News

**MSE Wendy** · 11-06-2007, 12:59 PM

The MSE Bank Charges article has now been updated to include a full section on whether to use the court or the Financial Ombudsman (FOS) as well as how to complete the FOS's complaint form if you choose this route.

As this is a new system, we welcome any feedback so please click reply to discuss.

Thanks

MSE Wendy

suzy g · 11-06-2007, 2:25 PM

Thank Wendy for the good information. My daughter is about to got this route, she has sent a few letters off the Lloyd's but they refuse to acknowledge they over charge her, they themselves have recommended she get in touch with the financial ombudsman so i have given her the forms, will let everyone know the outcome
suzy

Purpss · 23-07-2007, 5:13 PM

Hi I'm reclaiming nearly £2000 (inc int) from Nationwide in back back charges for my OH and they suggested we contact the FO,that was about 3 weeks ago and we haven't heard from them since. I didn't ring them first , just filed in the form and posted it off to them.Have I made a Booboo?
Thanks in advance for all help
Em

daveturney · 25-07-2007, 6:57 AM

Hi, decided to go to the FO instead of the courts, called them yesterday they said it'll be a 1 month if im lucky but 2 to 4 month wait is more realistic.
But the gentleman on the phone said

" just to let you know, proceedures are due to change due to the sheer numbers of complaints weve had, but I cant say when or how they will change"

sounds strange, hope he was implying that the process would get speeded up with the banks.

can anyone enlighten me more please?

fan-of-ezio · 25-07-2007, 8:39 AM

I am reclaiming my brothers bank charges from Lloyds TSB and, after lots of research on MSE and CAG, I have just decided to go down the FOS route because it still leaves the option of the courts if I don't have a satisfactory outcome.

Thought I would keep a log on here so other can get an idea of timescales etc. I will update as things happen.

28/03/07 requested bank statements - £10 charge
30/04/07 Recived bank statements
05/05/07 Sent letter requesting repayment - £3212.80 + interest
15/05/07 Standard letter received saying charges fair
18/05/07 Sent letter again requesting full refund
21/06/07 Sent letter saying would go to court
03/07/07 Received standard letter offering £750 full and final settlement
06/07/07 Sent letter declining offer
12/07/07 £750 put in bank acount
24/07/07 Sent complaint form to FOS - £3212.80 plus interest, minus £750= £3,000.80

Fingers crossed....I will let you know whats happening!

Friends are angels who lift us up, when our own wings have forgotton how to fly.

smudgemanc26 · 25-07-2007, 9:09 AM

That's really useful, i just wish it was done before i sent mine off now, it doesnt look as professional as the sample one given but hopefully it will get me the result i want.

daveturney · 25-07-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveturney

Hi, decided to go to the FO instead of the courts, called them yesterday they said it'll be a 1 month if im lucky but 2 to 4 month wait is more realistic.
But the gentleman on the phone said

" just to let you know, proceedures are due to change due to the sheer numbers of complaints weve had, but I cant say when or how they will change"

sounds strange, hope he was implying that the process would get speeded up with the banks.

can anyone enlighten me more please?

Ok, thanks for the merger, but im still curious about these changes.

bohannon67 · 25-07-2007, 5:52 PM

Just recieved letter today from FOS stating A+L had replied to them offering me £300. My initial complaint was for £550, deciding now wether to accept or decline and go for full investigation. Swayed to the declining side as this offer is well short of what i am asking for. A+L first offered me £120 after using MSE's template letters. Any advice???

daveturney · 25-07-2007, 9:08 PM

i find it strange that even when being investigated by the FO the banks still only are offering partial amounts. oh well

fan-of-ezio · 01-08-2007, 1:44 PM

I am reclaiming my brothers bank charges from Lloyds TSB and, after lots of research on MSE and CAG, I have just decided to go down the FOS route because it still leaves the option of the courts if I don't have a satisfactory outcome.

Thought I would keep a log on here so other can get an idea of timescales etc. I will update as things happen.

28/03/07 requested bank statements - £10 charge
30/04/07 Recived bank statements
05/05/07 Sent letter requesting repayment - £3212.80 + interest
15/05/07 Standard letter received saying charges fair
18/05/07 Sent letter again requesting full refund
21/06/07 Sent letter saying would go to court
03/07/07 Received standard letter offering £750 full and final settlement
06/07/07 Sent letter declining offer
12/07/07 £750 put in bank acount
24/07/07 Sent complaint form to FOS - £3212.80 plus interest, minus £750= £3,000.80

Update:............ 01/08/07 Just got back from hol's and read about the test case...AAARRRGGGHHH!!

Have not had any response from FOS as yet, but going to write today and give details of my brothers financial hardship:

On jobseekers allowance (£236 a month)
Should be paying out £250+ a month to cover loans etc
Homeless - staying with various friends / family

Friends are Angels who lift us up, when our own wings have forgotton how to fly

DUDDERS · 08-08-2007, 3:50 PM

Just Accepted Via Fos £2848.00 From Lloyds Tsb On 25/07/07
Get Told It Will Take 28 Days To Hit My Account But Lloyds Are Paying Out 7-10 Days To Customers Dealt Direct With Them.
I Think It Unfair
Any Thoughts Out There

IZZY01 · 08-08-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUDDERS

Just Accepted Via Fos £2848.00 From Lloyds Tsb On 25/07/07
Get Told It Will Take 28 Days To Hit My Account But Lloyds Are Paying Out 7-10 Days To Customers Dealt Direct With Them.
I Think It Unfair
Any Thoughts Out There

Hi dudders,
I received an offer from BOS through FOS and have been advised it will take up to 6 weeks. Reading other posts direct claims are being paid out in 14 days. Bit of a bu!!er but better late than never!!

smithj · 15-10-2007, 2:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSE Wendy

Have you used the Financial Ombudsman to help with Bank Charges Reclaiming or Credit Card Charges Reclaiming?

If you have let us know what you think, was it quick and easy or slow and unhelpful?

We welcome any feedback so please click reply to discuss.

Thanks

MSE Wendy

I have claimed back nearly £14k of bank charges from credit card companies and banks ,GE MOney owe me £9000 for mortgage and loan fees.
Had fob off after fob off letter from them ,so i decided to put a complaint in to the OFT.
5 MONTHS LATER i get a letter from them saying that they have passed the complaint on to GE Money and they should write to you within 8 weeks of this letter.
1 week later i recieved a letter from GE Money saying that their charges are all legal and fair and they wont be paying me back a penny .
Great waist of 5 months thanks OFT .

**MSE Wendy** · 16-10-2007, 11:18 AM

Thanks for your post smithj but the OFT is separate from the FOS. Were the FOS abke to help you at all?

Wendy

novelli · 16-10-2007, 5:06 PM

I have found then really slow!!! AND they didnt include the letter they said they sent the bank on my behalf when they sent paperwork back. Bank havent acknowledged their letter of 28th sept anway, now they say that i MUST fill in another complaint form for the case to be given to an investigator. Apparently they dont keep any opf the paperwork due to space problems. This means i have to send all the stuf back again and no doubt wait another few months for it to be allocated a case worker!!!
When i eventually did get them to email me a copy of what they sent to the bank i was disappointed that its just some sort of tick box form, not explaining my circumstances or anything.
U would have thought that thewy would keep cases open and so keep the paperwork until the case was resolved but they dont!!! All this is just wasting time and costing postal fees etc.
I am claiming under the hardship rules, but the letter/form they sent the bank didnt go into any detail re how the bank is not sticking to the waiver by refusing to acknowledge this or give them any implication that they were in the wrong!!! And if the bank have now chosen to ignore their letter u would think they would be jumping on them, but they not really interested. Its down to me to send another complaint and then they allocate it to someone, wel why wasnt it allocated to someone in the first place. Heaven knows they had all the details. Seems to me that the 8 weeks its taken to get this far have been a total waste of time, whilst i am still getting further charges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOS told me that the bank had until 2nd october at latest to reply, they havent, but FOS still say well i have to write to them and send everything back!! rediculous!!

harveymoo · 17-10-2007, 10:25 AM

People should stop WHINING about FOS...no, it's not perfect, but it's FREE!!!!!! It might take a while but costs you nothing but your time and, occasionally, the price of a stamp. If that unhappy, people should go straight to court and see how much THAt can end up costing....

novelli · 17-10-2007, 1:44 PM

I just think they need to be tougher on the banks, instead of letting them get away with breaching the code. they are afterall supposed to be there for the consumer not the bank!!!
and it wouldnt cost me anything via court actually as am on benefits!

we were asked our opinions, so dont then expect to get told to stop whining!

hughie278 · 17-10-2007, 4:43 PM

Ive just filled out my complaint form for the FO and i need some info i can anyone?

Im claiming against Egg, and have had three letters from them, and they three from me. They have made a final offer so im going this route. Ive attacked my list of charges and interest and the final response from Egg. is this all i need to do?

What can i expect to happen after i post it off? Whats the usual happenings here?

victoriaplum1 · 03-01-2008, 4:37 PM

I just went onto the FoS site to fill out form and submit as got nowhere with bank only to find the following :
'
The Financial Ombudsman Service has decided, for the time being, not to continue its work on complaints about unauthorised overdraft charges - until important legal action in the High Court settles key questions about these charges.
Our consumer factsheet on unauthorised overdraft charges tells you the latest on what's happening in the High Court on bank-charges disputes - and what this means for consumers, the banks and the ombudsman service: v

so looks like is a waste of time doing anything more at this stage....take it those of us who are at stage where bank has got our claim but is waiting on the High Court result just have to wait unless we go Court route...is anyone going court route anyway any success?

ALIBOBSY · 19-01-2008, 10:32 AM

My understanding is both FOS and the courts are suspending cases until at least the first part of the test case is over. However this case is for bank current account/overdraft charges, so claims for credit card charges should still be looked at. If you claim in court for bank charges the judge will probably impose a stay on the case pending the test case results, however I have heard of people trying to overturn the stay, mostly quoting hardship reasons. Some sucessful some not. Not fair that customers claims are put on hold till they decide if charges are lawful, but they didn't suspend the banks right to impose them on accounts.
Good luck
ali x