Reclaimed Bank Charges SUCCESS stories

kpeanut29 · 9 January 2007 at 5:55PM

Hello, hope someone can help me.

I recently received a letter from my bank saying I was in default on my account because I was 103 overdrawn and I did not have an agreed limit.
Despite asking the bank a few times over the last couple of years for an overdraft in order to prevent dd's etc bouncing landing me with charges, I was declined. The account did have a 50 quid buffer zone though.
The charges they have been levying on my account over the last few months have taken me far more overdrawn than any overdarft would have. (I requested an OD of 100 max as thats all I needed)
Now they want me to settle up the 103 I owe them or they are threatening me with court even though they had 355 off me in December alone. Things have snowballed since August when money fell out of my purse while shopping and I was unable to find it, therefore I needed to get a bit more out. Its just got worse and I had been thinking about claiming back at least some of the charges they have had from me, and this latest letter really got my back up as its the charges alone that have put me that much over. Also because when I go over the buffer zone they charge me 3pound a day, 7 days a week for every day that I am over.
Can they challenge my claim and are they likely to push it all the way to court on this basis?

I posted the initial letter off today, and while I plan to stand firm, I'm quaking in my boots at the thought of going to court and having some judge make me feel 2 inches tall for making mistakes and not being perfect.
I now have a new bank account set up and am in the process of drawing up a strict budget, reorganising DD's etc because I don't ever want to be in this position again if I can help it.

Many thanks

Edinburghlass_2 · 9 January 2007 at 6:16PM

Sorry but this is a bit confusing, have you actually started a claim?

If not, do so using Martin's guide.

Step-by-step Guides: Bank Charges: Reclaim Your Cash | Top New Bank Account Calculator: Charge them interest Template Letters: (right click and save) Ask for charge details |Initial letter | Second letter | Small claims note Get Updates On Important Changes: Free Weekly Money Tip

Sorry, just found you have sent the first letter. Yes the banks can and do enter a defence as you are taking them to court so you need to follow the steps carefully and be well prepared.

chrisbruno · 9 January 2007 at 6:45PM

Hi well done, we are claiming 2800 and have had to take it to court where they have decided to defend the claim.........could only happen to us, but well done you xxx:j :j

kassy_2 · 9 January 2007 at 7:53PM

I am just about to claim back the Unlawful charges on my Mothers account and I'd like to hear from anyone who has had any experience in dealing with Nationwide Building Society please? :j

ROCKY_2 · 9 January 2007 at 8:12PM

hi ive just received my bank charges from lloyds they have actually been really helpful what can i claim and what cant i claim i really need some expert help on this they have made it difficult for me to understand the paperwork

mosaic_2 · 9 January 2007 at 9:22PM

As MSE Martin has previously said:

Finally, if you get a bank charge for the first time, rather than trying this fight, just call up, apologise, tell the bank you’ve got a good record and politely ask for a refund. Often it will give it.

I aquired some bank charges after a loopy moment leading up to Christmas (as you do :eek: ), well Christmas, New Years and a Birthday is all too much to be self controlled every time! Most of my spends went out in one day and I was greeted in the new year with four charges of £30, (Yeah I did cry). (total £120).

I went to my bank and pleaded mercy to have my charges waived, especially as I have been unemployed for some time now & really can't afford any extra charges & I also mentioned that I had been a customer for over 15 years and had never been charged before. I fully agree that the charges are unlawful and totally out of proportion. E.g. One spend was £5 which incurred a £30 charge another was about £30 which also incurred a £30 charge; that doesn't make sense in itself.

If I had been more vigilant I certainly would not have overspent while out shopping with my magic card, or if the knowledge fairy had come up to me in the street at the appropriate time and said 'Ay up, spend any more and you will be over your arranged overdraft limit!' Well enough excuses for my mistake.

I spoke to the manager in a little room and he was very pleasant. He said that he is only authorised to pay back the first charge, but 'as an act of good will' he would give back the second charge also. Hence I am being charged £60 instead of £120. Personally I would have been happier with a £30 charge to measure against my financial folly but I was glad to have half of my money given back.

Of course when I do get a job, and therefore the chance of changing my bank I can only predict that I will search for another, mainly as I could do with higher interest on my credit balance. If I am really honest, I feel a little miffed at not being let off the charges, especially having been a customer for rather a long time (and having an obvious lack of income).
Too much of my time has been spent paying them unlawfully high interest debit rates.

New Years resolution:

'Stop giving to Fat Cats and give to Charity instead'.

Edit : .. OH I forgot to mention.. Just as I was searching for the MSE 'unlawful banks charges forum' who should pop up on Look North News on the TV but MSE Martin himself fighting back against 'UNLAWFUL BANK PENALTIES!!' I had to giggle.

Edinburghlass_2 · 9 January 2007 at 9:53PM

kassy wrote:

I am just about to claim back the Unlawful charges on my Mothers account and I'd like to hear from anyone who has had any experience in dealing with Nationwide Building Society please? :j

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=306309

Danpetty · 9 January 2007 at 11:59PM

Hi guys,
I would appreciate anyone's help on this.

I am currently a student at university and when I went there I had around £5000 in credit card debt. Due to various illnesses and other problems I always seem to be in and out of arrears. I would estimate that probably a third of my debt is due to unfair charges for late payment and being over my limit.

Now I have managed to clear one card of the arrears but am really keen to use this process to try and clear the rest. I am worried that they may use my arrears as a defence and use it to reject my claim. I am in a little of a catch-22 situation as I want to challenge this but I feel the charges is the main reason for my being in arrears.

Would I be wiser to wait until I am in a better position or does this not have an effect on the proceedings.
Please help as I am at my wits end.

Dan

FuManchu · 10 January 2007 at 12:30AM

Hi people just had a read through a few pages of the posts, 81 is a bit to much to get through interesting read but.

I work for one of the high street banks not going to say which but i do agree with everyone on here that the charges are unfair.

I wish more people would read up on sites like this before calling a consultant like myself. The amount of times i have taken a call were the customer has verbally abused myself is ridiculous. If they actually knew this is against the law in itself they probably would never do and if they didn't more than likely they wouldn't have to go through the hasle of searching a site like this and could take the advise of the person they are speaking with.

Really hoping the courts bring a rule in soon to stop the banks over charging everyone. This would make my working day alot less stressful.

Oh and as for this £10 fee get the info you need cheaper by getting back copies of your statements for £5(well at my work thats the charge) and go through them and pick the charges out yourself.

ericaleicester · 10 January 2007 at 12:36AM

claiming £3054, offered £1450, rejected and claimed using online court thingy. Really excited, thought I'd won by default but defence entered with 1 hour to go! I'm determined that I'm in the right and ready for my day in court. Any advice, things I might not have thought about? Also, I'm a bit worried about them closing my account because I don't relish moving - no one else will give me a 'full' adult account (just solo card). I'm sure I read somewhere that banks can't just close your account and if they try I can go to the ombudsman but I can't find any more information about this, any tips?
Thanks

Reclaimed Bank Charges SUCCESS stories

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free