Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

natweststaffmember

RyderHP09 wrote: »

I've had an ongoing claim with NatWest for nearly 12 months. I've gone down the hardship route after loosing my job, moving back in with parents due to no cash for rent and now both parents out of work due to terminal illness with one parent.
Completed the NATWest financial statement and supplied photocopies of all relevant documents to support my claim. I was not surpprised that they then rejected my calim and stated that I was not considered to be in financial hardship.
The Financial Ombudsman are now involved and have written to the bank, who have stated that they haven't received the documents or info they requested. I've since supplied FOMB with copy of the docs sent to NatWest and also proof of delivery as all letters went recorded delivery. However Natwest are still denying receipt and refuse to acknowledge hardship. What an absolute joke they are. I think you need to be walking around the streets waring a bin bag before they will acknowledge hardship, even after I have ticked all the boxes on the FOMB criteria list.

They can help themselves to your money illegally, but it's a whole different story when you ask for it back.

I sympathise with your situation and that it is a difficult time for you. With regards to the FOS NatWest cannot say they haven't received the information. However, even saying that, from the information you have written I am still not sure you qualify as being in financial hardship. Can you clarify why you feel you are?
Not having enough money to rent a place of your own, while difficult, is not necessarily financial hardship.
The box you ticked for me was being made unemployed because that is a lifestyle event ie FSA Waiver Annex 2 part 2a. However, is there more?

mrsdarbs

natweststaffmember wrote: »

This is gonna sound a strange choice of words. I still see a yes and no on that one. For example, if you shop at waitrose then try shopping or go down in quality from finest to normal or value.

I know exactly what you mean and I understand completely, but we already shop at Tesco and buy mainly their own value products as it is. We buy very little branded stuff and we try to bulk buy our toiletries and things from the wholesale back in England through the mother in law to save on money!

I will get hubby to call them when he returns from England next week. Will we need to write to them?

natweststaffmember

mrsdarbs wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean and I understand completely, but we already shop at Tesco and buy mainly their own value products as it is. We buy very little branded stuff and we try to bulk buy our toiletries and things from the wholesale back in England through the mother in law to save on money!

I will get hubby to call them when he returns from England next week. Will we need to write to them?

It is better to write to a bank so there is a paper trail of where things are sent.

Plaitey

Is anyone else on a DMP and claimed through the hardship route? I have approx £1500 in charges (inc interest) I want to reclaim from HSBC but I am not sure whether I can go through the hardship route. I am upto date with my mortgage but I have had to change bank accounts because of my DMP and the account I am not using is the one with the charges. Any suggestions?

stace1234

I am in need of help with my claim against the halifax.
I have gone through the numerours letters, phone calls, money management team, referral to think money! what a joke they were, wanted to charge me 29 quid to transfer my left over money each month to a pay as u go credit card!
Anyway, Halifax finally agreed to me being financial hardship and as a geture of goodwill offered me £140 pounds and will stop bank charges on my account for 3 months.
I am claiming over 2k in charges!!!!!
However to have this credited to my account they are requesting I signa form stating i accept £140 in settlement to my unarranged overdraft fees complaint.
I signed this two weeks ago, but ammended it to say that it would not prejudice my claim with regards to the test case.
Got a reply back from them this week stating they could not process the claim as I had ammended the acceptance form.
They sent another form requesting it be signed and sent back unaltered.
This is where i need your help, as it seems to me that they want me to sign this and then forgo my right of reclaiming additional charges when the test case is resolved.

matsycook

Hi guys looking for some help! I made a hardship claim to the Halifax as i am currently struggling with my debt. No surprise they wrote back to me saying that they dont believe that i am in hardship. Now, anyone other than the bank is going to agree that i am in hardship. I have thought about going to the financial ombudsman although i think i might possible have more success just phoning the bank and discussing it more with them. However, i am not to sure what i would say to them or who might be the best person to speak to. If anyone can give me some advice that would be much appreciated.

Thanx guys

mrsdarbs

natweststaffmember wrote: »

It is better to write to a bank so there is a paper trail of where things are sent.

Thank you. Will draw a letter up for hubby to sign when he returns next week.

natweststaffmember

matsycook wrote: »

Hi guys looking for some help! I made a hardship claim to the Halifax as i am currently struggling with my debt. No surprise they wrote back to me saying that they dont believe that i am in hardship. Now, anyone other than the bank is going to agree that i am in hardship. I have thought about going to the financial ombudsman although i think i might possible have more success just phoning the bank and discussing it more with them. However, i am not to sure what i would say to them or who might be the best person to speak to. If anyone can give me some advice that would be much appreciated.

Thanx guys

Do you have priority debt arrears(mortgage.rent, council tax, utilities)?

natweststaffmember

stace1234 wrote: »

I am in need of help with my claim against the halifax.
I have gone through the numerours letters, phone calls, money management team, referral to think money! what a joke they were, wanted to charge me 29 quid to transfer my left over money each month to a pay as u go credit card!
Anyway, Halifax finally agreed to me being financial hardship and as a geture of goodwill offered me £140 pounds and will stop bank charges on my account for 3 months.
I am claiming over 2k in charges!!!!!
However to have this credited to my account they are requesting I signa form stating i accept £140 in settlement to my unarranged overdraft fees complaint.
I signed this two weeks ago, but ammended it to say that it would not prejudice my claim with regards to the test case.
Got a reply back from them this week stating they could not process the claim as I had ammended the acceptance form.
They sent another form requesting it be signed and sent back unaltered.
This is where i need your help, as it seems to me that they want me to sign this and then forgo my right of reclaiming additional charges when the test case is resolved.

That is a pile of crap from Halifax.
FSA Waiver on bank charges point 13.16 states

"(16) if the firm attempts to resolve a relevant charges complaint after 27 July 2007:
(a) the firm must not seek agreement from the complainant that the resolution is in full and final settlement of the matter;"

Whether the form was changed or not is completely irrelevant. Write to them again and state that they cannot make the offer a full and final settlement.

natweststaffmember

Plaitey wrote: »

Is anyone else on a DMP and claimed through the hardship route? I have approx £1500 in charges (inc interest) I want to reclaim from HSBC but I am not sure whether I can go through the hardship route. I am upto date with my mortgage but I have had to change bank accounts because of my DMP and the account I am not using is the one with the charges. Any suggestions?

Do you have priority debt arrears(mortgage/.rent, council tax, utilities)?