How to claim for a Hardship case?

noreen88

Hi.

I've posted a thread in the debt free wannabee section, here.

Anyway, I got told I may be eligible for the Hardship Fund, in which case my charges will get refunded much quicker (if I am successful). So I've read over the part on the article on Bank Charges about reclaiming in a hardship case, and am unsure on how I should be contacted the bank initially.

Should I be writing to them, going into a branch, or speaking via phone? I understand they will send me out some documents and this gets the ball rolling.

Orford

I would advise always to create a paper trail, anything verbal leaves no proof and can always be denied if it suits them.

brightonman123

do the tenplate letter, and and a para re your situation (low income, unempoyed, facing job loss, student, etc?).

noreen88

Ok thanks for the help.

As for your question - I am a student.

I have a dispute about my account whereby I am £1500 over my overdraft limit, and have just contacted RBS about this in the last few days. They say they will issue me with a default notice.

Will this be postponed while I am filing against charges? (Which in total are more than £1500).

noreen88

Ok I've just gone through the template letter and calculated the charges on this account since 8.05.08 are £1527 (in pretty much 6 months!!!!)

I will send this letter on Monday - what sort of details should I include in the hardship part?

(Student, need to pay rent etc. (currently using another account to do this with a different bank) and live)?

Can I also add that this whole situation is putting me off studying and I have suffered in coursework due to it? (which is completely true).

macatac

I applied to the Halifax a week ago for a refund of charges. I told them i am suffering financial hardship, and they have said if i can prove this, and if they accept it is financial hardship, they will look into my claim straight away. Luckily enough i have a copy of all my expenditures which was worked out by a debt management company who i have agreed to deal with by going onto a debt management plan, so i have sent this in to halifax bank today. I am hoping it wont take too long before i recieve their reply. If they repay my charges, ive asked them to refund me by cheque. I hope they do this, as i am going to close my account once this is sorted.

catmiaow

macatac wrote: »

I applied to the Halifax a week ago for a refund of charges. I told them i am suffering financial hardship, and they have said if i can prove this, and if they accept it is financial hardship, they will look into my claim straight away. Luckily enough i have a copy of all my expenditures which was worked out by a debt management company who i have agreed to deal with by going onto a debt management plan, so i have sent this in to halifax bank today. I am hoping it wont take too long before i recieve their reply. If they repay my charges, ive asked them to refund me by cheque. I hope they do this, as i am going to close my account once this is sorted.

I applied back in Aug under hardship, still waiting for a response. Sent them a letter on thurs about it. :mad:

slim1982

i applied in july still ant heard even tho i ring i write every week

catmiaow

slim1982 wrote: »

i applied in july still ant heard even tho i ring i write every week

Blimey thats disgusting, I thought I had it bad. The woman told me most claims are dealt within 4 weeks, funny how I have read so many people on here waiting 8 weeks plus:mad:

macatac

The minute i hear anything from the halifax i will let you know what they have to say.

grouperbobby_2

I've also been waiting 8 weeks now. How I wish I'd never heard of Halifax PLC