From: "Mike" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Alliance + Leicester ISA exit fee
Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 21:14:00 +0100

I am in an email exchange with A+L over the £25 exit fee they charge when
you transfer money out of their Direct Mini Cash ISA. I am basically saying
that I don't think they have very good grounds to charge this fee and I'd
like some opinions from anybody out there to say that my argument, which is
outlined below is a load of spherical objects or whether there is something
to it.

My argument revolves around point 5.5 in their T+ C's which basically states
that an exit fee '...may be payable'. I am focusing in on the word 'MAY',
because to me it implies there are circumstances where the fee may NOT be
payable. In fact I argue that they could could just as easily insert the
phrase 'MAY NOT' be payable and still be just as definitive about whether an
exit fee should be charged or not.

I have stated to them that I might refuse to pay this exit fee because they
have not stated the circumstances within their T + C's when this fee is
payable or not. I have gone on to say that if I were to transfer my money
out from their organisation how would I know that
the circumstances under which I transfer my money out are the exact
circumstance under which a fee is payable. I would clearly want to know the
other circumstance in which a fee is not payable so that I could avoid
paying it. As they don't clarify the circumstances under which this fee is
payable, they therefore do not have any basis to charge this fee, as they
have not defined when a fee is or is not payable.

I hope you get the gist of what I am trying to convey here. It basically
boils down to the implications and interpretation of the word 'MAY'. Any
thoughts anyone? Just to let you know that they have always responded to my
email the day after I send my next email to back up my argument on this
issue. At the momnet it's been 2 days without hearing from them. Either
they're ignoring my email or perhaps they are scurrying around trying to
find a sensible get out clause. What do you think?