Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges Discussion Area

A question about : Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges Discussion Area

Please note this thread is now closed (not because of a new article - the thread got so long it was difficult to open). It's continued in article discussion part II

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the new updated article

How to Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges
(this discussion replaces the discussion from the prior article)

To discuss or ask a question about this article: click reply

Please note if you want to discuss 'the rights and wrongs of reclaiming charges' this isn't the place - this is a practical thread instead do it here

Best answers:

• Welcome to anyone coming to this brand new board after reading Martin's updated article on the Main Site
  To any users who haven't had an answer to their question on the old discussion thread please feel free to place it here and hopefully someone will have an answer for you.
  If you want to ask a question about a specific bank please check the boards to see if you can find a dedicated thread to your bank and pop your question on there.
  Don't forget to put your Success story on this thread when you complete your claim and good luck.
• I currently have a basic online Halifax account and am happy with the service I get. Online banking is great for knowing your balance at any time.
  My question is are there any other basic bank accounts that offer online banking, debit card (Visa Electron is absolutely fine) and a cheque book for those rare times when you still need to pay cheques (school trips, EBAY etc). I am not looking for cheque guarantee card nor overdraft.
  I plan to go sue Halifax for between Ј1500 and Ј2000 over the last 6 years and like one of the contributors above I may need 28 days to enable my salary to be transfered by BACS monthly and maintain direct debit and standing order payments
• Alliance and leicester, apply on lline.
• On the 31st Oct I went overdrawn by 50p due to a direct debit coming out of my account, that very same day i went into the bank and credited my account with hundred pounds.
  I presumed cos i had put the money in the same day i wouldnt get charged... I was wrong i was charged 55 quid, i went into the Abbey and argued that it was unfair I should be charged as i credited my account immediatly.
  I was told my a female member of staff that under no circumstances could she clear the charge it was in my terms and conditions that the full amount for the DD should be in at the start of the working day and it was in her policies and procedures that no bank staff could wavier charges, she told me the charge would not leave my account for at least a month.
  I checked my account on the 11th Nov and found that the charges had come out which made me overdrawn again... hence another 55 quid charge.
  I went straight into the bank and this time spoke to a male member of staff who held the same position as the first female staff I spoke to, I explained again that I thought these charges were harsh and unfair. To start with he agreed that I had been unfairly treated and he himself thought it was discusting as I was only originally overdrawn by 50p.
  He said it was in his policies and procedures that he only had the power to clear 20 quids worth of the charge, after a further 20mins debate he then changed his mind and decided he now did have the power to clear the full 110 quids worth of charge.
  I would love to go to Abbeys training days and find out just what they train their staff as thay all seem to have different ideas on what their banks policies and procedures are. Anyway at least I did manage to get my refund without the hassle of sending letters etc. Good luck to anyone else with problem.
• I am helping my sister to reclaim charges from Abbey (back to 2002). I applied using the template letter but what I got back was useless. Lists and lists of spends but no info on the charges incurred, or the balances. I don't want to let that deter me... Is this their usual ploy?
  We have already opened a new account, so that one is dormant for now
  Clearly I need to write back and reiterate that it is the charges info I want, unless you can suggest anything else:confused:
• I'm worried that the Co-op bank will demand repayment of my personal loan and credit card if I ask for a charges refund. I have repaid the overdraft, have no savings with them (or anyone else!) and the loan is just below 12k, far more than any possible refund. I have opened a parachute account, so wouldn't mind if they closed my current account. Has anyone had experience of these problems?
  I am really appalled by the Co-op's attitude as reported by some forum members - I joined them because they were supposed to be an ethical bank, and I'm planning on leaving as soon as I can because they're not - even now, they're still levying huge charges! Why can't they see what's coming and save us all a lot of hassle by lowering their charges NOW?
• I ditched Natwest precisely because they were charging me so much in late charges etc. Are they still obliged to do all of this even if I no longer bank with them?
  We've been serially crap with bouncing cheques for well over a decade - be great if there was gold in them there hills!
• iglimpse, they are obliged to give you the information but the onus is on you to list out the charges etc I'm afraid.
  Tomsmum, yes you can claim on a closed account
• Hi
  Ive Got A Graduate Bank Account With Barclays So I Only Get Charged Ј10 If I Go Over My Limit.......some People Say That This Is Within The Legal Limit For The Banks To Charge You So I Cant Claim.....and Others Say That All Charges Are Illeagal And I Should Put A Cliaim In........theyve Charged Me About 4 Times A Month For The Last Five Years So They Owe Me A Lot Of Money.....
  Can Someone Let Me Know
  Regards
  Jon
• Well, well, well.
  I have 2 accounts with Nationwide, and with one, subsequently closed, I claimed my bank charges and received a cheque for Ј948.62 (see 'Success stories').
  So, I thought, I'll easily be able to ask for the charges on my current, open, account? And wrote a letter stating...
  "Thank you for your cheque of 1st November for Ј948.62.
  Although I am aware that this is less than the amount I requested, and despite the fact I cannot reconcile your figures with mine, as a gesture of goodwill, I will accept this lower amount.
  However, you may note that I have another account with Nationwide, acc no: XXXXXXXX. I believe unfair charges have also been made on this account, and as per my request for my other account, I request that these are refunded."
  What do I get back? The standard letter they sent me the first time for my first application that they subsequently lost. Now I have to apply to court again....
  Rubbish!:confused:
• Hi I need some advice about what to do next!
  Im claiming bank charges from the Halifx and have been through the prelim letter for details of charges and sent off my claim to have charges paid back to me but now I have received a letter from the Halifax saying that their charging policy is clearly outlined in the T&C's and that they comply to the Banking Code blah blah blah. In essence, they have offered about a third of what I am claiming "in full and final settlement of your complaint" They say that this represents the highest six months charges since my account was opened. They also stress that all future charges will stand and they reserve the right to close my account if I dont manage my account properly. They also say that if I am unhappy about this I should contact the Financial Ombudsman Service giving tel no and address.
  Can they close my account?
  Should I go for the whole amount?
  I must admit I'm a bit scared but I don't want them to get away with my money. Any advice please.
  Chek3019
• [QUOTE=Edinburghlass]iglimpse, they are obliged to give you the information but the onus is on you to list out the charges etc I'm afraid.
  :confused: How / where would I ever begin to work out what they have charged her since 2002. It does not give balances either. At this rate, it looks like I would have to pay an accountant to do this!!
  I requested information which they have not given me. My sister has a learning disability, her perception of all this is that somebody was stealing money from her account the voice of innocence!
  However, I do know that this all stems from one occasion when she went overdrawn, everything just snowballed from there - charges on charges:eek : for 4 years.
  In the end, as soon as her benefits went in, she drew it all out again "before anyone else could take it" As you can imagine she was then overdrawn for most of the month
  I have her statements for the last 6 months which give details of charges. Shall I just take a figure from that and multiply it by 7, call it an approximate figure / educated guess.
• I have just filed my online court claim against halifax. I wrote to them withthe initial letter, they responded with a £460 as a goodwill gesture against a claim of £4480. I wrote back to them saying that wasn't good enough and that they should pay in full within 14 days otherwise I will to go court, They responded almost immediately saying, briefly, you didn't want the £460 so you can get lost or go to the ombudsman. I filed my claim today online - £120 cost which I hope I'll get back eventually. I guess I just sit here and wait....
• I am currently in the middle of claiming bank charges (Ј2,000) from Halifax. They have until next Tuesday until I commence with court action. They got back to me yesterday to confirm that they will offer no more than they have (Ј440)... do i have to wait until next Tuesday or can I get on with court action now. I started the whole proccess back in the sunny days of August and now the winter is :confused: drawing in...
• As they have complied in getting back to you within your time scale just start the court procedure now.
• My claim has gone all the way to the Abbey National filing a defence. I'm claiming almost 1000 pounds and am now waiting to hear from the court when the case will be heard. I'm a bit (very!) worried....not sure I want to go and stand in court. Can anybody else give me advice or has anyone got this far with a claim from the Abbey?