Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin is keen to speak to pensioners who may be experiencing problems with their bank, after one of her constituents was charged £65 for being accidentally overdrawn by a mere 18 pence. 

Ann immediately took up the case of Partick pensioner, Mrs Doris Pope, when she called at her home during one of the local MP's regular "Roving Surgeries".  

Doris said:

"£65 is a lot of money for me. I didn't know my account had gone over until bills started pouring in.
 
"I was just getting nowhere with the bank. When I complained about these unfair charges they tried to fob me off with a token £15, but I wasn't having any of it, so I went to speak to Ann."

Doris, 74, receives the state pension and didn't realize the account was overdrawn - or even that it could be overdrawn.  When she went to open an account to deposit savings, she was told she should open a current account with an ISA, even though she had never previously held an account which had the potential of going into overdraft. 

The bank had been ratcheting up the charges against Doris by £5 every single day that her account was overdrawn by just pennies. That's an interest rate in real terms of over 36,000%.

Commenting on Doris' experience, Ann said:

"I am astonished and frankly horrified that my constituent was charged not only a penalty of £15 but on top of that another charge of £50, leaving her facing a bill of £65.  That’s the equivalent of an interest rate in real terms of over 36,000 per cent.  

"It beggars belief that the bank only offered her £15 back when she complained.  I immediately contacted the bank to demand that they waive this ridiculous charge for such an obvious mistake."

Following Ann's demand for a bit of common sense from the bank, the charges have now been dropped and Mrs Pope has received a full apology from their head office. 

But Ann says banks shouldn't be offering overdraft debts to pensioners:

"I would have thought that a basic saver account would have been a much preferable option and the more socially responsible one given that Mrs Pope has never previously held a current account or one which had the potential of going into overdraft"

Doris added:

"I'm sure lots of people will have experienced unfair bank charges.  I want them to know about my case and get in touch with their local MP.  Ann was a real help.  She made sure I got all my money back and I want other people in my situation to know that they can get real help from the local MP. 
 
"I know one thing;- getting Ann on my side certainly changed their minds."

Standing up for local people like Mrs Pope is my number one priority.  If you or someone you know has had problems with unfair bank charges, I can help.  Please get in touch with my Constituency Office on tel. 0141 946 1300.