Arghhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the comments guys, and yes, I have had some opinions and grievances over the last three weeks. I just haven't had the time to say anything about them. I'll give you a clue... BANKS. There, that should tell you everything.

Basically, quite recently, I have had a couple of direct debits returned by my bank and have been charged £30 a time for this 'priveledge'. I have been arguing with my bank (The Nationwide... not to mention any names) that these charges are unfair as they will cause financial hardship (and have effectively cost me in the region of £140 overall - not to mention the bills that still have to be paid), and that if they had given me the £100 buffer zone overdraft facility that I have asked for on several occasions then this matter would not have arose (and there would have been very little in the way of charges as I would only have used the buffer zone for one day, on two occasions).
One of the direct debit returns was caused by insufficient funds (but that company usually takes it's DD a few days late when I would have been fine), and the second by my ISP (OneTel, now TalkTalk) as they have changed there collection date when TalkTalk took over OneTel and haven't informed me directly. I only discovered this change after reading their terms and conditions which were upadted in June 2006 (when TalkTalk took over). So I am also arguing the toss with them, and am currently waiting for their reply to my last email.

As a result of all this hassle, and the fact that Nationwide are closing there local sub-branch that I use I have been looking at alternative banking suppliers. I am still currently looking, and so far only seem to met with predujice and discrimination due to the fact that I am a full time carer for my wife and son, and thus am not considered employed. The fact that my monthly income is close to most working poeples incomes doesn't matter, even though if I was working and earning the income I currently get I would have everything thrown at me (think Credit Cards, Cheque Book, Overdraft etc.). I will let you know how this pans out.

In the meantime I am now writing to the banking ombudsman about the way Nationwide have treated this whole affair, and will also be cancelling the majority of my Direct Debits and returning to quarterly bills. At least that way I'll be in control of my money, and not the banking system which I and many others have been forced to use against our wishes.

I'll keep you informed.