Question about claiming expenses incurred in reclaiming charges

borgmanjayce

I received a reply yesterday from the Halifax's so-called Customer Relations department refusing me a refund of the bank charge I incurred last month even though I clearly explained that I was in financial hardship due to my current unemployed statement and now I've decided that I'm going to hit them where it hurts by telling them that if they do not refund said charge within 14 days, I will be taking them to the Small Claims Court and looking at claiming damages.

If I do that, what kinds of damages will I be able to claim for on top of the refund of the bank charges?

For example, I was forced to borrow £50 off my Stepfather until I received my next benefit payment, so would I be able to include that in my claim?

natweststaffmember

borgmanjayce wrote: »

I received a reply yesterday from the Halifax's so-called Customer Relations department refusing me a refund of the bank charge I incurred last month even though I clearly explained that I was in financial hardship due to my current unemployed statement and now I've decided that I'm going to hit them where it hurts by telling them that if they do not refund said charge within 14 days, I will be taking them to the Small Claims Court and looking at claiming damages.

If I do that, what kinds of damages will I be able to claim for on top of the refund of the bank charges?

For example, I was forced to borrow £50 off my Stepfather until I received my next benefit payment, so would I be able to include that in my claim?

No you couldn't include borrowing money off your stepfather since the money that they would owe you would pay him back so to include it would be double charging.
How many charges were you reclaiming?
Do you have priority debt arrears(mortgage.rent,council tax, utilities)?

borgmanjayce

2 charges; one from December last year and a charge from last month.

Yes, I have priority debt arrears including gas, credit card and 2 other debts along with various utility bills.

natweststaffmember

borgmanjayce wrote: »

2 charges; one from December last year and a charge from last month.

Yes, I have priority debt arrears including gas, credit card and 2 other debts along with various utility bills.

Credit card is a non priority debt since the worst that can happen is a CCJ.
Can I ask whether this is your main account?

borgmanjayce

Yes, the account concerned is my main account and I'm concerned because I have a overdraft on this account of £100.

natweststaffmember

borgmanjayce wrote: »

Yes, the account concerned is my main account and I'm concerned because I have a overdraft on this account of £100.

If the charges in the last 8 months or so is £70.00 then I think them saying no to financial hardship is probably correct.

borgmanjayce

natweststaffmember wrote: »

If the charges in the last 8 months or so is £70.00 then I think them saying no to financial hardship is probably correct.

Why would that be?

I thought legally, a person whose only form of income was in the form of benefits was allowed to claim back the charges?

At least Nat West has the right idea in reducing the cost of most of the charges as of the 1st of October.

natweststaffmember

borgmanjayce wrote: »

Why would that be?

I thought legally, a person whose only form of income was in the form of benefits was allowed to claim back the charges?

At least Nat West has the right idea in reducing the cost of most of the charges as of the 1st of October.

Financial hardship is about having priority debt arrears(mortgage.rent, council tax, utilities) and that the it has been caused firstly by the very fact that a lifestyle event occurred, ie unemployment, loss of hours, etc,etc, and have been made worse by the charges. If you have incurred 2 charges in 8 months then there is another provision under the waiver which states that £500.00 under financial hardship over a 12 month period MIGHT be indicative of financial hardship. £70.00 on 8 months is not really having a huge impact on your life really.