A young mum says her bank treated her like a criminal when she challenged it about unfair charges.

Joanne Mewse was told to pay £35 for going just 30p overdrawn.

Her monthly direct debit for car insurance was due and took her fractionally past her overdraft limit.

Lloyds TSB said it would have to make the charge to cover costs of dealing with the problem.

When she went into her branch in East Grinstead to complain, staff threatened to call police.

She said: "I was more cross about the charge for such a little amount.

"If I had gone overdrawn by £10 or £20 I could understand it, but to make that charge for 30p is just ridiculous.

"I went in to the bank to sort it out but the man was not listening and didn't seem interested.

"It was more like he wouldn't stop the charge rather than he couldn't stop it. I don't think he wanted to back down in front of the other customers.

"I get £30 child tax for my son and told him he was effectively taking away my child's money.

"I said if he wouldn't remove the charge, I would stay there until he did."

She said the bank worker threatened to call police if she did not leave.

Miss Mewse, 27, said: "It was a complete over-reaction on his part.

"Can you imagine how stupid he would have looked if he had got the police to come and throw me out with my son?

"The man walked away from me and left me standing there."

She was prepared to wait but left when 17-month-old Adam started getting fractious.

Miss Mewse, of The Dell, added: "Other customers heard what was going on and supported me saying it was a ridiculous stance to take over 30p.

"I even got 30p out of my purse and offered it.

"I wanted to know how the bank could justify charging £35 for a letter, an envelope and stamp. It doesn't cost that much to write to customers."

A spokesman for Lloyds TSB said: "We do sympathise with Joanne's situation and have already helped her on several occasions in recent months.

"The fee on her account was justified but we have, as another gesture of goodwill, agreed to refund it.

"We hope she will now seek independent advice to help get her finances in order.

"The suggestion of police involvement was probably an over-reaction to what was clearly a difficult situation and the intention certainly wasn't to cause upset."

The Office of Fair Trading is investigating whether banks are breaking the law by charging so much.

It is expected to say the rip-off charges do not reflect the true amount it costs to administer overdrafts.

The Argus has been running a Beat The Banks campaign against unfair charges.

Visit www.theargus.co.uk/news/reclaimyourbankcharges for a free guide to how to claim your money back.

Have you managed to get a refund from your bank? Tell Rachel Fitch on 01273 544536 or leave your comments below.