Woman settles Halifax stress case

The bank is alleged to have contacted Ms Turner 33 times

A woman who had planned to sue a bank for alleged harassment over her overdraft has settled out of court.

Alison Turner, 31, from Plymouth, was seeking an injunction against Halifax plc and wanted damages for the stress and anxiety she said she suffered.

She forced the bank to agree to clear £775 off an overdraft bill after complaining the charges were unlawful.

The bank then allegedly contacted her 33 times in three months relating to unresolved issues over other debts.

The details of the settlement have not been released and both Ms Turner and her solicitor have said they cannot comment on the terms.

'Disrespectful' behaviour

A Halifax plc spokesman said: "We did settle before it went to court but in terms of the details that's between ourselves and Ms Turner."

Ms Turner said she felt bullied by the calls saying they were "unprofessional and disrespectful".

"The constant calling reduced me to tears at times," she said when she launched the court action in April.

Halifax agreed to clear the debt and to direct all correspondence to her solicitor, Nash and Co, on 23 January and the charges were removed on March 13.

But the bank allegedly tried to contact her 33 times, by phone and letter, between January 27 and March 13.

Nash and Co said the calls were in breach of what Halifax agreed and constituted harassment under the law.

A legal action was launched seeking an injunction, damages and costs.

The case had been due to be heard before a circuit judge in the County Court, in Exeter, on Monday.