Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

Marv_uk

Hi natweststaffmember,

Letter sent to Lloyds TSB - the info i posted here yesterday (above posts) came from their recovery centre & today a letter came from their solicitor's (i posted them a copy of my hardship letter at the same time) stating:

"They (the bank) won't be discussing the charges covered by the OFT waiver. In the meantime your claim against the bank remains stayed pending the outcome of the OFT Test case. We would like to clarify that our client's instructions at this time is not to settle your claim and that they will not be refunding any penalty charges relating to your claim. Once the legal proceedings between the OFT and the banks finish, Lloyds TSB will offer to resolve your claim as quickly as possible applying the principles established in that case."

Lloyds at their caring best! :rotfl:
Let's just hope all of us in the same boat at present will have the right to reclaim our stolen money back! - (money that we're forced to lend to them, in order for us in return, to gain account's that masquerade as safety nests) via the courts and have the interest paid on top as clearly hardship or no hardship, the puppet masters are hell bent in keeping us down!

Good luck to us all.

STabilo_2

I recently sent a letter to my husbands bank claiming financial hardship (HSBC) they wrote back saying they will look into what they can do for our situation - not alot really but since then they have cancelled my husbands credit card claiming that because the letter states we are in financial hardship they are entitled to do this!!! has anyone else had the same happen, we have NEVER missed a payment on the card or anything!

natweststaffmember

Marv_uk wrote: »

Hi natweststaffmember,

Letter sent to Lloyds TSB - the info i posted here yesterday (above posts) came from their recovery centre & today a letter came from their solicitor's (i posted them a copy of my hardship letter at the same time) stating:

"They (the bank) won't be discussing the charges covered by the OFT waiver. In the meantime your claim against the bank remains stayed pending the outcome of the OFT Test case. We would like to clarify that our client's instructions at this time is not to settle your claim and that they will not be refunding any penalty charges relating to your claim. Once the legal proceedings between the OFT and the banks finish, Lloyds TSB will offer to resolve your claim as quickly as possible applying the principles established in that case."

Lloyds at their caring best! :rotfl:
Let's just hope all of us in the same boat at present will have the right to reclaim our stolen money back! - (money that we're forced to lend to them, in order for us in return, to gain account's that masquerade as safety nests) via the courts and have the interest paid on top as clearly hardship or no hardship, the puppet masters are hell bent in keeping us down!

Good luck to us all.

If you fancy being a bit cocky then send them another letter back telling them that your claim doesn't involve penalty charges since the OFT test case has resolved that issue however the charges are unfair under the UTCCR 1999. They might send you a repeat letter but the sport would be good

natweststaffmember

STabilo wrote: »

I recently sent a letter to my husbands bank claiming financial hardship (HSBC) they wrote back saying they will look into what they can do for our situation - not alot really but since then they have cancelled my husbands credit card claiming that because the letter states we are in financial hardship they are entitled to do this!!! has anyone else had the same happen, we have NEVER missed a payment on the card or anything!

Yes cos you are in financial hardship. Is that not the obvious thing to do? Was there anything on the card ie balance outstanding?

squink

mark_ringy wrote: »

hi, another newbie here,



So am i right in saying i write to obudsman?? please correct me if im wrong, that is why im here! Also, it mentioned i have been charged under the personal reserve... i never opted for it and never had it!


Mark

I've found it helpful (before writing letters) to phone up the ombudsman service (no. online) as they will cut to the chase and advise best course; you can't take out a complaint with them until you've been through the bank's complaint procedures (get a copy if they haven't sent you one).
Re the second letter - if what they say is incorrect, you can a) phone up complaints dept (again, info on their leaflet - ask/get one from bank) and may get rectified on the spot (sometimes works) but will probably be logged as a complaint, in which case is better to write it in as an official complaint and they then have to act. BUT (and this happened to me) if that is dealt with badly (give you a "named" handler/adviser - mine sounds like your letter writer, talked rubbish) escalate to the head office for complaints, London address (on leaflet).
Re financial hardship claim, make sure you fit the criteria (check this site/Ombudsman can advise) then the bank HAS to offer to help, initially by asking for all your in/outgoing details (see their banking code, says they have to be helpful - use all these for quotes). And if you get no joy after going through the process but are confident you meet the criteria, THEN (after going through their complaints procedure - have to do it this way!) you take it formally to the ombudsman (they'll tell you what to do).
Hope that's clearer than mud

squink

acey32 wrote: »

Does this mean success is imminent or simply still under review??

Thanks

No guarantee with bank responses - very variable. BUT phone the ombudsman/clarify you do meet hardship criteria, and if you go through the bank's due process (have to do this, get their complaints procedures and banking code leaflets, fascinating reading) and are knocked back then take it to the ombudsman - usually find they're helpful on the phone (no. online).

squink

lilmissmoneysaver wrote: »

Well i have sent off the income and expenditure they asked for. Now i guess i just wait

has anyone else had any luck with natwest, i have just come to the comclusion they are going to close my account give me a basic account and take away direct debits etc, which in turn is going to make my life harder.. also take back the overdraft and then arrange for me to pay it back...HOW am i supposed to do that when i have nothing left to pay back, if i did i wudnt always be in my overdraft and overdrawn over my overdraft ALL THE TIME

Does anyone have any advice, do you think its hopefull? anyone had the same letter as me and got their money back?

thanks

Very stressed single mum with money worries.. :wall:

The banks have a binding commitment (ha ha) to help customers in financial difficulties, not make it worse as you're anticipating (of course they don't always follow their own rules) BUT they have to issue copies of their banking code to you on request which states they have to be helpful, blah blah (which if they're not, you can quote back to them in writing - don't let them off anything if they break their rules, just state the facts). This then is evidence you can use to take to the ombudsman if you go through the banks' complaints procedure (again, have to supply copy of to you - go in bank) and don't feel are treated reasonably.
Also, the citizen's advice bureau or cccs (consumer credit counselling service) give good advice and support in how to keep your situation under control. Even if you don't use them to manage your debts (which is a good back up as they carry more clout with banks and credit companies) they will give verbal help - info online for both, the cccs you can just phone up and speak to someone on freephone. If you use them, they can take your in/outgoings info, see what is left over, write to any creditors (including bank re overdraft) and basically allocate what you can afford monthly (not what the bank asks for) - you pay cccs this, and they pay your creditors; the big issue is, providing you're paying something per month you're on the side of right in the eyes of the law; if the bank got nasty they are seen as the bad boys.
Also (I know I keep saying this) the ombudsman (tel no online) is helpful in giving accurate information about what to do/how procedures work.
If you meet financial hardship criteria (sounds like you might, I think there's stuff on it on this site, and the ombudsman can advise) and the bank refuses to reimburse your charges (assuming you're claiming)
then you take it to the ombudsman after following the bank's complaints procedure - and then it HAS to be dealt with by the bank, and I understand they're likely to jump for the ombudsman (I'm just about to do this).
Hope that helps! (yes I've been all through this too, feels like your life is being sucked away sometimes by all the c**p you have to go through to get things sorted, though sometimes (occasionally) somebody just says "yes"....it so makes your day )
Bye for now

get_me_out

Bank: Nationwide
Amount claimed : £1700.00

Contacted bank back in march re financial Hardship case. They sent letter asking for incomes etc. filled in and returned.

They wrote saying they are looking at it and will write again in 14 days. as they promise to reply to first letter in 14 days and could'nt give a proper reply.

Got letter this week 6 weeks since we first contacted them say they can't refund charges.

Rang and asked why as yes we do meet crit etc....

Told "that as we did not tell them back in 2003 that we were in hardship they won't refund the charges. as not in hardship then :mad:

We did go in and ask about changing our account to one with a very small overdraft in case a dd was going out early (ie Sky) told no. That was in 2003, but that not proof enough NOR is they fact that thats when the charges getting bad.

"As we are not getting regular charges on account they are not making our situation worse". (we moved accounts as kept losing our money in charges)

Then had the cheek to ask if we can pay off the out standing balance?? It's only £275.00 all of which are charges in last 12 months.


Think I need to contact the banking ob but with which letter??

yachtnirvana

i have read as much as i can take in but do not understand if i should wile making a new claim ,claim back from 2007 to 2001 or should i claim back from now for six years as it is now that i am paying most charges .thanks yachtnirvana,ps not so sure ive posted this properly either

pake26

I am also in incapacity benefit due to a back problem and have been told im not fit for work (i'm only 28), I wrote to the abbey and they to said they wouldn't deal with my case until the one in court is sorted.

Are they really allowed to do this when I have two children and a very small income.

Please help