Report Bank Charges successes and failures

dunstonh

Feeling disappointed to say the least but perhaps I expected too much. She asked if I was happy to close my complaint with them but I said I'd rather not at this stage. I know i can take my complaint to the Ombudsman and probably will, as its only the cost of stamp and a bit of my time in putting my case together but still, £25, its paltry when my charges amounted to £2k in a 6-7 year period from 2008.

The ombudsman no longer takes on complaints about unfair bank charges (read their website). They will still accept your complaint and look at it but they have no power to force the banks to refund any money other than in incorrect application of charges. In current financial hardship cases, they will look to make sure the person is being treated fairly but again they will not tell the bank what they should do.

You had historic financial hardship by the sounds of it. not current. So, you do not fit the financial hardship criteria.

Debt_Slayer

I had a case against Lloyds TSB for 'unfair bank charges' which totalled over £6000. This was back before the High Court Case ruled in the banks favour, I was in financial hardship but this didn't come out as an option to pursue the case with extra weight.
Shortly prior to the High Court Case Lloyds deposited without prior warning their standard for the time 'Goodwill Gesture' of £750 into my two overdrawn accounts (£375 in each).

I responded to this in writing rejecting the gesture without prejudice asking them to consider my initial complaint.
Following the court case I got the standard letter everyone else received stating the charges were fair etc etc.

I'm now thinking I should pursue this again further emphasising the hardship I was in at the time, a hardship which has followed me to this day resulting ultimately into me entering into a DMP.
While i'm more sensible with my money I'm still in the same situation, albeit making progress.

emjay1302

I posted my letter this morning, my claim is mainly relating to 2008 -2010 although it has affected my financial situation in the long term. I refer mainly to me ringing the bank at the worst point of the situation and all they did was extend my overdraft further which I accepted as my account was virtually unusable at the time as my income was being swallowed by charges so I was living off payday loans.
I am hoping to receive something from the bank as I still have the overdraft with them which I want to pay off and I have a dmp that I would like to clear but from reading these forums I realise that mine is not an isolated situation.
I will post the outcome of my request as the banks seem to be responding quite quickly so I live in hope.

claire1284

See what the FOS say, you've nothing to lose!! Good luck.

I've still not heard back from TSB except a letter to confirm they have referred it to their complaints dept. I guess this was a follow up letter from the call I received on Monday saying that they would be in contact with me by Friday (it's now Sunday).

dunstonh

I'm now thinking I should pursue this again further emphasising the hardship I was in at the time, a hardship which has followed me to this day resulting ultimately into me entering into a DMP.

Your complaint was flawed at the start. You should not have used the unfair bank charges reason but use the financial hardship reason. A complaint today would look at your current financial position and the bank will base their decision on that. Not a historical position.

You cannot complain to the FOS on your original complaint as you are timebarred.

Debt_Slayer

dunstonh wrote: »

Your complaint was flawed at the start. You should not have used the unfair bank charges reason but use the financial hardship reason. A complaint today would look at your current financial position and the bank will base their decision on that. Not a historical position.

You cannot complain to the FOS on your original complaint as you are timebarred.

I had a suspicion that may be the case, note though I only quoted 'unfair' to clarify the type of charges i'm talking about for the benefit of the thread.
My original complaint was in relation to how the charges had pushed me into spiralling financial difficulty.
The fact that im now on a debt management plan having been previously advised by StepChange that bankrupcy was my only option.

I was living continuously in a £900 overdraft and the charges were increasing month on month. Lloyds unwillingness to help are to blame for my current hardship even after all these years.

I am going to pursue this regardless. As far as im concerned they owe me £6000

[Deleted User]

Debt_Slayer wrote: »

...I am going to pursue this regardless. As far as im concerned they owe me £6000

Go on my son! That's the way.

Best of luck in your court case
(Of course you can't pursue the 'financial hardship' avenue in court, so it'll be back to the unfair charges claim)

Perhaps you will succeed where even the best legal brains (such as those at the Govan Law Centre) in the past have failed.

Keep us posted.

tomtontom

Debt_Slayer wrote: »

I had a suspicion that may be the case, note though I only quoted 'unfair' to clarify the type of charges i'm talking about for the benefit of the thread.
My original complaint was in relation to how the charges had pushed me into spiralling financial difficulty.
The fact that im now on a debt management plan having been previously advised by StepChange that bankrupcy was my only option.

I was living continuously in a £900 overdraft and the charges were increasing month on month. Lloyds unwillingness to help are to blame for my current hardship even after all these years.

I am going to pursue this regardless. As far as im concerned they owe me £6000

They do not 'owe' you anything. Any offer you get will be a goodwill gesture.

danny_t87

New to the site so don't know if this is in the right place.

I am currently in correspondence with Nationwide over a financial hardship claim.

I sent them a letter at start of July requesting £1600 of charges to be looked into. I heard from them straight away asking to wait till 16 august and more recently requesting to wait until 1st week of September in order for them to review the case.

Is this a good sign that i may receive a goodwill gesture

Many thanks everyone

dunstonh

danny_t87 wrote: »

New to the site so don't know if this is in the right place.

I am currently in correspondence with Nationwide over a financial hardship claim.

I sent them a letter at start of July requesting £1600 of charges to be looked into. I heard from them straight away asking to wait till 16 august and more recently requesting to wait until 1st week of September in order for them to review the case.

Is this a good sign that i may receive a goodwill gesture

Many thanks everyone

You cannot infer anything from the time it takes.