FOS decisions / Overdraft
Overdraft
Financial Ombudsman Service final decisions, reproduced verbatim from the FOS published decisions register.
Decisions
57
Upheld
15
Not upheld
42
Avg redress
£386
Upheld complaints (15)
Decision DRN-6191404
A lender must conduct proportionate affordability checks before increasing credit limits and has a continuing responsibility to monitor usage patterns and act on signs of financial difficulty.
UpheldApr 2026Monzo Bank Ltd
DRN-6222264Lenders must carry out proportionate affordability checks before providing credit and must ensure lending remains sustainable over time.
UpheldMar 2026Santander UK Plc
DRN-4891397A lender must inform a borrower in a timely manner of all available options to renew or extend a facility before expiry, to allow the borrower a fair opportunity to apply.
UpheldJun 2024Barclays
DRN-4763536Banks must monitor customer overdraft accounts for signs of actual or potential financial difficulties and take appropriate action under FCA CONC rules.
UpheldRedress £750Apr 2024Decision DRN-6206589
Lenders must carry out proportionate affordability checks before increasing credit facilities and must recognise when borrowers are struggling with finances and over-reliant on credit.
UpheldDecision DRN-6277510
A bank cannot rely on incorrect information it provided to a consumer to avoid remedying the detriment caused by that misinformation appearing on the consumer's credit file and internal records.
UpheldDecision DRN-6231093
A lender must not increase an overdraft facility if the consumer is showing signs of financial difficulty and an inability to repay sustainably.
UpheldClydesdale Bank
DRN-6283107Lenders must complete reasonable and proportionate affordability checks before increasing credit limits, taking into account the borrower's individual circumstances and any material changes since the original application.
UpheldDecision DRN-6149115
Lenders must conduct reasonable and proportionate affordability checks before lending, taking into account the borrower's financial situation and existing debt obligations.
UpheldDecision DRN-6288314
A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks to ensure borrowing is sustainable without the borrower incurring financial difficulties or experiencing significant adverse consequences.
UpheldBarclays Bank UK PLC
DRN-3913683A bank must process agreed capital repayment holidays promptly and monitor its systems to identify when agreed payment holidays have not been processed, and must act reasonably in correcting resulting credit file damage.
UpheldRedress £300Santander UK Plc
DRN-6126370A lender must not continue to provide an overdraft facility when a consumer shows signs of financial difficulty and sustained heavy reliance on the overdraft with no realistic prospect of recovery.
UpheldNationwide
DRN-6054675Financial services providers must provide appropriate support and avoid discrimination when customers with vulnerabilities and difficult circumstances request help, and must not apply charges in a manner that causes financial hardship witho
UpheldThe Royal Bank of Scotland Plc
DRN-6061970A lender must ensure overdraft limit increases are based on a borrower-focused assessment of affordability, considering the customer's wider financial situation including bank statement evidence of over-reliance on credit and unsustainable
UpheldNationwide Building Society
DRN-5780795A lender must stop charging overdraft interest and fees when a customer shows signs of financial difficulty and sustained hardcore borrowing, and must offer forbearance rather than continue lending on the same terms.
Upheld
Not-upheld complaints (42)
Lloyds Bank PLC
DRN-6055275A lender must conduct responsible lending checks and annual affordability reviews when providing and maintaining overdraft facilities.
Not upheldApr 2026Santander UK Plc
DRN-4286869Banks are entitled to apply their normal commercial lending terms, including requiring personal guarantees, when a government-backed scheme facility expires and a customer applies for a new facility.
Not upheldDec 2023Decision DRN-6125976
A lender must carry out reasonable and proportionate affordability checks before providing credit, considering the borrower's income, expenditure, and ability to sustain repayments.
Not upheldTSB Bank
DRN-6194420A bank may register a Cifas 'misuse of facility' marker if it has clear, relevant and rigorous evidence of fraud or financial crime and reasonable grounds to believe such conduct occurred.
Not upheldSalad Finance Limited
DRN-6260539A lender must make proportionate affordability checks before approving credit, considering factors such as income, existing debt repayments, and disposable income, but is not required to obtain a full credit file if alternative checks provi
Not upheldBarclays Bank UK PLC
DRN-6278923A creditor's relationship with debtors arising from a credit agreement may be unfair under s.140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if it failed to carry out proportionate affordability checks that would have revealed irresponsible or unaffor
Not upheldDecision DRN-6221822
A gambling block functions by declining transactions to merchants identified as gambling businesses through merchant category codes assigned by merchants, not banks, and a bank is not required to intervene in authorised transactions solely
Not upheldDecision DRN-6269001
A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks before lending, which should be more thorough when a borrower is self-employed or other risk factors are present.
Not upheldEvergreen Finance London Limited
DRN-6275671Lenders must conduct proportionate affordability checks that assess sustainable repayment, not just technical ability to repay, with checks tailored to the circumstances of the lending.
Not upheldBarclays Bank UK PLC
DRN-6142128A credit relationship may be unfair under Section 140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if the lender failed to conduct proportionate affordability checks that would have revealed irresponsible lending.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6294539
A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks before lending, but can reasonably rely on verified income and credit information showing the borrower can afford repayments.
Not upheldDecision DRN-5923027
Banks may process scheduled payments at any time on the scheduled date, not necessarily within business hours, and consumers must ensure sufficient funds on that date.
Not upheldLloyds Bank PLC
DRN-5951453A bank acts fairly in recording a default when it has sent appropriate collection correspondence to the correct registered address and the account remains in breach.
Not upheldMonzo Bank Ltd
DRN-5992906Overdrafts are repayable on demand and reporting to credit reference agencies is a contractual obligation clearly set out in account terms and conditions.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6070598
An overdraft is repayable on demand and a lender may reduce or remove it at any time, provided reasonable notification is given.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6258776
Banks are not required to manually monitor customer accounts for gambling transactions absent fraud suspicion or clear evidence of financial difficulty.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6273395
A lender acts fairly in providing credit where affordability checks show the borrower can sustainably repay the loan and the stated purpose is reasonable, even if pre-lending checks were not proportionate.
Not upheldJaJa Finance Ltd
DRN-6275491A lender must show forbearance in cases of financial hardship, but vulnerability alone does not trigger this obligation without observable signs of financial difficulty.
Not upheldNationwide Building Society
DRN-6259830Lenders must complete proportionate affordability checks before approving credit, taking into account the borrower's income, credit history, and ability to sustain repayments.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6050337
A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks and periodically review overdraft usage to ensure continued affordability, but usage patterns alone do not evidence financial difficulty if the customer can return to credit after r
Not upheldFirst Response Finance
DRN-6193061A lender must conduct reasonable and proportionate affordability checks, with enhanced scrutiny required when credit file evidence suggests financial difficulties.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited
DRN-5992777A consumer bears responsibility for monitoring their account to verify that pending transactions have been debited before spending funds, particularly when the available balance may be misleading.
Not upheldEvergreen Finance London Limited
DRN-6217897A lender must carry out reasonable and proportionate affordability checks to ensure the consumer can repay the loan sustainably without further borrowing.
Not upheldHSBC UK Bank
DRN-6072642Lenders must carry out proportionate affordability checks before lending, assessing the borrower's ability to repay sustainably without causing financial difficulty.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6220166
A lender must carry out proportionate affordability checks before lending, with the level of scrutiny depending on factors such as loan size and borrower circumstances.
Not upheldDecision DRN-6242389
A lender must conduct reasonable and proportionate affordability checks before providing credit, but is not required to obtain bank statements or investigate evidence of gambling if the standard checks show no signs of financial difficulty.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited
DRN-6256628A bank must identify and monitor customers with a pattern of repeat overdraft use and take appropriate action when there are signs of actual or potential financial difficulties, but may continue providing credit where the customer has not r
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited Company
DRN-6153652When a joint account holder enters an IVA, the lender may default the entire account and recall any arranged overdraft without notice to the other parties, as they are jointly liable under the account terms.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited Company
DRN-6099085A bank may remove an expired overdraft facility without providing additional notice if the expiry date was clearly communicated to the customer.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited Company
DRN-5755023A bank is not acting unfairly in relying on the address held on its business profile for sending important notices, even if that address is outdated, where the responsibility for updating business details rests with the customer.
Not upheldMonzo Bank Ltd
DRN-6158623A missed payment can be accurately reported when an account exceeds an agreed overdraft limit for more than 30 days, even without an explicit fixed repayment date, provided the consumer was notified of the requirement to bring the account w
Not upheldBarclays Bank UK PLC
DRN-6146853A bank may fairly load a default on a credit file if the consumer has been clearly notified of the debt, the deadline for repayment, and the intention to report to credit reference agencies.
Not upheldSantander UK Plc
DRN-6228276A lender can withdraw an overdraft facility in accordance with the terms of the account agreement, provided it acts reasonably given the circumstances.
Not upheldMonzo Bank Ltd
DRN-6052368A lender's creditworthiness checks must be reasonable and proportionate to the type and amount of credit, and approval of overdraft limit increases is not unreasonable if the consumer's circumstances have not changed materially during a sho
Not upheldNationwide Building Society
DRN-6104180Lenders are obliged to report accurate information to Credit Reference Agencies, including unarranged overdrafts reported as missed payments, and customers have responsibility to monitor their accounts and stay within agreed limits.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited Company
DRN-6204195A lender's relationship with a borrower is only unfair under s140A Consumer Credit Act 1974 if the lender irresponsibly provided credit or allowed unsustainable use without taking action to remedy it.
Not upheldNationwide Building Society
DRN-6186558A lending relationship may be unfair under s140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if the creditor irresponsibly provided credit or allowed continued use where the facility became unsustainable or harmful.
Not upheldTSB Bank plc
DRN-6244609Firms must communicate information to customers in a way which is clear, fair and not misleading (FCA Principle 7), including notice of intention to register a default on a credit file.
Not upheldLloyds Bank PLC
DRN-6148375Banks are entitled to apply their lending policies consistently and implement automated fraud prevention measures without unreasonable interference.
Not upheldSantander UK Plc
DRN-5665690A bank is not automatically obligated to intervene with vulnerable customers absent clear request for support or explicit evidence of harm from specific account behavior.
Not upheldNational Westminster Bank Public Limited Company
DRN-6218166A bank must not lend irresponsibly or allow a customer to use an overdraft facility in a way that becomes unsustainable or harmful, as this would render the lending relationship unfair under section 140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Not upheldNationwide Building Society
DRN-6228691A lending relationship under s140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is unfair if the creditor's exercise of rights or actions caused detriment to the debtor, assessed across the whole history of the relationship.
Not upheld