Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

natweststaffmember

Anno wrote: »

I, like a lot of other people had my claim put on hold when the test case came to light. I cancelled all of my debits from the account to ensure no further charges would be incurred. The amount I was claiming was 3,500. That was back in March 2008. Shortly afterwards I fell seriously ill and was unable to work, running up large debts as a result of the large drop in income.
Last month I found out about the 'hardship' situation and decided to pursue, filling in the relevant income/expenditure forms out to me by Nationwide, very quickly recieved I might add.
Yesterday I called them to chase up the progress and was delighted to be told by the woman on the phone that the society were going to be refunding ALL of my charges, would be put into my account within 7-10 days and a letter was on it's way to me. I was obviously delighted!!!
Imagine my dismay then upon receiving the letter this morning only to find out that they were actually only going to refund the charges incurred SINCE my hardship began, totalling some 800 that I didn't even KNOW about!!!!! (I had moved in the meantime and not given them new address so received no statements). As I said earlier, I had cancelled ALL debits from the account to avoid any further charges. This 'refund' payment therefore only takes the account back up to a nil balance, which clearly has no effect on my current financial situation.
I called them immediately to find out what was going on and was told they were only going to refund charges since hardship started, at least until the test case was finalised. I explained my situation and how it has no effect on my situation whatsoever and they have promised to look into it again and write to me within 5 days.
I will keep you up to speed on my progress.

A.

That is completely FSA compliant and is how a bank should refund, ie from the point that hardship began. To be honest, you will be unlikely to increase that offer .

PeppyLaPugh

Can anyone tell me what i should do now, I have been rejected for hardship twice by Natwest. I am an umeployed single parent of 4 kids, and I am in financial hardship, but they don't accept that I am. I don't know what to do now. Without interest added they have taken over £2000 off me in the last 6 years. Do I re-write them, do I write to the Ombudsman, or do i wait for the test case next week before I do anything? If the test case is against the banks and for the consumer, will the bank automatically pay me back the money or do I have to write them.
From a very confused person.

natweststaffmember

PeppyLaPugh wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what i should do now, I have been rejected for hardship twice by Natwest. I am an umeployed single parent of 4 kids, and I am in financial hardship, but they don't accept that I am. I don't know what to do now. Without interest added they have taken over £2000 off me in the last 6 years. Do I re-write them, do I write to the Ombudsman, or do i wait for the test case next week before I do anything? If the test case is against the banks and for the consumer, will the bank automatically pay me back the money or do I have to write them.
From a very confused person.

Do you have priority debt arrears(mortgage or rent, council tax, utilities)?
Are any of the arrears being paid off?

jill07

Hi all,
I have never posted before, so apologies in advance if I get anything wrong!

Just after some advice.... after a long drawn out process, Natwest have finally agreed to my hardship claim, and have said they will be sending out an offer letter within 21 days.
They are sending me new bank cards and have asked that I return old cards (I do not have these as I have not used my 2 Natwest accounts since May - although I cannot close the accounts due to what I owe - but I now bank with Co-op).
I have a DMP which Natwest have accepted, and currently owe to Natwest:-
Acc 1 - £2001
Acc 2 - £100
CC - £2000
Loan - £7984
I am presuming that Natwest are going to pay the refunded charges into one of my accounts with them.... what I need to know is if there is any way I can avoid this, and obtain a cheque from them for the refund?
I fully accept that I am in debt to them, but this money could be a lifeline for me, and help towards paying my utility and water arrears.
Total I claimed was £1300, although charges have been applied on a regular basis since starting claim (I have no idea what they will offer!)

Any advice would be very gratefully received,

Thanks,
Jill.

Jacqui5460

Hi
Just sent my income and expenditure form back to Natwest, does anyone know how long they take to reply as just had letter from c/t bailiff saying got to pay £600 or they are coming round with a van. Getting desperate now!!!

sarahtimmoney

Hello we are new here and have a problem with Bank of Ireland.

I completed a Budget Planner form and attended a meeting with the Bank Manager. She agreed that I am in financial hardship and said she would put it forward to some dept or other and it would be sorted out within 7-10 days. This was early October. She sent me a letter saying she would not be available until 16 November and I got a letter today from the Head Office saying lodge the money you are overdrawn etc. It is as if the meeting with her never happened and I do not know what to do next.
Should I proceed to the FOS or should I contact the branch manager. She was extremely rude and I felt so humiliated at the meeting. I only went overdrawn because my youngest son and I were in a car accident on March 24 and I couldnt work after and my son was disabled - the Bank know all this I have told them in writing and person. The account went overdrawn in June and I have ammassed 350 charges in this short time.
Thanks if anyone reads and can help me with some advice I would be so grateful.
Cheers, Tim

stephderm

Hello All

I would really value some advice please.

I applied to the First Trust Bank in Belfast under financial hardship as I had moved to a lower paying job and because of a number of OTHER errors on their part, my account was all over the place (they were paying the full balance off my credit card each month rather than 3% which I had agreed with them - resulting in me having to live on my credit card). Anyway.... yesterday I received a (very grudging offer) of £1137 - about a third of the charges that had applied to my account since 2001 (no interest applied). They talk about this being a full and final 'hardship' payment but say at the end of the letter that my ongoing complaint about bank charges will remain open until the results of the Supreme Court Ruling. Basically, I just want to be VERY clear that when I accept their FULL AND FINAL offer, it does not jeopardise the rest of my claim. Obviously 1137.00 would come in very handy at the moment! I would really appreciate any advice you may have. Lots of love to you all Stephanie

Orford

Accept the offer, what they say is correct, you will not forego any remaning balance

FSA waiver says:
(

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;
(b) in relation to such complaints, if the outcome of the test case produces a result that is more favourable to the complainant, the firm must take all reasonable steps to pay any difference in the amount of compensation actually received by the complainant and that that the complainant would have been entitled if his claim has not been settled by the firm then; and
(c) the firm must explain the implications of its approach and commitment;
(17) upon resolution of the test case, the firm must apply relevant principles established

stephderm

Orford wrote: »

Accept the offer, what they say is correct, you will not forego any remaning balance

FSA waiver says:
(

I can't tell you how grateful I am for this very detailed piece of advice - thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly - it has really eased my mind enormously. I work in a community setting and I've come to learn that it's not money that is the root of all evil and not even, as some say, the love of money that causes problems......it's worry over money that causes hardship, relationship breakdown and depression/distress. People like you - who clearly know what they're talking about make a real difference in the world. I send you warm thoughts - many, many thanks again. Regards, Stephanie

Orford

stephderm wrote: »

I send you warm thoughts

Can't feel them yet, but then I am quite a long way from Belfast