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[MSE Martin]

After the huge number of successes reported the last Bank Charges Success Stories thread has now got so long it hardly opens!!!! So this is success stories mark II.

View Bank Charges Success Stories I which has 6,059 posts in it and has been viewed 1,188,548 times

Please report your successes here, if possible in the format

Bank:
Amount Reclaimed:
Amount they paid:
The story:

(just a few sentences, please include how far you went did you a. just write a letter, b. threaten to go to court or c. actually go to court)

Please don't use this thread for general discussion on reclaiming bank charges.

***** Want to tell your story in a newspaper/on TV? *****

Hi all. We need your help.

Bank Charges is often in the news and we are frequently asked if we have any MoneySavers that are willing to tell their stories to the press.

If you'd like to help spread the news and encourage others, please e-mail casestudy@moneysavingexpert.com (sorry but we can't answer questions at this email address) with as much of the following info as you can:

* what stage of reclaiming are you at - had money back /on hold / not yet claimed
* how much is/was your claim for
* who is/was your bank
* a daytime phone number - we often need to reach people at very short notice
* whether you are happy to appear in the papers,tv or both
* where you live


Further Links:

• Latest News - Bank Charges News
  
• Read the article - How to Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges
• Discuss the issues - Discussion on reclaiming charges, Discuss the impact on bankings future

Many Thanks. We really appreciate anyone that can help us with this.

[sonofnesbit]

Bank: Natwest
Amount claimed: £3037
Amount paid £3022

Started the whole process a good couple of months ago. All previous letters ignored so i thought it would have to go to court. I had to delay court by about a week as it fell just short of payday. Well on the day i was due to file i got the settlement letter to sign with the above offer. Funny thing was, was that in the second letter i sent them i put a lower amount that i would accept, £2300.
Just one question, how long between sending back acceptance letter and getting cheque (account has been closed over a year)

[beccaj]

Hi first time posting so im glad its a success story.

Bank; Barclays
Amount claimed: £3995
Amount won: £2995

Started process in feb received a letter in March saying looking into it and would respond. Another letter 4 weeks later still investigating. Then i received the offer of £2995 which I accepted and they paid within 5 days of me accepting.

[LozBingley]

Marbles (HSBC)

Charged: £450
Requested: £368.84 =75% of charges plus interest at 4½%
Accepted: £370

Whole process from requesting list of charges to settlement offer in under 5 weeks!

[nicky-y]

Bank: First Direct
Amount reclaimed: £400
Amount they paid: £340


Sent template letter on tuesday they wrote back on wednesday got offer on thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What can you say - CHEERS

[vickywood27]

Barlcays
Amount claimed: 1895
Received:1295

Still awaiting payment but they sorted it out very quickly.

[cat_matt]

story so far..

first direct
amount claimed £536.51
received £455.00

Barclays
Amount claimed £2400
received ......

keep posted
ty martin

[sylvia9121]

posted off letters on behalf of partner, as per martins instructions got the usual letters no sorry,
filled mcol they acknowledged and after 28 days put a defence through, received court papers 2day saying reason for defence is because they have paid in full, the money hasnt hit his account yet, but there solicitor said the money (£1853) will be in his account by 2morrow morning!!!!
thanks

[jojo1973]

HSBC

Claimed £2150. Asked for £2504.03 including 8% interest. Received standard letter, no satisfactory response within 28 days so sent reminder letter giving them 2 weeks. No response so phoned and they said its 8 weeks from them logging my first letter. Received offer of £1828 saying they are not paying interest. Total time from 1st letter is 4 days shy of 8 weeks. Going to accept offer and close my account with them.

Thanks Martin for the site

[bekiejayne]

hsbc 1
original letter sent 7.2.07
amount claimed £486.51(including intrest)
amount recived £150
when 31.5.07

hsbc 2
original letter sent 7.2.07
amount claimed £1533.80including interest)
amount recived £1064.00
when 31.5.07

abby
original letter sent 7.2.07
amount claimed £1522.1.
amount recived-awaiting

also going through with egg but they are finding many reasons not to send me charges so this one will be a long drawn out process . I am at bresent also getting ready to do barclays (but need new account first)

so thank u all for all help and i will re post when i have more news
beckie

[redbook]

Amount Claimed - £2136 Across Two Accounts
Amount Repayed - £2105

Claim Started In Late April With The Usual Letters To Which I Received No Response.

Followed Up 2 Weeks Later With Complaint To The Complaints Department - Replied Within 7 Days Claiming That The Charges Were Justified And Therefore Not Refund.

Threat Of Court Action And The Complaint Was Escalated (whatever That Means).

30 May Two Letters Received With Offers Of £989 And £1116.

The Court Action Was Never Used (goodwill Payments For A Valued Customer, Pity They Didn't Value Me Enough In The First Place And Not Levy Exorbitant Charges).

Hope This Gives Some Encouragement To All You Out There Still Claiming. Stick At It They Will Give In.

[bradybunch1]

Barclays Bank
Amount Claimed: £3175
Amount Repayed £2813

Sent 1st Letter at the end of March, had nothing from the bank apart from the statutory "we will look into it for you" letter. Persevered and followed the process even claiming through the County Court. Received a letter from the bank last week stating that even though they did not agree with my complaint that they would offer me £2813. I Took it, as Martin says, it is money that you thought you would never see again and with the two recent court cases I decided it was not worth taking the risk. I am currently helping a friend pursue her claim. I am really looking forward to my holiday on Barclays this year. Thanks Martin

[Ryan Harris]

Nawest Bank
Claimed £1232
Reclaimed £992

Did threaten court action, which cost me £120, but they transferred the money into my account this morning, after I'd accepted by post.

To be honest, if some said this time last year that you can have £1000 back from your bank, I would have taken it.

[carlbrit]

bank : Halifax
Amount Owed :£2806
Amount Paid :£2894
I had to issue them with a court summons before recieving £1157.06 deposited into my account. I decided to telephone them to see if this payment was from them.
Guess what it was, told them still £1768 short so court summons still stands unless we can reach an agreement now over the phone. Was told he can agree only £2500 now ,Which I declined, It was then he said Ill go and see if I can get clearance from my manager, Kept hanging on the phone for 2 mins, came back and said he can offer me now £2894 in full and final payment if I stop the court process, of which I duly accepted.
So the moral of the story is DONT GIVE IN TO THEM

[Margot 1501]

I claimed in March for £4600, after they had lost my application, then admtted they hadnt lost it, they had the wrong first initial. Today I recieved £3950.
Dont lose heart stick with it, you will succeed.

[brightonman]

Bank: NatWest

Claim: £1215 plus interest

Payout: £1215

Stage reached: court proceedings

A long haul, and this is just the smaller of two claims I'm making. I ended up going via MCOL, which NatWest first acknowledged, then defended, which meant heading for the courtroom. But about a week after NatWest's solicitors entered a defence, this offer came for the smaller of the two cases, and I've decided to accept rather than push for interest as well, leaving me with more time and energy to devote to the larger claim (more than three times as much) which they are also defending.

I called their Chatham office this afternoon to confirm the details, and they tell me that the money will be in my account within 10-14 days.

Right, next...

[mazzxtc]

Started the process in Feb 2007 with Abbey National
Claimed: 4576.73 (with interest & costs)
Repaid: 4000.00
Offer letter received after I sent them a letter saying was willing to settle out of court. First offered £3430.00 but phoned up and said they lowest I would take is £4000.00. they accepted this without negotiation. Really happy cos I was getting fed up with the wait and the stance taking from both sides.
they are actually OK to talk to, and seem to want tis whole claim thing over and done with. i suggest that if you want to settle before court, try make a settlement soon after you receive their defence.

[Grantor]

Bank: Capital One
Amount Reclaimed: £40
Amount they paid: £16
The story: I just called them up at work - I've only had the card 3 years and went over my limit a couple times about 2 1/2 years ago; got stung with the standard £20 fee.

Called up Capital One querying this, they agreed there and then to reimburse the difference between the £20 fee and the £12 requested by the OFT.

If I was claiming more than about £100 I'd have gone down the line of requesting statements and following Martin's (excellent) reclaim procedure. It's only £40 though, and I can't be bothered with the aggro, so £16 will do me.

I'm claiming £1,200 back from Natwest though, and that's an entirely different story....! More to follow on that one in due course.

Must just take time to thank Martin, and, indeed, all the regular contributors who post on here, for the concise, comprehensive and friendly advice provided on this site.

Cheers

Grantor

[sanmiguel]

Success. Although I havn't got it in my grubby little mit yet, Morgan Stanley have coughed for my charges and interest after I rejected their offer and threatened court action. They have now offered the full amount which I have accepted. Got letters in with MBNA and Capital One rejecting offers so here's hoping a similar success

Sanmiguel

[mrs_h]

Hooray!!

First time post

I was successful this week with claiming back £602 from HSBC which is the whole of what I have been charged over the last six years.

A huge thank you to Martin and to all the contributor of this site.

Another win for the consumer.

Many many thanks

Zoe