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Original poster

to think that people should shut up about their bank charges? You incurred the charges, so pay up.

400 replies

AitchTwoOh · 09/05/2007 12:57

honestly, i've got a friend who just got £5500 back and he's off on holiday with the proceeds.

he's absolutely USELESS with money and knowingly incurred all teh charges, so why exactly does he deserve to get the money back? it's not a bloody savings account he's been paying into...

OP posts:
kslatts · 09/05/2007 13:57

Aitch, your friend is only getting back HIS money that the bank took unlawfully, I hope he has a fantastic holiday.

cathcart · 09/05/2007 13:58

unreasonable ? yes. i confess i went through a really difficult time in my life a few years ago when i could not get control of my money at all. i had a problem one or two months and was refused any help by my bank when i approached them to explain my situation (lifelong customer - good up until then). this led to a downward spiral that led to more and more charges made every month. because i went overdrawn to pay the charge for one month i was charged double the next. and so on for the next couple of years. each time i asked the bank to waiver the charge for just one month, which would have been enough to help me get back on track, they just offered me a loan or a bigger overdraft! i do not live beyond my means and would have been hard pushed to have cut back on anything at that time (no car, clothes, sky tv etc etc). i told no one, i was very ashamed and embarrassed. the only way io have managed to get back on track is because my grandad died and left me some money. soooo gutted to have had to use his hard earned money to pay off this shit and yes, i'm very pleased to have my bank charges claimed back. the one regret i have is that i didn't have the balls to ask a relative or friend to help bail me out that one month that started all this. i don't dare suggest that this was not my responsibility but i do think that the big banks will strip you of all they can, suck you in and keep you on a noose if you let them.

MrMariella · 09/05/2007 13:58

no aitch, I haven't claimed at all. any charges I have incurred ahve appeared valid to me.

But that isn't true for lots of people, who would like their money back.

Testiness is only from the reaction of the moral majority who are bringing their judgemental short-view of the issues. Banks earn nothing other than making your money work for them, and then charging you for the priviledge.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 09/05/2007 13:58

Quite, Stig. I have been lucky to be able to stay in my student overdraft but only with some good luck- many people IO know haven't been so (for instance my mate whose Dh hasnt paid maintenance since she went to Uni as she is apaprenlty neglecting the kids - all at senior school btw)

And as soon as you do get a job, they try and get you to take out graduate loands etc to keep you tied in. My ex got caught like that- he took the grad loan because he had to get a car for his first job, thn was stuck paying that and his student debt and thereby couldnt clear the OD.

Dh always laughs when he goes to his bank, now we have some cash, as when WTC effed up they wouldn't let him have £50 to feed the kids, now theya re always tryingt o sell him a mortgage. As he says, 'yeah right'

(Although current financial sit. also alrgely due to WTC now paying us twice a week by accident, which we have to save up for next year as we are overpaid and won't get anything then )

niceglasses · 09/05/2007 13:59

Anyway, if they are getting their money back they are unlikely to be moaning I would have thought? More likely buying you a nice drink, hence you don't have to listen to them anymore, hence where is the problem?

Methinks it may be the ones who are not claiming who are slightly testy...........

MrMariella · 09/05/2007 14:01

mrsflowerpot - sorry for the diction.

cathcart · 09/05/2007 14:02

oh and when i got my inheritance through the bank, in the most helpful, sweetest tones, kindly offered to help me with ways to invest my money with them. i said thanks but no thanks.

speedymama · 09/05/2007 14:02

I have no doubt that there are folk you have found themselves being charged for overdrafts that were outside their sphere of control and they deserve to receive a refund. However, there are a lot of people out there who can't be bothered to manage their financial affairs and they are now being rewarded for their incompetence.

What happens when these people start running up charges again?

MrMariella · 09/05/2007 14:05

"they are now being rewarded for their incompetence."

oh read the posts, speedy.

Stigaloid · 09/05/2007 14:06

"What happens when these people start running up charges again? "

In all honesty - why do you care?

I don't understand the problem. People have been overcharged to the tune of thousands of pounds and through consumer action, and the law, they are reclaiming what was illegally taken from them. It's people power and good for them.

If you've not received charges then lucky you. But if you had money taken from you illegally you would surely want to claim it back? Why resent those who do?

cathcart · 09/05/2007 14:07

i agree with you speedy, i feel this way about some people doing the whole iva thing too. i know two people who have gone through that procedure and ended up having thier debt cut in half. i wouldn't mind if they were victims of circumstance but these people just spent on going out,holidays etc.

hatrick · 09/05/2007 14:08

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rabbleraiser · 09/05/2007 14:08

That's the point, Speedy, that some of us on this thread have been trying to make. Naturally there are loads of cases where the banks have been out of order, and no one's denying it. Claiming specific overcharges back on matters outside your control is perfectly legitimate (and has bee legit for years). But feckless spending on credit cards (for instance) should not be rewarded. I don't quite understand why certain posters are getting so darned aggressive about it.

niceglasses · 09/05/2007 14:09

If you run up charges again and you claim again, they will close your account.

If the banks were on firmer, moral ground (and yes I mean moral) they would have taken it to court by now. They haven't even taken anyone to court - they know they would lose. They know its outrageous they have gotten away with it for so long.

Its like the CPS dropping a case because they know it will be thrown out.

kimi · 09/05/2007 14:11

DH1 will be going to the bank today to ask why they charged him £30 for being £23 over drawn, and asking them WHERE the £500 he had paid in the day before they said he was overdrawn went, As he KNOWS he WAS NOT overdrawn.

hatrick · 09/05/2007 14:11

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MellowMa · 09/05/2007 14:13

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PeachyChocolateEClair · 09/05/2007 14:13

I could see the benefits of banks refunding the amounts over the reasonable fees, but that wouldn't work- they'd have to spend far more plaoughing through, owrking out which fees aused the next fee and whether that was because of the whole fee or just the unfair amount- an enormous amount of paperwork that would cost far more.

banks close the accounts of anyone who claims twice, they often threaten it the first time! Its not a long term income scheme
The other factor is that having been OD and overcharged often has a knowck on effect in terms of credit, housing etc- so may people will have actually lost far more than the bank charges. Dh being made redundant when I was PG took so long to sort out with regards to benefits / insurance etc that we actually ahd to sell our house and move to rented.

IcingOnTheCake · 09/05/2007 14:13

I think your being unreasonable. There is no way the bank can justify the charges they give you. No way.

MellowMa · 09/05/2007 14:14

Message withdrawn

minkybiscuit · 09/05/2007 14:14

Before all this hoohah started I claimed back charges on my account for 2 letters sent to me whilst on honeymoon at £28 pounds each. I'd phoned the bank to explain I could'nt respond to their letters what with being on another continent and all - and provided evidence on the trip - the woman was very snooty and refused to help so I contact the manager in writing and they refunded my £84 - £28 too much - when I rang to inform them of this the manager insisted that I was to keep the extra £28 as goodwill! I couldn't believe it but didn't argue!

Just charges are fair enough ie the first letter charge was ok because it related to a cheque which took my acocunt £6 overdrawn - however, anymore than that is getting on for extortion and should be questioned.

minkybiscuit · 09/05/2007 14:15

Of course I meant 'account' and not the slight naughty word that I mistyped!!

donnie · 09/05/2007 14:15

yes you are being unreasonable. The banks are the bad guys here.

foxinsocks · 09/05/2007 14:15

I don't think you can hatrick otherwise I'd be making dh claim for the charges he incurred in the 80s and we'd probably never have to work again .

Dh has always lived off his overdraft. He has a job and lifestyle where he pays for things (travel, dinners, drinks) and then claims them back from work and often there's a big gap between the money going out and it coming back in thus leading to charges. He could not manage without the overdraft!

And it's the extent of the charges rather than the principle and also the fact that they've been able to get away with doing exactly what they want because they are Banks and We Need Them grrr.

expatinscotland · 09/05/2007 14:16

Sour grapes, Aitch.

Banks are robber barons.

We're going on a short holiday with our money back, too.