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Original poster

Claiming Bank Charges - Fresh Thread!!!

255 replies

Flamesparrow · 22/11/2006 09:36

Letter Templates Here

My statements for 2 out of my 3 Barclays accounts arrived today... time for happy highlighting!

OP posts:
FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 11/12/2006 09:01

Print off this letter here (you might have to sign up to see it), and send it to the bank with a cheque for £10... most return the cheque afaik with a big wad of statements.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 11/12/2006 09:38

Today I got (both addressed to me I might add when one is DH's account ) "We are sorry you have had to contact us about the level of service you have recieved..... we will update you as quickly as possible but no later than 8th Jan 2007"

Does it matter that that is 4 weeks rather than the 2 requested in my initial letter? Part of me is thinkin that it'll be easier for me to not think about it over xmas anyway?

hoolagirl · 11/12/2006 17:28

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain, ignore their timescale and stick to your own, get your court papers ready to lodge on day 14. This is their normal delaying tactic.

jambuttie · 12/12/2006 14:44

i posted the letter!!!!! now i wait for 40 days

CranberryJelley · 12/12/2006 22:49

I'm pretty sure my bank have cashed my £10 cheque.It's the only one I've written and it was cashed this week, so I should get my statements soon.

Bimblin · 13/12/2006 22:01

Keep going people, I just got a grand from Woolwich (nastiest bank ever) and got two grand from HSBC a few months ago. Didn't change bank accounts either, though I have written to Woolwich saying here's a cheque for the balance of the account minus the charges you've charged me in the three months whilst I've been taking you to court, close my account, waiting to see if they do.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 13/12/2006 22:09

Ooh that's promising - woolwich are part of barclays

Blondilocks · 13/12/2006 22:22

I'm surprised so many people haven't actually kept their bank statements. Thought it was advisable in case you need them for tax or whatever?

I'm not sure I agree with being able to claim back charges. Fair enough if they stop them, but in my opinion their policies have always been clear as to what they would do. It just seems like you can go overdrawn & not get penalised for it whereas people who struggle not to don't get any rewards for it staying in the black.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 13/12/2006 22:27

I kept 3 yrs worth of bank statements. My times for being charged - birth of both babies when Dh was in charge of money, and when I was attempting to do art college, work part time, live out of home for the first time, and suffering severe depression.

Sometimes there are reasons these things happen. Oh, and its not like I have been £100s over my limit - it was often £5 where the money just went slightly off, and then the bank felt it necessary to take £25 for 3 days following - where I might possibly have been able to scrape the £5 to put in, but not £30+

6beetrootsAmilking · 13/12/2006 22:41

I got 2 grand back from Barclays!

chocolaterobin · 13/12/2006 22:59

Can someone please tell me the average time this all takes from the first letter to a payout if succesful? Thanks

SparklyXmasKat · 13/12/2006 23:01

can anyone tell me the address they used for barclays?? Thanks

SparklyXmasKat · 13/12/2006 23:01

oh I have my statements, but need to now request the £875 back.

Bimblin · 14/12/2006 08:34

HSBC took about 3 months to get money back from, Woolwich took 6 months.

I don't mind being charged, but I do mind the cost being vastly out of proportion and normally levied on those in the worst situations.

In Norway people are charged for ALL bank transactions but its capped at say 10p a withdrawal, or 20p a cheque, with interest rates capped at 2%. Our system just drags the poorest into more debt.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 14/12/2006 12:38

Letter from Barclays - Offering me £225 - they have taken over £600 of mine, why the hell would I accept 1/2 of that??? They are STILL addressing the letters to just me too, which is very very bad seeing as our claims are for the joint account.

Nothing from DH's account yet.

They did enclose a prepaid envelope to accept their offer - which I will use to send them their next letter

TwinkleInSantasEye · 14/12/2006 12:55

Hi I've not read the whole of this thread (due to a small thing called DS) but I'd be grateful for some quick advice. Abbey recently charged DH over £100 for going over overdraft limit. This comprised £20 for going over, and three lots of £30 for paying direct debits that took him over the limit. The thing is that the money was there - a cheque had been paid in it just hadn't cleared yet. The cheque was from DH's Abbey business account! The delay in the money getting to DH's personal account was Abbey's fault because they have changed the terms of the business account and wouldn't let him cash a cheque. Would he be entitled to claim the £110 back?

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 14/12/2006 13:09

Yes. Any bank charges over £12 are illegal.

lulabelle · 14/12/2006 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 14/12/2006 17:17

I'm not sure how they've been getting away with it tbh... or why they're not dropping their charges below £12 now

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 14/12/2006 17:19

Yup DDs returned too afaik.

Theyr write and tell you that you agreed to the terms when you signed up, and you get to reply with

"I now understand that the regime of 'fees' which you have been applying to my account in relation to direct debit refusals, exceeding overdraft limits and so forth are unlawful at Common Law, Statute and recent Consumer regulations.

I would draw your attention to the terms of the contract which you agreed to at the time that I opened my account. It is an implied term of that contract that you would conduct yourselves lawfully and in a manner which complies with UK law."

hoolagirl · 15/12/2006 10:32

The charges are unlawful not illegal or we could have them arrested that would be funny!
Please check out this site
www.penaltycharges.co.uk
It gives you a step by step guide and a talk forum where there are moderators who will guide you through every step, and its free!
I used it for my claim and got over 2 grand back!

FLAMEinEckItsYuleAgain · 15/12/2006 11:30

Knew it was a word like that

SpaceCadet · 20/12/2006 12:42

RESULT!, initially lloydstsb refused to refund my charges, however after sending letter number 2 which informed them i would serve court papers..guess what??, theyve written to say they will refund the full amount!, woohoo! i know its only 340, compared to sonme people being owed thousands but im chuffed to bits

jambuttie · 22/12/2006 22:35

no news yet from RBS but i suppose it has only been about 10 days.

I have to allow 40 days for them to respond is that right?

scatterbrain · 24/12/2006 17:50

Just got a "without prejudice" offer from First Direct - I asked for £1389 which included interest and they are offering me £1010. I think I'll take it !!

Mind you offer was only for 10 wkg days and dated 14/12/06 - although it only arrived yesterday !

My Co-op VISA statements have arrived too - so now I can check through them too !

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