HSBC CUSTOMERS' REFUND HOPES RUINED

The father-of-two paid his bank HSBC penalty fees of about £2,800 when he repeatedly went over his overdraft limit during a two year period.

He explained: “I was a typically bad bank customer and I just didn’t look. I was being charged £25 on direct debits and £150 for being over my overdraft limit. It was not uncommon for me in 2008 to be charged £200 a month.”

But Mr Walsh, 39, from Norwich, was angered and frustrated by his bank’s refusal to extend his overdraft limit to give him the breathing space to sort out his finances without incurring further penalties.

He said: “I am not saying I should have got away with it for free but it should have been fair, by which I mean a fair cost. You should have to pay something but it should be relative.

“For two years my family has been under tremendous strain and pressure from this and I know from talking to people I am not the only one who has been having all this pressure. It is absolutely disgraceful how aggressive the bank have been.”