Bank Charges Financial Hardship Success Stories

Phamous

Bank: Barclays
Amount claimed: £1,800
Amount paid: £722

Not the full amount but I started my claim early last year and about a month ago I re-opened the claim under the hardship rule. I got a letter last week offering me £30 (!) so I called and asked for it be increased. The lady I spoke to said that Barclays have a formula (they will offer something like half the amount accrued in charges since you entered hardship) So I was offered £500. I appealed to her better nature (saying is there any chance you could offer a bit more... it's Christmas soon!) which worked as she increased it to £722. It was transferred into my account the following day so Yay! Happy Christmas!!

She also said, the rest could be refunded according to the outcome of the test case, when it is concluded.

So - it's worth calling up if your original offer is a bit low.

Good luck everyone - I hope you all get a refund.

Thanks Martin and the team!!
x

Becki-Boo_2

Bank : Natwest
Amount claimed : £7,694.84 plus interest = £10,963.16
Began claiming January 2007, paid £240.00 MCOL fee and £100 allocation fee

Due to halt in court claims (I was so close I could almost taste it!!!), I finally went down the financial hardship route using this site as guidance - this was not too hard to prove at all because I am genuinely struggling financially. I sent letters I had recieved threatening court, and late/red utility bill letters etc. I have also incurred more than £500 charges on a regular basis (per year)

I recently received a letter from NATWEST last week asking me to call. Which I did, and was asked further questions relating to my financial hardship forms I had completed, such as;
Do I have a parner (no)
Am I on any benefits (no)
Do i receive maintanance etc (no)
Once I had answered all of the above she then said I am definetley in financial hardship and they would contact me within two days. They have also changed my account to a basic account and will not apply further charges to my account until the appeal/results of the test case are known. I received a call two days later, as promosed and informed they will refund all charges (minus interest) for the past six years and a letter would be sent to me. All I have to do is agree the amount on the letter and the charges will be returned. I am waiting for the letter at the moment.

I shall add to success stories when I have more information

Question ; Has anyone managed to have a refund of their MCOL and allocation fees by the bank - or interest for that matter?

In my response to the forthcoming offer letter, I have been advised to add something along the lines of accepting this amount (without prejudice) and having the right to claim the full amount (interest and court fees) when the test case is finalised - Any advice?

moo_cow

MORE FANTASTIC HALIFAX SUCCESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

amount reclaiming £3000 ish
amount they paid £3123

After reporting just 2 days ago of the reclaiming success with my neighbour's hubby's charges, she has now recieved an offer today of a whopping £3123 for her own charges. Which she has obviously accepted and this now means she can repay her mortgage arrears in full, stay in her home and have a little left for a rainy day. I am over the moon and it couldn't have come at a better time for her.

A big thank you once again to everyone on this site, especially Martin for making us aware of this and helping us all to reclaim what is rightfully ours.

Becki-Boo_2

Becki-Boo wrote: »

Bank : Natwest
Amount claimed : £7,694.84 plus interest = £10,963.16
Began claiming January 2007, paid £240.00 MCOL fee and £100 allocation fee

Due to halt in court claims (I was so close I could almost taste it!!!), I finally went down the financial hardship route using this site as guidance - this was not too hard to prove at all because I am genuinely struggling financially. I sent letters I had recieved threatening court, and late/red utility bill letters etc. I have also incurred more than £500 charges on a regular basis (per year)

I recently received a letter from NATWEST last week asking me to call. Which I did, and was asked further questions relating to my financial hardship forms I had completed, such as;
Do I have a parner (no)
Am I on any benefits (no)
Do i receive maintanance etc (no)
Once I had answered all of the above she then said I am definetley in financial hardship and they would contact me within two days. They have also changed my account to a basic account and will not apply further charges to my account until the appeal/results of the test case are known. I received a call two days later, as promosed and informed they will refund all charges (minus interest) for the past six years and a letter would be sent to me. All I have to do is agree the amount on the letter and the charges will be returned. I am waiting for the letter at the moment.

I shall add to success stories when I have more information

Question ; Has anyone managed to have a refund of their MCOL and allocation fees by the bank - or interest for that matter?

In my response to the forthcoming offer letter, I have been advised to add something along the lines of accepting this amount (without prejudice) and having the right to claim the full amount (interest and court fees) when the test case is finalised - Any advice?

UPDATE!!!!


Nearly TWO YEARS later from my first letter, I have today received in the post a WHOPPING offer of £7,174.00 from Natwest

Matin and his team are LEGENDS! Thank you all sooooooo much and thank you to all those that have posted success stories on this site -you have encouraged me to carry on and not be worn down by the banks delay tactics

Harley2006

Been claiming my charges bk from Halifax for last year, all put on hold then went through hardship route 2 months ago due to change of job, arrears etc. Heard the Halifax were quite hard to get back from so didn't hold out much hope. Finally got letter last week offering me £1888, only slightly less than original claim but great result! Hang on in there if you've got a claim going through, keep pushing!!!Got Natwest charges back last year and am currently pursuing PPI on a loan, will keep you posted!!:T

Duncanc99

Halifax finally caved in and offered me the full amount of fees i was asking for,and with the interest if and when they loose. So i should get £2600 under the financial hardship criteria,in the next week. They took 8 weeks to reassess,and i think them being bailed out by the taxpayer helped them discover their generous side!!!!

TheGiggsLady

Hi, Can anyone help me? I have put in a cliam for Barclays for £1864.00, after several phone calls chasing them I received a letter today offering me £862, apparently dating back to 2006. Should I accept this, I am a financial hardship case due to being a full time student and my husband recently being made redundant, and requested payments dating back the full 6 years. Their letter states they do not know how long I have been in financial hardship and that I need to call them to discuss or accept their offer by 10th Jan 2009. What should I do, try for a bigger pay out (the full amount clears an existing overdraft that has now been cancelled by another bank and is costing me further charges)or should I just take what they've offered?
Thanks for reading

alams

Hi, just like The GiggsLady, I have also put in a case of financial hardship to Barclays requesting £1860 in charges. I have also been offered a goodwill gesture of £280 stating that they do not know how long i have been in financial hardship. I am a full time student and I am nearly £1000 o/d in my £1000 o/d limit account. I am not happy with this amount and they are requesting me to call to discuss or accept this by the 10th January 2009. How do i refuse and press for more to be refunded??

help greatly appreciated

Former_MSE_Wendy

Hi guys

On the partial offer - no one can really tell you whether to take it or not - that is your own decsion to make based on your individual circumstances.

We have seen some partial offers include permission to reclaim the remainder if the test case goes in our favour, so this is something you could request, but each bank will have it's own policy on whether to offer this or not.

Ultimately if you are not happy with the offer you can tell your bank you will take the case to the Financial Ombusdman but this will not be resolved before the 10 Jan.

Hope that helps a little.

Wendy

alams

Hi Wendy, thanks for your response. Ive just been on the phone to Barclays telling them that im not happy with the offer they have proposed, they are going to call me back in 48 hours to discuss. Apparently financial services ombudsman guidelines are to deal with the financial hardship claim seperately and for 50% of charges refund only within the last 12 months??? is this correct?? i am reading success stories of 50% refunds for the full period.

Please advise me further

regards