank, normal conditions, to be repaid by direct debit once a month.   Several months later the bank started to return my cheques unpaid to my suppliers, my bank account had become overdrawn.   On checking my statements I noticed that the bank had been debiting my account on a weekly basis for the loan repayments.

According to a written agreement from the Bank the loan was to be debited once a month from my account.   I quickly brought this to the bank's attention and they said they would look into it, several weeks passed and I had not been contacted by the Bank but they had continued to return my cheques and finally closed my bank account.

When I made contact with the particular branch I was dealing with they told me it was no longer in their hands and had been passed on to their debt recovery department.   Now this was around 12 weeks after I first noticed their mistake, and when I pointed out the mistake to the debt recovery department it looked like I might get some satisfaction.   I had at this stage a total debt of £4500 with the bank.

Breakdown of this debt of £4500, £950 bank charges, £700 overdraft, £2850 loan balance.   My business suffered considerably with the restrictions on my finances at this time, having lost my credit facilities with my suppliers because the bank had 'bounced' my cheques.   I was unfortunately left with no option but to cease trading.

Now a cycle began of me receiving letters demanding payment of the debt every six months or so, always with a different name on the end of them.   The interesting thing is I don't think I ever dealt with the same official twice, it's almost as if the buck doesn't want to stop with anybody.   I would make contact with the Bank, ask about the mistake on the bank loan, and as usual it would be the first time it had been brought to the attention of the official dealing with me.   This cycle has lasted for several years, but recently a bank official turned up at my parent's home late one evening inquiring about payment of £6000 now due on personal guarantee.   My elderly parent found this very intimidating.   I immediately contacted the official and arranged to meet with them at their office, well need I say it, but again the bank's mistake on the loan repayment was news to them.   As far as they were concerened it must have happened at branch level, and they would look into it and contact me.

The original debt of £4500 has grown in to over £6500, a break down of the increase is not available for I have not received any account details since the debt was handed over to the debt recovery department some years ago.   I am still patiently waiting to hear from somebody from the Bank, it's over 1 year since my last meeting.

( Response so far from them )

If you have been given the runaround by an Irish bank and would like to publish your story on the Internet
then please email it to: info at alliedirishbanks.com, discretion assured.

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