Bank Charges - illegal?

marymurdin

Hiya,

I have read everything on this thread through a few times, but am still unsure about a couple of things.

I bank with HSBC and they have charged me extorionate amounts of charges over the past six years. For example last month, their global call centre set up a transfer from my salary account to my bills account incorrectly, so that it came out of my bills account and went straight back into my bills account. As the transfer was not successful all my direct debits and standing orders failed and they charged me £200 for this even though it was their call centre who buggered it up. I went into my branch and got very angry and had a letter to close my account in hand and they grudgingly agreed to give me the charges back, making it out to be a big favour. I am still waiting for them to be returned to my account!

On many occasions I have been promised to have charges refunded and it doesn't happen.

I have had constant problems with the bank moving money around my accounts, so that direct debits I have set up fail. When I complain they say they have every right to do so and charge me over £30 for the account they have moved money out of being in unauthorised over draft.

I believe that if I could be successful in the process descibed on this website I would be owed literally thousands of pounds.

I would love to have a go. Can anyone tell me can I ask for my bank statements over the last six years all at once? (I have been shredding them)

How much should I be reasonably asked to pay for all these statements?

There will be hundreds of charges, do I need to explain what happened in everycase, ie do i have to prove it was their fault? Or do I just list them out? Or do I just put a total? Is there any type I can't claim back?

Has anyone else had experience with HSBC and this sort of claim?

Thanks very very much for sharing all your wisdom and experiences!

Mary

pink_fairy_5

well ive just sent my 'pay within seven days or im takng you to court' letter to Abbey. Fingers crossed - Hope it works! will update on the outcome as soon as get response - this site has been an inspiration - thanks

pink_fairy_5

how are others getting on who are claiming from abbey?

Turning_into_scrooge

homersimpson wrote:

bank is halifax
£20.00 for exceeding overdraft limit by £5.24-
20.00 for them having to pay direct debit of £15 when overdraft limit exceeded
£28.00 for exceeding overdraft limit by £32.44
(charges go back to late 2003. overdraft limit at time was £400. at time was paying very high course fees & it was very difficult to budget.)
can't make up my mind. it is worth or not?

Maybe this will help.

I sent a letter recorded delivery last Wednesday using a template letter on the thread Great letters that work hunt, stating that the charges were penalty charges which are technically illegal. I also put the bit in about them sending info on their complaints proceedure so I can take this further. These were my sons charges due to not receiving credit card statements from them. He had tried to deal with them by phone but NO they do NOT refund charges under any circumstances. He recieved a letter this morning saying they have refunded all charges as a goodwill gesture with a copy of their complaints proceedure. Result in less than 7 days!

Next stop LloydsTsb - the big one
Natwest
My halifax credit card
and so on.........

Do check out

https://www.bankactiongroup.com
https://www.bankchargeshell.co.uk

I was more than prepared to file the papers if they hadn't caved in. My son is a student, he doesn't have allot of money his charges were as a result of not receiving statements from them. You need to use the words penalty charges as these are illegal. Don't give up, go for it. :think:

sashacat

could you please post the link to the great letters that work thread...thanks

djohn2002uk

sashacat wrote:

could you please post the link to the great letters that work thread...thanks

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=614045

sashacat

thanks, just going on to that link now

tw0906blue

OK, here goes! My letter will be in the post tomorrow - and I will fax a copy as well for good measure as recommended on this thread.

Next stop credit card :eek:

Those of you who have already been successful - congratulations. :beer:

Good luck everyone embarking on this like I am...it is heartening to know the support is out there for us all.

tw0906blue

marymurdin wrote:

Hiya,


[PHP]I would love to have a go. Can anyone tell me can I ask for my bank statements over the last six years all at once? (I have been shredding them)

How much should I be reasonably asked to pay for all these statements?

There will be hundreds of charges, do I need to explain what happened in everycase, ie do i have to prove it was their fault? Or do I just list them out? Or do I just put a total? Is there any type I can't claim back?

Mary

[/PHP]
Hi Mary,

Yes you can ask for your statements. I called Barclays wondering how hard it would be and there was no problem. I was all ready with the arguements as supplied on this thread, but they weren't needn't. It cost me £10 for statements back 6 years.

Good luck!

dchurch24

For the information of the group: Abbey sent a letter last week to my partner 'offering' a 50/50 settlement. I wrote her a letter NOT accepting this, and reiterating that we would settle for the FULL amount of the claim, plus costs and interest - and nothing less.

This morning she recieved a letter informing her that a cheque for the full amount will be in the post.

Stand your ground - they know what they are doing is not ethical, legal and above all moral - they WILL give in and give you your money. Don't accept anything less than the full amount claimed - they're lucky I didn't claim the interest levied back as well (I see that as a fairer way of recouping any losses caused by the breach, so I didn't claim for it).