A Merseyside teacher has criticised Lloyds TSB for what he sees as its excessive handling fees.
Arthur Williams used a branch of the bank in West Kirby, in order to convert two £20 notes and a £10 into a new £50.This note was then to be used as a Christmas gift for his 15-year-old niece.
However, the bank informed him that there would be a handling fee of £5 for the conversion - which the teacher refused to pay.
Mr Williams said: "I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was absolutely stunned."It's a simple exchange of notes, how can they get away with charging £5 for a straight swap. There was no way I was going to pay the extra, it was ludicrous.
I left the bank immediately."Responding, a spokesperson for Lloyds TSB said: "Because the gentleman was not a customer we had to apply the standard administration charge for money changing." Any Lloyds TSB customer can of course change money at our branches free of charge."