Further to first post.
I sent the email copied below, to the Customer Relations Manager of Caja Mar and copied it to the manager at our branch.
I had a prompt reply from my branch offering to ‘put things right.’
This morning I went to my branch and the manager cancelled the existing and future charges on the two accounts, transferred my son's D/Ds and S/Os to my account and cancelled that account, which was OK with me as I operate the account with POA anyway. Now instead of us paying a total of 180 euros p.a. on three accounts, there is no charge.
Incidentally, she said the idea which many of us have i.e. that pensioners who have their pension paid into their accounts cannot by law be charged maintenance charges, is not correct: It is a matter for the bank to decide.
This is my email, just for info:-
I have been banking with you for over 10 years, and until now, have been very satisfied with the services you provide. I have recommended the bank to friends and associates and also in on line in forums etc.
On my recommendation, my son and my wife also have accounts with you.
Just, by chance, this morning I checked my account on-line, and discovered that my account, as above, has been debited with 15 euros as a quarterly ‘Maintenance Charge.’
I called the office and was told that I should (but I did not) have received a letter informing me that all accounts will incur the charge, but that if I go to the office (I am 73, find somewhere to park and pay the parking fees, queue for maybe an hour) as a customer with my UK pension being paid into my account, I can have the charge cancelled, and thus revert to the contract conditions which I, and all your other customers with pensions being credited to our accounts, previously enjoyed.
I am applauded that you have decided to treat your customers in this way, and would ask that my concern be passed on to a senior member of your staff. ...................................
............................................ I intend consulting other banks to see what they offer and will then publish my findings on English web sites and (as a regular contributor of letters and articles to several papers) in the English Language newspapers with circulation throughout the Iberian Peninsular. However, anticipating there has been an error, in that the bank did not intend to impose the charges, I will wait 7 days for your reply before embarking on that course .
This message was last edited by johnzx on 19/06/2013.