Being handed over for cheque account!?

I got myself a cheque account at nedbank and shortly after ward lost my job. I wasn't aware that I had to go and close this account as I still wanted to use it once I get a job again, and no one informed me of this. When I got a job again nedbank refused to let me use this account as they said that it went dormant, in my mind this means that this account is done for and I went to another bank. Now 3 years later I hear that they've handed over the fees of that cheque account of R1200!!! This is for a service that I didn't even receive because nedbank refused to let me use this account. This is not acceptable, if it was for credit I would fully understand, but a cheque account is completely absurd! I have never heard of such a thing in my life...