Claim back any unfair bank charges! Article Discussion Area

Daities

Hi guys - a bit of advice is needed here.

My daughter has followed the advice to claim back her bank charges. She claimed back 6 years charges and now her bank has come back to her and said the whilst they don't agree that the charges are unreasonable, in order to save on their management time disputing this they have made her an offer of £2k. The actual charges were just over £3K.

The have given her a time limit to accept and said that she is free to go and complain to the ombudsman.

The questions we have are:

Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you do?
If she was to go back and insist on the full amount - what is the likelihood of them withdrawing the offer and refusing to pay anything?
Anyone suggestions as to the best way to deal with this.
£2k is a lot of money and my daughter can't afford to lose it - which is probably what the bank are relying on - but equally a further £1k would mean a lot to her and why should they get off cheaply if the charges are unjust.

All comments gratefully received.

Thanks for your help.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Watch out for Abbey!

I was advised by one of the telephone banking staff to be extra careful as they're charges have been put up to total about £80 even if you go 1p over any authorised overdraft.

It is a massive joke - to make matters worse no other bank account will accept me as i have been overdrawn a few too many times. When you are struggling to bring up a child alone, after being made redundant whilst on maternity leave (without any payout) it is very easy to get in this situation but nobody helps.

I have tried to open a Basic Account with a few banks but they do not like it and have tried to fob me off with the story that it only for non-british residents (?!?)

Somebody help me!!!!:mad:

shaun1977

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote:

Watch out for Abbey!

I was advised by one of the telephone banking staff to be extra careful as they're charges have been put up to total about £80 even if you go 1p over any authorised overdraft.

It is a massive joke - to make matters worse no other bank account will accept me as i have been overdrawn a few too many times. When you are struggling to bring up a child alone, after being made redundant whilst on maternity leave (without any payout) it is very easy to get in this situation but nobody helps.

I have tried to open a Basic Account with a few banks but they do not like it and have tried to fob me off with the story that it only for non-british residents (?!?)

Somebody help me!!!!:mad:

try a smile account or natwest solo, the government has stated that all banks must offer a basic account to anyone.

Daities

shaun1977 wrote:

Hi, dont worry its just the standard reply to save them a bit of money. there is a letter to refuse partial settlement at https://www.consumer corner.co.uk DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR OFFER !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Shaun - great link and good letter.

Look like they would / should probably agree to this - but in the event that they say no - take us to court - how easy would it be to do so? Could we do this ourselves without employing solicitors or should we threaten to use solicitors if need be and say we will pass the charges on to them? Has a bank ever refused to pay up to anyones knowledge?

Thanks again for you help.

achtunglady

I sent off my letter asking for my charges(£1625) back, on the 26th September. This morning i got a letter from bank offering me £1460 "without any admission of liability" and "in full and final settlement of this matter".
I am going to accept it and let the bank have the difference as reasonable charges. Plus I don't have the hassle of going to court. If the money offered was more than a £200 difference then I would have proceeded to court.

Just looking forward to getting hubbys bank charges back £2788, sent his letter off the same time, so hopefully we should be hearing from them soon!!!

I am just kicking myself as i could have had this money already, didnt realise that my 6 years worth of statements were available online!!

Edinburghlass_2

Martin was discussing Bank Charges on Jeremy Vine show today, you can listen again via the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

marlborogirl

Hey...just a quick question..hope someone's got an answer to this....I sent my first letters to my bank claiming my charges back in March this year, I sent my final LBA in April with no luck, but since then, I kinda got sidetracked and didn't get round to taking them to court (First Direct btw), however, since then, I've accrued even more charges (for being overdrawn no more than about £5.00 at a time!) I'm just wondering if I can continue and take them to court or if I should start again with the letters?

shaun1977

marlborogirl wrote:

Hey...just a quick question..hope someone's got an answer to this....I sent my first letters to my bank claiming my charges back in March this year, I sent my final LBA in April with no luck, but since then, I kinda got sidetracked and didn't get round to taking them to court (First Direct btw), however, since then, I've accrued even more charges (for being overdrawn no more than about £5.00 at a time!) I'm just wondering if I can continue and take them to court or if I should start again with the letters?

Hi, your better off sending a further lba for the new amount then after 14 days, go to court

Sal_the_sleuth

MSE_Archna wrote:

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the

Claim back any unfair bank charges Article

To discuss or ask a question: click reply

IMPORTANT: To discuss the impact of the campaign on bankings future go here

I am hoping this will work for me but I want to ask one thing - what if you have an open account which includes your mortgage and bank account - do you risk the bank closing the account and demanding the mortgage to be paid off as well if they conceed to pay the charges back? It is a big worry as I am not sure we could borrow so much from another mortgage lender.

Sal_the_sleuth

I am hoping this will work for me but I want to ask one thing - what if you have an open account which includes your mortgage and bank account - do you risk the bank closing the account and demanding the mortgage to be paid off as well if they conceed to pay the charges back? It is a big worry as I am not sure we could borrow so much from another mortgage lender.