Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

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quote the criteria that you match - have seen letters around on this site that stipulate criteria - also can ask/email FOS and they'll tell you. Also are some other dedicated sites for reclaiming charges - Martin gives the links somewhere (yeah I know takes time). Got some guidance on FH claiming there too.
Find all the relevant facts, then write them up.
Once you get your head round the game you're playing - what your rights are and their obligations - found you can get quite good at drafting letters. Don't be stroppy or aggressive though (OR cap in hand - never!), just to the point and matter of fact.
I've been really messed about by one "complaints adviser" because I clearly detailed all the issues and asked for a specific response (some cocky lad who didn't like me knowing/demanding my rights) - kept writing back, not answering it properly (politician-style) so as have everything in writing am escalating the complaint, so he's really shot himself in the foot.
God what a time waster - aaargh!!

Mar.cresham

Hi All

I started my claim around 5 weeks ago as im in hardship. I didnt hear a thing so rang the bank they said manager would ring next day (DIDNT) 3 Days later i got a letter saying they are looking at my case and i will hear by the 7th then this morning a got a letter asking me to ring and book to see them has they want to speak to me WHY??? They have asked me for my income and out goings also but they (DIDNT) send a form. I get DLA and IS thats my only income. The bank take loads of charges out of this and i dont understand why when i have (no) DD IE went bank sat was ment to get 150 they had took over 70 off it went to bank today ment to get 55 they had took 35 again no clue why. So how can i tell them my income when they take over half?


What i need help with is what am i ment to bring to them?

How do i do up income out goings when they take most of it.

Is it not the case when they take over 500 in a year (which they have) your seen has being in hardship?

Someone plz plz help me

DavH27

Hello all,

I am claiming ~ £800 from NatWest for unjust charges.

I have recieved the 'canned' letter telling me about the court case and that it will be on hold, or 'stayed' s I see you guys put it.

And as such, I have subscribed to Martin Lewis' MSE newsletter to recieve updates on that case so that I can chase my claim up at the right time, etc.

This is where is gets interesting - I lost my job a couple of weeks ago and I understand those without adequate income qualify as a 'hardship' case and as such, the court-ordered stay on claims now still requires these hardship cases to 'go through' as normal.

What do I send NatWest now, though? A short letter stating my newly found hardship status, or do I just send the claims charge breakdown and the original letter with the extra 'hardship' bit on the end of it?

I know the answer is quick and easy - somebody please clarify! However, because people can be wrong, I'd like as many people to chip in as possible.

Many thanks in advance!!!

- Davy.

kkzzss

hi everyone, am a bit confused about something and cant seem to find any help on my problem


i would like to claim charges under financial hardship with HSBC

however i have 2 accounts with them, one a current account and the other a savings account

the charges were taken from the current account, however i do have a substantial amount of money in the savings account (£10,000 +) - its not my money per se but anyhow its in my savings account

in my current account i have less than £50

so my questios are;

1. given the status of my accounts can i claim under financial hardship because of the money in my savings account? i.e. will it be dismissed because of the money in my savings account, which i have used now and again.

2. if not, can i take the money out of the savings account and then claim under financial hardship?

3.this may sound like a silly question, but can i do a "normal reclaim" as well as a financial hardship reclaim at the same time?


any help would be appreciated!

natweststaffmember

kkzzss wrote: »

hi everyone, am a bit confused about something and cant seem to find any help on my problem


i would like to claim charges under financial hardship with HSBC

however i have 2 accounts with them, one a current account and the other a savings account

the charges were taken from the current account, however i do have a substantial amount of money in the savings account (£10,000 +) - its not my money per se but anyhow its in my savings account

in my current account i have less than £50

so my questios are;
I am basing my view on simply what you have written.
1. given the status of my accounts can i claim under financial hardship because of the money in my savings account? i.e. will it be dismissed because of the money in my savings account, which i have used now and again. Yes I think you are right

2. if not, can i take the money out of the savings account and then claim under financial hardship? Then you may have the problem of explaining what you used the money for.

3.this may sound like a silly question, but can i do a "normal reclaim" as well as a financial hardship reclaim at the same time?
Yes you can do a standard reclaim

any help would be appreciated!

My gut feeling on this one is that you should start the process but you may not have the hardship criteria. Do you have any "priority debts"?

GEMMA_B303

PLEASE LISTEN UP...

HARDSHIP IS BULL

MY PARTNER IS OWED OVER 900 IN CHARGES SO PUT IN HARDSHIP

BANK SENT A LETTER BACK SAYING YES YOU ARE IN HARDSHIP AND HERE IS SOME ADVICE... ETC

THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED THE MONEY AND WHEN WE ASKED THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTILL THE COURT CASE ENDS

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO IF THEY DON'T GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT HARDSHIP OR WHAT TO DO IF THEY COME BACK WITH A FOBB OFF

LETS ALL FACE IT BANKS ARE !!!!!!!S AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TALK OUR MONEY EVEN IF WE HAVE NO MONEY TO TAKE... THEY WILL FIND A WAY.

THEY HAVE EVEN CHARGED ME FOR A CHARGE THEY GAVE ME WHICH TOOK ME OVERDRAWN.

MADNESS

esmerellda

GEMMA_B303 wrote: »

PLEASE LISTEN UP...

HARDSHIP IS BULL

MY PARTNER IS OWED OVER 900 IN CHARGES SO PUT IN HARDSHIP

BANK SENT A LETTER BACK SAYING YES YOU ARE IN HARDSHIP AND HERE IS SOME ADVICE... ETC

THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED THE MONEY AND WHEN WE ASKED THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTILL THE COURT CASE ENDS

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO IF THEY DON'T GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT HARDSHIP OR WHAT TO DO IF THEY COME BACK WITH A FOBB OFF

LETS ALL FACE IT BANKS ARE !!!!!!!S AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TALK OUR MONEY EVEN IF WE HAVE NO MONEY TO TAKE... THEY WILL FIND A WAY.

THEY HAVE EVEN CHARGED ME FOR A CHARGE THEY GAVE ME WHICH TOOK ME OVERDRAWN.

MADNESS

Morning,

Which bank are you claiming against honey?

Hardship doesnt mean a return of charges, although that is one option the bank will use to help if you are in serious arrears with essentials like mortgage/rent/co tax and utilities. Other options which often go alongside are return of cards, cancellation of direct debits and moving to a basic account.

Would need to know a bit more of your circumstances, income/expenditure and debts/arrears, also any recent change in your circumstances, and over what period your partner obtained 900 in charges.

Thats the only way we will be able to tell if you should go back to your bank and whether you are in severe financial hardship.

If they dont respond to your satisfaction 8 weeks after entering your claim you can go to the FOS but we do find in true FH cases going back and accentuating your circumstances can get them to look at paying your arrears,

LETS ALL FACE IT BANKS ARE !!!!!!!S AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE OUR MONEY EVEN IF WE HAVE NO MONEY TO TAKE... THEY WILL FIND A WAY.

I agree

xxxx

mum2one

If u do accept the offer make sure you state that it is without prejudice, which leaves it open to take them to court.
It really depends on whether u need the money now or take a chance that they will offer you any more? x

natweststaffmember

mum2one wrote: »

If u do accept the offer make sure you state that it is without prejudice, which leaves it open to take them to court.
It really depends on whether u need the money now or take a chance that they will offer you any more? x

Banks cannot offer Full and Final settlements on bank charges claims however I do think she should go back to halifax and ask them to up the offer as it doesn't really alleviate her hardship as she is £900 is arrears on the mortgage alone.

moneymonkey35

Hi all,

Just an update on progress with my claim.

After an unsatisfactory response from Natwest (ie did not consider me to be in hardship etc.) I filled the FOS forms and sent this with a cover letter and all necassary evidence straightaway.

So far, they have been very helpful. A week after writing to them, they sent me an acknowledgement letter (which I did ask for so not sure whether this is standard practice) with a reference number for my case.

Then yesterday (a month after sending them info) I received another letter explaining that they were in the process of contacting Natwest re my charges. Again, they couldn't give an exact time frame (understandable!) but did say I be contacted within two months. Within the letter they sent all the contact details needed to phone/email them. Along with the letter, they sent information on the process of putting in a claim. This information was not specific to bank claiming (I guess it is the same process for any of their complaints) but it did state that in the first instance, the complaint will get looked at by an adjudicator. If you are unhappy with their decision, it goes on to the ombudsman whose decision is final. It is made very clear that it cannot go on from this point (no ombudsman can overule another ombudsmans decision). The only option after this is to take the bank to court.

I did have to phone them cos they had my gender wrong (!!) and I got through on the phone very quickly and spoke to a real person (miracle of miracles!) who was very pleasant and apologetic. So my advice? Go to the ombudsman but be prepared to wait.

Hope this is helpful to anyone who is unhappy with their banks decision. I have my fingers tightly crossed for a positive outcome!