Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

demadodgydave

I applied to have my bank charges cancelled due to the fact I became pretty badly off due to my work hours getting slashed due to government funding cuts, so I originally applied for my bank charges to be refunded, and was refused due to the test case, so as my financial condition worsened, I contacted the CCCS who helped me work out my financies to see how bad they were, and they told me to apply for the charges to be cancelled due to hardship, so I applied and I was refused, and now I have a debt collection agency hounding me a few times a day. What's the point of this hardship thing if they just refuse you then put bloodhounds onto you... The thing is, the bank were so ruthless with charging me that I had to open another account as they would not stop and in the period of about 4 months fined me in excess of £900 so I paid about £400 and to be honest, I would rather go to jail than give them the rest.... crooked bankers....

pingchris

demadodgydave wrote: »

I applied to have my bank charges cancelled due to the fact I became pretty badly off due to my work hours getting slashed due to government funding cuts, so I originally applied for my bank charges to be refunded, and was refused due to the test case, so as my financial condition worsened, I contacted the CCCS who helped me work out my financies to see how bad they were, and they told me to apply for the charges to be cancelled due to hardship, so I applied and I was refused, and now I have a debt collection agency hounding me a few times a day. What's the point of this hardship thing if they just refuse you then put bloodhounds onto you... The thing is, the bank were so ruthless with charging me that I had to open another account as they would not stop and in the period of about 4 months fined me in excess of £900 so I paid about £400 and to be honest, I would rather go to jail than give them the rest.... crooked bankers....

i opened a parachute account with a building society and closed my account with the halifax,they tried that one on me too.

squink

To Demadodydave:
By and large the banks seem to disregard the "hardship" plea, I suspect assuming 9/10 people will give up - go to the Financial Ombudsman (details online) - you can phone for advice, and on how to register your complaint - the banks are bully boys, we all need to learn how to play them at their own game as far as we can, NOT be intimidated by them. You are in financial hardship by the sound of it, CCCS endorse this, and their charges are outrageous - so get complaining!! (one CCCS advisor said his mantra was "complain, complain, complain - not bad advice, just learn the procedures).
Also the CCCS will do a debt management plan with you and establish minimum regular payments to all your debtors, which legally puts you in a good light ie. shows you're doing the best you can (even if it's only a fiver a month...). So get back on to them.
All the stuff they're doing (harrassment etc.) collect as evidence for the FOS - will all go against the bank - use their aggression against them.
Barclaycard tried that on with my husband despite having paid them reg. for over a year - I phoned and complained and threatened them with FOS and they immediately backed off with a refund - but I still think harrassment (which yours is) deserves a formal complaint - so go for it!!

natweststaffmember

demadodgydave wrote: »

I applied to have my bank charges cancelled due to the fact I became pretty badly off due to my work hours getting slashed due to government funding cuts, so I originally applied for my bank charges to be refunded, and was refused due to the test case, so as my financial condition worsened, I contacted the CCCS who helped me work out my financies to see how bad they were, and they told me to apply for the charges to be cancelled due to hardship, so I applied and I was refused, and now I have a debt collection agency hounding me a few times a day. What's the point of this hardship thing if they just refuse you then put bloodhounds onto you... The thing is, the bank were so ruthless with charging me that I had to open another account as they would not stop and in the period of about 4 months fined me in excess of £900 so I paid about £400 and to be honest, I would rather go to jail than give them the rest.... crooked bankers....

I spent a part of yesterday looking over BCOBS and the lending code(which replaced the banking code). The bank does have to look at your case sympathetically but the onus is on you to also contact those providers that you are in arrears with to see what help they can give as well.
http://www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk/If you look at the above link, on the right hand side it says lending code and section 9 would deal with yourself and debt collection practices as well.

EDIT: there is no provision for a refund of charges but it is something than can be considered.

martynthemoose

not a happy bunny

cannot believe they have turned down my claim under hardship

Its not just the fact that they declined it , the fact that they fobbed me off for 1month giving me false hope that i might get something is what I cant take.

I was told by the guy that the department handling my claim had sent me a letter on the 24th November (really ? I certainly didnt get it!)

I phoned on the 26th November & 1december & then 11december "sorry no info yet"

So thats how they want to be then fine,

I only hope i can feed my kids this xmas, plus british gas have me on a strange rate which eats gas at £5 a day so my figures to them were out of date.

will also write to my MP I think

alexisonfire

Dear All,

I am currently having to pay off charges from my old Lloyds bank account. The amount had totalled to around £2,500 all from charges! I had gone over by a transaction,t hen they were charging me between £30-£45 a day whilst it was over the overdraft limit! This spiralled out of control and I could not continue to use my account as the charges were swallowing up my wages.

I am currently being made to pay this off with a debt agency. I have worked it out that it will take me over 4 years to pay this as I do not currently earn a lot. I had put in my claim before the court case and then it went on hold like many others.

Does anyone have any advice on this as this is a ridiculous amount that I cannot afford to pay back as I am having financial hardship

I am currently in talks with the Financial Ombudsman Service about this.

Any advice would be very helpful.

Mant thanks

Helen

Lumbworth

Hi. I had a refund of 1030 almost 2 months ago and they said they'd review the situation in 2 months again (Early Jan). Just wondered if there's anything in particular I should say when I ring them back? Just a little unsure of myself after the court case result.

natweststaffmember

Lumbworth wrote: »

Hi. I had a refund of 1030 almost 2 months ago and they said they'd review the situation in 2 months again (Early Jan). Just wondered if there's anything in particular I should say when I ring them back? Just a little unsure of myself after the court case result.

BCOBS says that the bank must treat you fairly and sympathetically.
The Lending Code is what you should take a look at, specifically part 9 on financial hardship. Have a read of it beforehand cos we have got a few more weeks until this deadline hits. Has you situation improved at all since the refund of charges?

Lumbworth

natweststaffmember wrote: »

BCOBS says that the bank must treat you fairly and sympathetically.
The Lending Code is what you should take a look at, specifically part 9 on financial hardship. Have a read of it beforehand cos we have got a few more weeks until this deadline hits. Has you situation improved at all since the refund of charges?

I'm in about the same situation really for a few months. Bout 500-600 down a month until I pay off council tax arrears by March. That's 700 a month. Have had a letter from them saying after the test case result they think charges are fair. Does that mean there is no point asking for the rest back now? Or where do I get the lending code from please?

esmerellda

http://www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk/docs/lendingcode.pdf