Report Bank Charges successes and failures

wizziwig

Fight! Fight! Fight!

wizziwig

FreddieKoppa wrote: »

Bank name: Halifax
Amount Claimed: £1240
Amount Offered: £120 (+cancellation of an impending charge)

Story:
Hi all, I wrote to Halifax using the template letter and they contacted me back within the last week.
The offer was based on bringing my account back within it's limit, which I find a ludicrous proposition anyway, as this is purely reliant on how much I've managed to dig myself out of the snowballing debt at the time they choose to make an offer.
They told me that they had felt that they treated me fairly, in so much as the fact that *some* of charges were for multiple transactions, and only for one business day.
They also revealed that I'm charged £28 + interest for every month in which I go over my overdraft limit, which I wasn't aware of.
They attempted to claim that I had never contacted them about being in financial hardship previously, when I told them to look at the requests to raise my overdraft, which they refused to assist me with on multiple visits, in addition to the 5 or so phone calls which I've had with them about the problems the charges are causing.
Further to this, I pointed out that my paper-free documents, which used to alert me that I should really not spend a penny more (usually as some pay hadn't gone through on time) were withdrawn without notice in December or November of last year.
Additionally, a Halifax rep rang me (I have her name, date and time of call) and told me to bring my account into balance within the next month - to pay in £240. I did so, and she claimed that this would be the end of it, and I would have no more troubles. Despite not using my bank account from this day, I had an additional £148 of charges thrown on and, here one month later, I'm still £100 under with more charges to come out.
They rang me to confirm this was my final offer (to cancel the £30 odd due interest and charges and to bring my account into balance by refund of £120) and that written confirmation would be in the post the same business day as the call. I am in sever financial hardship, with a huge student overdraft still to pay off, personal debts still due and I'm unemployed.
My inclination is to fight on via Ombudsman, but I wanted to see what consensus was amongst this wonderfully helpful forum before firmly deciding. What do you think?

I think you should fight it all the way. Afterall, if we give up at the first or even the second hurdle, then we will get nowhere. Go to it.
449

sparkleghost

Hiya,

I was just wondering whether ANYBODY had any success with HSBC?! I've worked out that my charges total £2870 but reading back through this thread they sound like tough nuts to crack! Halifax and LLoyds TSB seem to be the best at refunding?

If you've had any luck with HSBC let me know, would be interesting to have a basis for comparison!

Cheers, Rachael

Brightness

melting_snow wrote: »

Hi guys. So grateful for this thread!

I wrote to Halifax three days ago requesting £602 of bank charges back. A halifax representative just called to say they are refunding £896 bank charges! HURRAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

Thanks for that. I am just about to go 'into war' with Nat West. I tried claiming before and just got the 'no sorry' bumf. As I was ill at the time I couldn't be bothered to fight (just didn't have the strength).

I went overdrawn in the first place by NW taking out a DD a week before it was due (the Branch manager was appalled and tried to get charges removed but couldn't). I have banked with NW for over 30 years so know the staff well. All they could offer me, as the charges started spiralling, was a loan to pay them all off as it worked out 'cheaper' (their words).

I had no option but to take it as I just couldn't pay the charges - I am Disabled due to two serious RTA's (neither my fault ) and have a very limited income of just disability benefits.

I manage my money OK now (as I was doing so before that blip by them) I am wondering if it's worth writing to them enclosing statements that shows what happened & also explaining about the loan too. Even if they just cancelled out the loan which is less now than the charges as I have paid a lot off it, it would be something.

Here's hoping.... Will draft a letter tomorrow & let you all know how I get on. Will also tell them that I don't want to move accounts to another bank but feel I have no option....

Premier_2

Brightness wrote: »

Thanks for that. I am just about to go 'into war' with Nat West. I tried claiming before and just got the 'no sorry' bumf. As I was ill at the time I couldn't be bothered to fight (just didn't have the strength).

I went overdrawn in the first place by NW taking out a DD a week before it was due (the Branch manager was appalled and tried to get charges removed but couldn't). I have banked with NW for over 30 years so know the staff well. All they could offer me, as the charges started spiralling, was a loan to pay them all off as it worked out 'cheaper' (their words).

I had no option but to take it as I just couldn't pay the charges - I am Disabled due to two serious RTA's (neither my fault ) and have a very limited income of just disability benefits.

I manage my money OK now (as I was doing so before that blip by them) I am wondering if it's worth writing to them enclosing statements that shows what happened & also explaining about the loan too. Even if they just cancelled out the loan which is less now than the charges as I have paid a lot off it, it would be something.

Here's hoping.... Will draft a letter tomorrow & let you all know how I get on. Will also tell them that I don't want to move accounts to another bank but feel I have no option....

Here's a thread the poster created themselves too to spread their joy over their apparent success
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3092008

emmylou2011

HSBC
Claimed - £1498
Received - £0 (so far)

Hiya guys,

Fairly new here but I have been inspired by my partner & the sucess stories to try and claim some of those nasty charges back from HSBC.

I have been charged almost every month for the last 2 years.. I thought it was a fact of life that I would have to deal with these charges as I was the one going over my OD etc! Now I understand that they can charge, just not as much as £150 in one go!

Sent the template letter off today and will update as soon I get a response... HSBC seem to be the worst for agreeing to repayments so I am preparing my self for a long hard battle!

Emma

zppp

emmylou2011 wrote: »

Now I understand that they can charge, just not as much as £150 in one go!

They can, but if you can prove you are in financial hardship, they may setup some kind of repayment plan, and or may reduce or remove the charges from your account.

Remember, even if you rove financial hardship, it doesn't mean the bank have to refund any charges.

Premier_2

emmylou2011 wrote: »

... Now I understand that they can charge, just not as much as £150 in one go! ...

As zppp says, they could, but the good news for you is they don't (about £30 would be more typical)

If you think they have charged you £150 in one go, have a chat with you bank. They will either rectify any error on their part, or explain why you have incurred more than one charge.

Foggie_Loon

Clydesdale Bank
Claimed 1498.00 / 563.00 / 1120.00 / 987.00
Received 1198.00 / 310.00 / 983.00 / 987.00
Small claims court 4 times.
Victorys in court - 4

Just thought I would tell you my story.
I originally had a Clydesdale Bank account in 2006, which the bank closed (my fault) as I couldn't afford to repay my overdraft at that time. Changed banks and tried to reclaim bank charges from the Clydesdale. Total of my claim was for £1498.00 + interest, which eventually they gave me a cheque for £1198.00. Bearing in mind I owed the bank £1600, I thought they would only use their " right to set off", which means they would reduce the amount I owed them. But no, I received a cheque for the amount. This was in 2007. Needless to say I used this money to pay off other debts at the time. Meanwhile, they still employed various recovery companies to claw back the £1600. After telling each one about the money the Cydesdale paid me, they all gave up. Until two months ago, when one of them summoned me to court. As I have been to court on three previous occasions, all for bank charges may I add, I had no hesitation to submit a couterclaim for these bank charges. Only problem is they all time elapsed last year. But after being in court for ten minutes and their solicitor said they would require an "continuance" for 4 weeks for some strange reason, the very next day I recieved a letter from their solicitor stating although the charges were legal and that they would win in court, if I paid the balance, case closed. Victory, once again.:j

Premier_2

Foggie_Loon wrote: »

...Small claims court 4 times.
Victorys in court - 4

...

after being in court for ten minutes and their solicitor said they would require an "continuance" for 4 weeks for some strange reason, the very next day I recieved a letter from their solicitor stating although the charges were legal and that they would win in court, if I paid the balance, case closed. Victory, once again.:j

So to clarify, you didn't win in court; your counter-claims were settled out of court? :huh: