Report Bank Charges successes and failures

ra2010

I was skeptical as I had previously tried to get the charges refunded from my current account. My argument was that I was in financial hardship at the time and was in constant cycle of charges and Barclays would not help me when I pleaded for their help at the time.

Today I woke up and was astonished by the £2,500 sitting in my bank!!!

Never did I think that they would refund my charges but they did to the tune of £2500! The money was in my account 14 days after I sent the letter!

The template provided by Martin Lewis is brilliant! TRTY IT!:beer:

shelly121983

Found this site a few weeks ago after hearing about being able to claim bank charges back if you were in financial hardship. Sent letter to RBS on 24th February 2014 explaining hardship and asked for charges totaling £750 to be paid back, received goodwill payment of £300 on 7th March 2014. i would encourage anyone who is skeptical to at least write to the bank, I never thought i would get anything at all back, how shocked i was, thank you so much to this site for your template letter.

izzyuk59

Barclays Bank

Claiming back 5 years of a Premier Account we did not need : 60 months @ £25 pcm = £1500

Offered £1730.22 ( incl 8% interest and a £50 apology) - they stated we had the account for 58 months. I accepted and am happy with the result.

I emailed Barclays my own version using your template as a guide. I had full information, they alas did not and on that basis had to allow my case on the balance of evidence available (mine).

For goodness sake people this took 4 weeks from start to finish so do it! It's your money by right. If you should have been shown better/cheaper accounts more suitable to you then you should be claiming.

Good luck and Martin and all at MSE - a very BIG thank you :T

[Deleted User]

I have seen some folks giving potential claimants erroneous advice on this issue and I find it a bit concerning to be honest. Telling people that you can not make a hardship claim, if you are not in current hardship, is clearly wrong. From the official MSE webpage on the subject:

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http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges#step1

Who can go to the Ombudsman?
The Ombudsman has said it will only look at cases based on ‘fairness' criteria – in other words, if you have been harshly or unfairly treated. It's specifically noted three different reasons which it would be likely to look at on this basis. They can either apply to your situation now, or at some point in the past. Yet importantly, if you're no longer in hardship, the Ombudsman will look at how your bank treated you at the time and whether you are still struggling. To help your case, you should have contacted your bank for help when you had the difficulties.
*******************************************************

It really is crystal clear that if you were suffering hardship in the past, at the time of receiving bank charges, then you can still make a claim even if not in current hardship. Furthermore, if you are actually in current hardship, then I would invariably recommend claiming back all charges regardless of how far back they go. I'm sure most folks would already be doing this, but some might not fully realise the nasty domino effect these charges have had on their lives over a long period. Unless there's been a sudden change of circumstances for the worse, of course that can happen in the odd case and people need to judge their own situation for themselves, then it's obvious your hardship situation built up over time.


Aside from all of that, I feel that the issue of what can rule out a hardship claim has also been misrepresented on this thread. For example, I have seen people boldly telling folks that if you have a satellite TV subscription, or some other voluntary subscription, then you can't be considered for hardship. Yet again, this is clearly wrong. From an official FOS webpage on the subject:

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http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/financial-hardship-unaffordable-lending.htm

Common Misunderstandings.
Supposition - 'Consumers who spend money on things like satellite TV are obviously not in genuine financial difficulty.'

FOS Viewpoint - 'No. Lenders should look properly at the consumer's individual circumstances before reaching any conclusions about their income and outgoings. It is not generally helpful to pick on individual items of expenditure in isolation, as that will rarely convey the full picture of the consumer's financial position and commitments.'
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Yet again, this is crystal clear. How are people getting this all so wrong? :eek: Anyhow, all's well that ends well, so I hope there are no further misunderstandings on this thread. Good luck everyone and remember... you've got nothing to lose by giving it a go.

[Deleted User]

DANESPRINCE wrote: »

Hi all. Sorry but I am a newbie to this site and cant quite find the answer to a question I have.

I applied to reclaim bank charges with a company back in 2007-2008 and was happy to receive some charges back from several banks however Barclays didn't reply at first and then point blank refused to pay any charges back. I got back in touch with the company who was dealing with it for me and they re-contacted Barclays who then stated due to the on going court process at the time all the complaints re charges were being put on hold. in 2009 I received a letter from them stating they believed that they had effectively won at the high court and that my complaint would be kept on file but they would not be paying me out.

my query is, if I re-contacted Barclays would I be able to still claim for the charges from that period even though the account was closed down shortly after. I reckoned that I was owed approx. £1200-1500 at that time. ever since then I have buried my head in the sand and struggled to keep up payments up on other accounts and continuously used credit to survive. Unfortunately I no longer have my bank account details or the bank charges ref no.... any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, you can certainly still try to claim back these charges, as you are - and were - in hardship, though you might have to resort to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You need to contact the company that dealt with your claim to retrieve all of your Barclays bank account(s)/case details.

If the company no longer exists, or you get nowhere with them, then you need to go into the bank branch where you held your account(s) with some official identification and request that they locate your account and you be furnished with all of your past statements. It's common knowledge that they retain all of this information. They will usually send these out by post and they might charge you £5 or something like that.

If they mess you around, then you need to send a Subject Access Request to Barclays in the post requesting that you be furnished with all the information that they hold on you including past statements. You don't need to provide account details, if you haven't yet managed to locate the account number(s), just all of your particulars with some photocopies of official identification. Making sure that you at least have the sort code of the branch you held your account at might well also help and you should easily be able to get that information. The Subject Access Request costs £10, but they are bound by law to respond within 40 calendar days of receiving your request.

After you have got all the relevant information you need, then follow Martin's excellent advice on the official MSE reclaiming bank charges webpage:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

Take some time out to read it all slowly and carefully. Forget using a third party to process your claim and do it all yourself. It's really not too difficult. Whatever you do, don't give up and don't forget to add on the interest to your claim using the interest calculator provided. Good luck and let us all know how you get on.

[Deleted User]

thomasjbell7 wrote: »

This may be a silly question but would this only work with open accounts, or old closed ones too?

I can see no mention of the FOS stating that they won't look at cases involving closed accounts on their website. Therefore, unless someone else can shed further definitive light on this (I am not claiming certainty here), I think it is very likely that they will do so. The bottom line is that you need to have been in hardship around the time of the charges; or be in hardship now with the view that the past charges contributed to your current situation.

Thinking about it more, and if you care to look at post 1125, then you will clearly see where the FOS state that they will look at past charges where people aren't in current hardship. I would be very surprised to learn that the FOS discriminated against some people, purely on the basis that they had switched bank accounts since being in hardship and incurring charges, and it clearly would be discriminatory.

Please read all of the following carefully, if you haven't yet done so:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

[Deleted User]

Sideburno wrote: »

Hi guys,

I followed Martin's template and explained all my problems including not being able to pay bills due to bank charges, my marriage being hard due to this and it making me end up in a cycle.

I didn't hear anything at all so a letter wanted PERSONALLY handed into a bank, this time again nothing so I called. I was told a reply letter was sent stating that the reclaim was rejected and waived as TSB are following the lending code etc.

I wasn't ever contacted and I didn't receive a letter, what now? I'm no longer in financial hardship as I have completed overhauled my finances but this really put me in a difficult situation and I'm still struggling to buy my first home due to not having much savings so it's affected me long term.

May I also add that I'm really not happy with TSB's phone service, I had to call multiple times because my account was "unable to be accessed as I provided incorrect security answers" although the questions asked were, what is the last 4 digits on the card, the card was in front of me so I doubt I got that wrong 3 times. The phone call is also charged for so more money to pay out for TSB.

I feel like they are thinking who cares, we're bigger than him, why should we do anything, he's got no power.

This is certainly what they are thinking and they are very wrong. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and if they were always right no one would ever win with the FOS. You clearly seem to be experiencing hardship, so you need to chase this up in writing immediately. You did initiate their official complaints procedure I take it? If not, then that's the route you need to go down to receive their final response and green light to go to the FOS. Don't give up.

Please read all of the following carefully, if you haven't yet done so:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

[Deleted User]

shawd04 wrote: »

I wrote and sent an online complaint to Natwest regarding charges totalling around 700 pounds, dating back from 2006-2008. I got a definite no on both counts, and told there was nothing they could do.

Should I continue to contact them, or is it time to go down another route?

I already withdrew my ISA from them to another bank, and i'm contemplating closing my current account and Credit Card soon if they don't want to help me.

Thanks in advance.:T

Were you in hardship at the time or do you feel that their charges have contributed to any current hardship? If so, then you need to chase this up in writing immediately. You did initiate their official complaints procedure I take it? If not, then that's the route you need to go down to receive their final response and green light to go to the FOS. Don't give up.

Please read all of the following carefully, if you haven't yet done so:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

[Deleted User]

jpd1984 wrote: »

I wrote a letter to the
Customer Relations
Lloyds TSB
3RD Floor
Two Brindleyplace
Birmingham
B12AB
TNT 05

Dear Sir/Madam:
Due to a recent financial situation and having to look over my Banking Account for the past several years it has come to my attention the various overdraft charges that have been applied to my account.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my feeling regarding these charges.
I think these charges are unfair and have caused me more financial hardship than necessary and I believe the fact that I have been incurring bank charges goes contrary to the aims of the Lending Code (Section 9) and Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook (section 5.1.4 ‘in particular, a firm should deal fairly with a banking customer whom it has reason to believe is in financial difficulty’). My personal situation has been affected by the charges leaving me in financial hardship and I am writing to request that you take the following grounds into consideration:
• I often get returned Direct Debits on the account because of insufficient funds, this leads to the cancellation of a policy of which leads to a debt letter asking for payment in full.
• I am constantly living in the overdraft.
• I feel the charges don’t help this situation, I personally don’t want an overdraft but with monthly charges I see no way out.

Taking the above into consideration I would like to request that the charges on my account for the past 6 (Six) Years all relating to direct debits and unauthorised overdrafts be reviewed with immediate effect and be refunded to my account.
I am available to discuss these charges over the telephone or email should you wish to contact me.
Sincerely,


I received a reply stating

thank you for letting us know about your concerns. i understand from your letter dated ??? you would like a refund of the fees applied to your account in the past 6 years.

we appreciate how this situation has made you feel, however, our review shows no mistake was made. having reviewed your account, you can be confident the fees have been applied correctly. for your piece of mind i have enclosed an up to date 'banking charges' booklet.
Lloyds tsb and many other major uk banks have been in legal proceedings with the OFT about the level. fairness or unlawfulness of these fees.
bla bla bla

basically goes on to say the decision means that the unarranges overdraft fees you have mentioned are not penalties or under the UTCCR's the level of fees is not unfair.

Please help me i am trying to claim back £6708.82 for unplanned od fees and usage fees and interest also returned dd.
i seemed to get into that famous snow ball effect and saw no way out. this effected my mortgage and was close to losing my home luckily i managed to get on top before it was to late.

James

You were clearly experiencing hardship and seem to still be experiencing hardship. You need to chase this up in writing immediately. You did initiate their official complaints procedure I take it? If not, then that's the route you need to go down to receive their final response and green light to go to the FOS. Don't give up.

Please read all of the following carefully, if you haven't yet done so:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

[Deleted User]

Bex83 wrote: »

Hello

I have written to my bank this week to ask for all of my unfair charges to be paid back to me as I'm in financial hardship!!
I'm owed well over £5000 for the last 6 yrs!
I have just had a phone call from the bank saying as a good Will gesture they will pay me £500 back!
Do I accept this or shall I try fighting for more?

Thanks

It is extremely unlikely that you wouldn't get at least that much via the FOS, now that they have offered it, so I would certainly fight for more. However, nothing in life is guaranteed, so i'm sure you will understand that no one can give you concrete assurances.

Please read all of the following carefully, if you haven't yet done so:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

wishmeluck1 wrote: »

I'm not an expert on this, but I am going through the same thing, though I haven't heard back from my bank at all yet!

What I have done, is set myself the lowest amount that I would be willing to accept back. For example, I believe I am due over £1800 for the past 2 years, however if my bank offers me a grand I'll take it. £500 is only 10% of what you believe you are owed. If I was you, I would fight for more. What's the worst that could happen? The fact that they are offering you anything proves that they are willing to give it.

Yes, a good strategy.