Halifax Extortionate Bank Charge! Please Help

Leanne200

Ooops forgot to mention a thank you to all for advice!

Blakey1982

Just got another £35 charge for a £4.25 over payment.

Are these the type of charges people are reclaiming?????

Its so excessive - £133 charges for a total of like £43 over

natweststaffmember

Blakey1982 wrote: »

Just got another £35 charge for a £4.25 over payment.

Are these the type of charges people are reclaiming?????

Its so excessive - £133 charges for a total of like £43 over

You can reclaim the charges

Blakey1982

natweststaffmember wrote: »

You can reclaim the charges

Thanks Natwest

When I went into the bank they said as I’d reclaimed two charges in May so they couldn’t do anything in the branch however I can phone this number and they will talk through my money with me.

Is this just a fobbing off tactic?

I also asked the bank manager about the court claim that’s going through and he said Halifax members will receive a notification of the changes by December saying that charges and fees are going to be abolished but there will be a flat charge. I took this as meaning the flat charge will be a standard charge for using there service and fees like over drawn fees and penalties will be abolished – you think I got this right????

Cheers
Paul

jambosans

Blakey1982 wrote: »

Thanks Natwest

When I went into the bank they said as I’d reclaimed two charges in May so they couldn’t do anything in the branch however I can phone this number and they will talk through my money with me.

Is this just a fobbing off tactic?

Sounds like a fobbing off tactic. You can still reclaim (as I'm sure natweststaffmember will clarify). The number branch provided wasn't by any chance 08457 20 30 40? If so, that's just Telephone Banking, who will escalate a legal challenge which branch could have done themselves.

Blakey1982 wrote: »

I also asked the bank manager about the court claim that’s going through and he said Halifax members will receive a notification of the changes by December saying that charges and fees are going to be abolished but there will be a flat charge. I took this as meaning the flat charge will be a standard charge for using there service and fees like over drawn fees and penalties will be abolished – you think I got this right????

Cheers
Paul

He is talking about Halifax changing their charging structure (see the link below). Although it would seem blatantly in relation to the Test Case, the O.F.T. have not not been granted the power to scrutinise charges for fairness, so it seems impossible at this point for HBOS to pre-empt any decision on new charging structures. I'd imagine the new charges are a sign of this to come, but we cannot know for sure until the O.F.T. gives them the OK-GO.

I think the manager is blowing smoke, as the Test Case has not been resolved, and last I've heard it could be January before a decision is made. Suggesting changes are a direct result of court case that is not complete is nonsense (although I understand the logic). The changes in charging structure are most likely pre-emptive of the banks loosing the Test Case Appeal (again).


MSE News: Halifax and Bank of Scotland to slash bank charges

natweststaffmember

jambosans wrote: »

Sounds like a fobbing off tactic. You can still reclaim (as I'm sure natweststaffmember will clarify). The number branch provided wasn't by any chance 08457 20 30 40? If so, that's just Telephone Banking, who will escalate a legal challenge which branch could have done themselves.




He is talking about Halifax changing their charging structure (see the link below). Although it would seem blatantly in relation to the Test Case, the O.F.T. have not not been granted the power to scrutinise charges for fairness, so it seems impossible at this point for HBOS to pre-empt any decision on new charging structures. I'd imagine the new charges are a sign of this to come, but we cannot know for sure until the O.F.T. gives them the OK-GO.

I think the manager is blowing smoke, as the Test Case has not been resolved, and last I've heard it could be January before a decision is made. Suggesting changes are a direct result of court case that is not complete is nonsense (although I understand the logic). The changes in charging structure are most likely pre-emptive of the banks loosing the Test Case Appeal (again).


MSE News: Halifax and Bank of Scotland to slash bank charges

Jambosans, Can I make you aware that the MSE announcement was not an official news brief fcom HBOS and that 2 newspapers took up the story as though it was without checking with media relations. In fact, it's members of staff from Halifax who have provided more information than HBOS have. Having viewed the Media Relations site HBOS have actually said nothing official in spite of the MSE news story alleging they have.
Totally agree with your post with regards to the lowering of charges which is not got anything to do with the OFT test case.

Blakey1982

Thanks both – so what do you suggest I do? Use the literature and templates on refunding charges on this website or just accept that I made the error and live with it?

I also have a list of Lloyds TSB charges I had years ago – what’s the date I can claim up to?

Thanks
Paul

natweststaffmember

Blakey1982 wrote: »

Thanks both – so what do you suggest I do? Use the literature and templates on refunding charges on this website or just accept that I made the error and live with it?

I also have a list of Lloyds TSB charges I had years ago – what’s the date I can claim up to?

Thanks
Paul

Paul, reclaim the charges now on both and you can go back to July 2001.

Blakey1982

Thanks – appreciate your help

Do you know if anyone has had success with Halifax on similar charges?

jambosans

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Jambosans, Can I make you aware that the MSE announcement was not an official news brief fcom HBOS and that 2 newspapers took up the story as though it was without checking with media relations. In fact, it's members of staff from Halifax who have provided more information than HBOS have. Having viewed the Media Relations site HBOS have actually said nothing official in spite of the MSE news story alleging they have.
Totally agree with your post with regards to the lowering of charges which is not got anything to do with the OFT test case.

Yeah, I know. I've actually posted on that thread my understanding on the charges. As far as I'm aware staff have been blabbing about it but HBOS have not made an official announcement. I've read that the mailing goes out within the next few weeks, so we will know exactly what the changes are. I was simply pointing the OP to that thread so he could read what the manager was on about.

I think the branch manager was clearly "muddying" the issue with the poster, almost implying that these new charges will not be subject to scrutiny by the O.F.T. when they win the test case (which, as I've said, is absolutely not the case). I guarantee you when HBOS announce this they will deny any relation to the pending Test Case in prompting this drastic change (even though everyone will be thinking it).