Westpac Overdrawn Fee - Unfairly Charged

Lbankrpredatory on 06/04/2024 - 20:23

I have Westpac Choice and Westpac Life bank accounts but as of Nov-23, the balances in those accounts have been $0.

I didn't know I still had scheduled monthly transfers on those accounts to other regular bank accounts that I had. These were not direct debits, just regular internet banking transfers. I assumed I had cancelled them but maybe I didn't. Between Nov-23 to Feb-24, those scheduled monthly payments didn't occur (presumably because I had no money in the account). However, in the month of Mar-24, it randomly occurred, despite having no money in the account and 3 days later I was hit with a overdrawn fee and interest. Upon noticing this in early Apr-24, I quickly transferred money into that account to bring it to a $0, although I suspect Westpac will charge me interest again next month due to the 6 days of being negative.

Do I have grounds to dispute the overdrawn fee? I'm okay with paying for the interest in principle, since I received interest in another account. My reasoning for disputing the overdrawn fee is:
(1) Had I made a manual transfer, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't go through, as my account had no money. In my mind, scheduled payments should act in the same way as a manual transfer, it just strips the need to use my banking app every month
(2) No transfers occur for 3 months, creating an expectation that none will occur in the future. Why did it suddenly happen in March/
(3) I had never received any notification, email, text, mail or other communication that my balance was negative. This would've kept happening if I wasn't diligent and didn't notice in early Apr.

Please let me know your thoughts!

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Comments

  • CodeXD on 06/04/2024 - 20:25
    +7

    Westpac Overdrawn Fee - Unfairly Charged

    It sounds like fair charge to me.

    Log in to westpac account and click on choice. Account settings -> Account -> Manage overdraw preferences

    https://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/bank-accounts/ma…

  • Godric on 06/04/2024 - 20:25
    +1

    Sounds fair

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/04/2024 - 20:31
      +1

      Makes sense. Cheers.

      • djkelly69 on 07/04/2024 - 15:05
        +1

        Doesn't make cents though. Cheers.

  • Happyd on 06/04/2024 - 20:37

    Sounds fair but doesn’t hurt to ask. Westpac customer service have been pretty good in the past in reversing fees as a goodwill gesture.

  • jv on 06/04/2024 - 20:42
    -1

    Do I have grounds to dispute the overdrawn fee?

    No

  • nige0090 on 06/04/2024 - 21:56
    +3

    Give them a call.
    When my ubank "sweeps" were disabled, my WBC CC was not paid, and I got hit with some charges.
    I called them up and the CSR was great. I explained why the payment was not made, he checked my account, made some comment about me being a long standing customer and offered to refund the fees before I even requested it.

  • JimmyF on 06/04/2024 - 22:27
    +3

    Westpac Overdrawn Fee - Unfairly Charged
    Please let me know your thoughts!

    Not unfairly charged, seems without their terms for the account. So not their fault you had no money in the account and still had transfers to the account.

    You can give them a call and see what they say, but if you think you should go all Karen on them for it, then yeah nah.

  • burningrage on 06/04/2024 - 22:50

    I know exactly how you feel.

    Prior to I think January 2024, when my credit card was about to due, it would send a notification.

    Then in January 2024, it just stopped and I missed the deadline by 1 day and I ended up paying missed payment fee and interest for that period only.

    Upon logging into Westpac online, I noticed the whole interface has changed and lo and behold, notification was set to off and I had to restarted again.

    Couldn't be bothered to contest given it is the only bank that has been generous enough to keep giving me interest free balance transfer so I relented.

  • tsunamisurfer on 06/04/2024 - 23:07
    +2

    Do I have grounds to dispute the overdrawn fee?

    So you recognised you had no money.

    You recognised you left active transfers in the account.

    You were charged an overdrawn fee because like, umm, you were overdrawn?

  • SmiTTy on 07/04/2024 - 07:42
    +1

    If its the first time u were charged, I think it should be quite easy for them to waive it. Esp if you've been a long time westpac customer

    Be nice and courteous, don't blame them but ask them why it happened that way and it caught u off guard.

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