Lloyds Bank credit card charge reclaiming - can i continue to fight them?

alstemp

Hi there

Hoping someone can tell me next steps here and if there are any other avenues open to me . . .

Summary - at beginning Nov 09 I wrote to Lloyds Bank card operations requesting credit card charge reclaim refund of £248 covering the period Jun 06 - Oct 09.

Today, 18th Jan, I got a letter back from them, which offered me a paltry sum which as far as they are concerned closes the matter. To quote from the letter:

"Because of the OFT's statement of 5 Apr 2006, you believe certain charges we have made to your account are unlawful. You would therefore like them refunded.

Even though we do not agree with the OFT's interpretation of the law, we made a decision to cut these charges to £12 from 29 June 2006. No recommendtion was made about previous charges, but as a gesture of good will I'm willing to refund the difference between £12 and the actual amount of each charge applied to your account. I will also add net interest at an annual gross rate of 8% to this refund, so the total amount we're paying you is £10.37.

If we're unable to resolve any ongoing concerns you'll be able to contact the Financial Ombudsman for help".

WHAT? £10.37 against £248?!!!! Can anyone deciper this?!!

I'm not disputing their charges are £12 a time - between 2006 & 2009 I accrued enough of their £12 late charges to make up £248!!! In fact I made my request for refund for the period AFTER they reduced their charges to £12!!

Can I continue with the claim or is their little chance of getting more out of them?

They don't seem to have explained anything let alone acknowledge they have charged me £248 in late charges etc.

Any help hugely appreciated.

Regards

natweststaffmember

Keep going since the OFT clearly stated that only a court has the power to decide what is a fair charge plus they will refund it

alstemp

Thanks for the encouragement.

Is there anywhere I can find template letters or indeed info on "what to do next"? Should I write back to Lloyds or go to the OFT, etc?

Thanks

natweststaffmember

Is this the first or final response from Lloyds?
You would go to the FOS as well not the OFT

alstemp

Hi - well before today I got various "thank you for your complaint, we will look into it" letters but today's seems to be their final "take it or leave it" response.

Sorry I did mean FOS, not OFT. How do I contact them, what should I say, etc?

thanks again

alstemp

I should also say I applied for around £10K's worth of standard bank charges last Autumn, but the pre-Xmas decision ruined that one.

But I thought the credit card charges bit was different and you can still claim?

natweststaffmember

alstemp wrote: »

I should also say I applied for around £10K's worth of standard bank charges last Autumn, but the pre-Xmas decision ruined that one.

But I thought the credit card charges bit was different and you can still claim?

Standard bank charges are one thing and credit card charges are different as you said. With credit card charges the bank will pay up......eventually.

Premier_2

alstemp wrote: »

I should also say I applied for around £10K's worth of standard bank charges last Autumn, but the pre-Xmas decision ruined that one.

But I thought the credit card charges bit was different and you can still claim?

That is correct. The recent decision by the Supreme Court was about bank charges and does not affect credit card charges.

The latest article on credit card charges reclaims, including some template letters, is available here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/credit-card-charges

alstemp

Thanks both for your quick responses! Will battle on . . .