Peter Cotterall of Ivel Gardens in Biggleswade was reimbursed for £123 that Halifax Plc charged him for going overdrawn on his bank account after 16 months of correspondence that saw him threaten to take the issue to the small claims court.

The bank says the reimbursement was a gesture of good will, but Mr Cotterall says the penalty charges that were issued when he was less than £100 in the red are illegal penalty fees.

And while he is more than happy with staff at the local branch, he decided to tackle the issue with Halifax Plc's head office.

He said: "I just felt the banks have got too much power and more importantly I think they abuse it. Even now it's only when people write and threaten legal action that they do anything about it."

He was dismayed that Halifax Plc refused to answer when he asked for a break down of the £30 charge on an overdrawn account.

He added: "I accept that I went overdrawn and that I cost money in that they had to send me a computerised letter and I would be happy to cover their costs.

"I feel that people should stand up to their banks where they possibly can and where they have been hard done by."

-- Biggleswade Chronicle