Report Bank Charges successes and failures

vivalagloria

This thread is so helpful, thanks to everyone who has told their story.

I'm just starting my letter to try and claim back charges on my account, but I just want to check something... what I want to try and say is that I have an outstanding payment that I am paying monthly, but if I got the charges back then I would be able to cancel the monthly payments and pay it all off and get out of my overdraft, essentially starting fresh.

Is there a correct terminology for what I'm describing as the "outstanding payment that I'm paying monthly" (if you know what I mean? I bought something on credit but got behind on the payments and the returned direct debits resulted in charges etc etc)? I don't know all the 'right words' for this stuff...

Premier_2

vivalagloria wrote: »

This thread is so helpful, thanks to everyone who has told their story.

I'm just starting my letter to try and claim back charges on my account, but I just want to check something... what I want to try and say is that I have an outstanding payment that I am paying monthly, but if I got the charges back then I would be able to cancel the monthly payments and pay it all off and get out of my overdraft, essentially starting fresh.

Is there a correct terminology for what I'm describing as the "outstanding payment that I'm paying monthly" (if you know what I mean? I bought something on credit but got behind on the payments and the returned direct debits resulted in charges etc etc)? I don't know all the 'right words' for this stuff...

I understand what you are saying, but I wouldn't go into that at this point. It won't affect any decision as to whether or not you get any refund, or the amount decided upon.

Just make the claim and wait to see what, if anything, you get back. Normally any amount refunded will usually go to offset any money you owe anyway. If that then leaves you with a small debt which you would like to repay in full, that would be the time to contact the bank about that

freelunchaday

Bank - Nationwide
Claimed - £1055
Refunded - £360

Thanks to this site I had originally claimed £1055, for charges I incurred after being made redundant in 2007 - My original claim was put on hold and after the court case I was told I was not going to get any charges refunded. I then pretty much forgot about it and thought it was a dead loss. After reading this thread in September, I realised I might be eligible to claim under Financial hardship - Nationwide have been very good and asked me to complete an Income v Expenses form and have written back to me within their timescale offereing a refund of £360, basically all the charges I incurred since 2008, when I was really in financial trouble - I am happy to accept and think it would be greedy to ask for any more - Any thoughts? Thanks again! Am delighted, money should be in my account before Christmas! :j

Bridgev

Thanks for the advice! I rang HSBC who had put £100 bank charges on my account for going overdrawn for 4 days while I had money to cover it in my savings account with them. I rang and asked spoke to a "floor manager" who said he would knock of £25. I didn't accept this and emailed a polite letter detailing why I thought it was unreasonable. ie

Long term customer, not usually overdrawn,
I had the money to cover it in HSBC top up savings account.
Family illness meant I didn't transfer funds as usual,
I can get a better rate on my top up savings elsewhere but have stayed with them because have found them flexible and convenient to use.
I also persuaded my husband to switch to them for same reason.

They actually rang me up to say they would drop all the charges! :T

worththehassle

I initially complained re bank charges last year but was declined point blank. I read Martin's advice and pursued the complaint against HALIFAX again in October 2010 using Martin's template letters. I submitted a claim for £3795.00 of disproportionate bank charges over last 6 years. They initally failed to respond - so I wrote again explaining I would not give up as I was suffering real financial hardship. Today (december 2010) I have recieved a phone call offering me a refund for £1736.00! Obviously I would have liked more - but hey! never look a gift horse in the mouth! I have accepted this settlement over the phone with the assurance they will pay the refund into my account today as I am desperate for food and petrol! OK - they get to keep the outstanding £2095.00 but I was amazed they have finally agreed to refund me at all! I have decided to quit whilst I am ahead and am grateful for small mercies! The sum will certainly assist with my overdraft and charges that they just kept taking and taking!
I would urge anyone to pursue their complaint and NOT to give up!
Another bonus is that I have not had to pay any of these companies that offer to recalim the money for you! Go on .. do it yourself with the template letters from money saving expert - you have nothing to lose. All it costs is a bit of your time and a few stamps!
Thank you Martin - And a merry christmas!:T

jaspencer1976

The usually helpful Abbey charged me £85 in bank fees for not having the money in my account to cover a direct debit and my grocery shop totalling £150. This money came out on a Tuesday, the day i get my tax credits which was enough to cover these payments.

However, in their wisdom, the tax credits people decided to reduce my payments and send me a letter informing me of this after the event, namely when I rung up to query why the figure had halved!

When I rung Abbey to explain what had happened they agreed that they could see what I usually got from the tax credits people. However, that was where the compassion ended! They offered to refund me one of the £25 charges as a good will gesture! I wrote to them basing my letter on one of the templates on the MSE website and my request for a refund of these charges has been declined! One of the reasons being that I had 'obviously used a template to form the basis of my letter'!! So whilst MSE gave me confidence to write to them I'm not any further forward.

I'm a single parent, I work all the hours god sends and am barely above water - when are financial companies, benefit agencies and the tax office going to give us a break??!!

Any advise on the above would be greatly appreciated

Vickyh

Hi

I have had a barclays account since going to university in 2001 - when i left in 2004 i had an overdraft of £1000, since then and through unemployment it now is £2300.

I moved banks so hopefully save some money and pay it back, which hasn't materialised.

I haven't made any real attempt in paying this back and the account has been in arrears for at least 7 years.

Is it worth trying to claim my charges even though i have made no effort on my part to pay the money back- i have been in employment for 2years and could of many a significant dent in it.

Any advice would be of great help.

Thanks

Vicky

nbox9728

BANK: HALIFAX
AMOUNT CLAIMED: £890 (on 26th Dec 2010)
AMOUNT PAID: £890 (on 5th Jan 2011)


I dont quite believe this myself and think I may be dreaming but here goes...

In my letter to HALIFAX on 26th December regarding my past bank charges, I detailed my current financial position and told them that the charges contributed to this etc etc.

I basically said that although the total figure of charges exceeds £1000, I would be prepared to accept the debt being written off (I owe them £890 on an overdraft).

They have today telephoned and accepted this proposal! They have written off the outstanding debt!!!

I cant believe how fast this has happened and how they have given me what I asked for straight off...if anyone wants anything from HALIFAX now is the time cus I think they are feeling generous!

So to anyone chasing up outstanding bank account charges, dont stop and dont give up because it can still happen!!! :j:j:j:j

bertone0377

BANK: Bank of Scotland
AMOUNT CLAIMED: £800 (just over)
AMOUNT REFUNDED: £35 - still awaiting this reappearing in my bank

First wrote at the end of November 2010 detailing the cycle of charges - being charged for going over my overdraft when it was the charges that caused me to go over etc. They responded in a letter 9 days later saying I'm not entitled to a full refund but would refund the £35 from the previous month. Have since written them another letter thanking them for the £35 (however, no sign of it as yet in my account) but would like my case to remain open and I will continue to ask for the rest of the money. Awaiting response so will keep you all posted.

k77mss

hi guys

just been reading some of your stories and deceided im going to try nothing to lose. i have been quite succeseful in my ppi claims so given me the guts to try this too. i would say im in hardship reduced payments for all my debt including morgage and still can't afford to eat.been with royal bank of scotland for 20 odd years and been in my overdraft for at least 10 years.i have all my bank statements from 1997 sad i know how do i start,how far back and do i write to my local bank only small bank and i know everybody who works in it.i would guess rbs are not good at feeling sorry for me and not much chance at receiving any money back but i'll give it a go if it saves me from selling my home.
thanxs for any replies
kim