Bank Charges - illegal?

Stubbarama

Hey Chaps/Chapesses, This is a thread about Bank charges and whether they are illegal or not.

Lets not start a row about carpentry, I have never had a fight with a chair.

Remember the old Bruce Lee quote " Wood dont fight back. Awwwohh "

dchurch24

gothicf0rm wrote:

the halifax will refuse to pay a direct debit where yuo dont have the funds but will pay a debit card transaction where you dont have the funds even if both transaction sizes are identical and your balance is the same.

phil -
1) request all your statements from hsbc under the DPA
2) add up all your charges, plus the interest they charged you on them. add 8% interest (if it happened five years ago for example youre in luck!).
3) contact the collection agency and notify them of the sum involved. tell them you do not owe the money and then warn them if they continue to contact you you will take action against them for harassment of a debtor.
4) sue HSBC for the amount owed.

once youve done all that you can sort out your credit record, threats of suing banks for defamation usually works.

Don't forget, that's 8% APR, not just an 8% added on top.

BankFodder

A lot of people here seem to be interested in recovering some of the excessive charges which are taken from one in five customers of UK high Street banks. These charges are taken on the basis of invalid penalty clauses which are included in your bank's standard-form contract.
The same kind of penalty charge clause is included in many other kinds of contract - including mobile phone - if a direct debit is not paid on time, mortgage contracts - if a payment is missed, credit cards, of course etc.
Any of these organisations which levys a penalty charge and which does more than reflect their actual losses is taking your money unlawfully.
For a full explanation of the law, and the processes involved in recovering your money, go to https://www.BankActionGroup.com.
You will be advised and encouraged. If you are able to make any input on the basis of your own experience or expertise then you will be very welcome indeed.

The Bank Action Group
https://www.BankActionGroup.com

becky004

I have found my banks head office address to write and complain about unfair charges. Who do I address it to? And what department should I send it to? Many thanks in advance.

Turning_into_scrooge

BankFodder wrote:

A lot of people here seem to be interested in recovering some of the excessive charges which are taken from one in five customers of UK high Street banks. These charges are taken on the basis of invalid penalty clauses which are included in your bank's standard-form contract.
The same kind of penalty charge clause is included in many other kinds of contract - including mobile phone - if a direct debit is not paid on time, mortgage contracts - if a payment is missed, credit cards, of course etc.
Any of these organisations which levys a penalty charge and which does more than reflect their actual losses is taking your money unlawfully.
For a full explanation of the law, and the processes involved in recovering your money, go to https://www.BankActionGroup.com.
You will be advised and encouraged. If you are able to make any input on the basis of your own experience or expertise then you will be very welcome indeed.

The Bank Action Group
https://www.BankActionGroup.com

Welcome to MSE Bankfodder, nice to see you on here too :wave: :hello:

BankFodder

Becky
It is always a problem to get first meaningful contacts underway. Merely writing to head office will probably just get some standard reply - very likely a rejection and will cause you loss of time while you send a further letter and try to convince someone to actually pay attention to you and to treat you like a sentient being.
I would suggest that you start using the 'phone and make headway up the hierarchy, getting names and contact info at each step. If you make a nuisance of yourself - politely - but get people to understand that you will be persistent and that you won't take any flannel, the bank telephone operatives will move you up the chain until you are speaking with someone who is in a position of responsiblity.
The chances are that if there is a refund forthcoming, that it can be agreed on the phone. If there isn't then you write to that person by name. Get an email address if you can. A direct line umber etc.
Can I say that there are discussions on this with advice on the Bank Action Group website at https://www.BankActionGroup.com. This is a new group which is trying to build itself up.
I would much rather continue this discussion there and you will also meet other people who are like-minded and have experience of what you are doing.

Would you like to know what your chances are of getting your money back?
I would say that it is scarcely conceivable that you won't. How's that for confidence.

The Bank Action Group
https://www.BankActionGroup.com

carlih1

Hi

Just had 6 letters full of 28 pages of statements that i didn't have pop through my door, is it just a case of using the excell worksheet on the banchargehell website to work out how much they owe me and send them THE letter, i think they know whats coming!!!!

Carli

macca64

Thanks to all on here - Just managed to get £25 back for my mom from A&L :beer:

Need to help my sister get her charges back from A&L and Barclaycard now, those should total over £100 :eek:

jinx_uk_98

Hi guys.

I have just recivied a list of charges from Woolwich but they say that they can only give me 4 years worth - the other 2 years will be require me to to order old statments for at a cost of £5 per statement.

does anyone have any advice in getting these for free? my charges for the past 4 years total £1200.

digp

You need to cite the Data Protection Act 1998 when making the request. In your case, write back and state that the previous request was under that legislation. And that therefore they can only charge a fee prescribed by law.