Report Bank Charges successes and failures

DizzyBrunetteGirl

Seri wrote: »

Hi DizzyBrunette. Just updating you on my latest progress (or lack of it). This morning I received a letter off HSBC which basically states that they have investigated my claim and they are not to blame (no surprise there). They also say that they have included a booklet containing a financial statement form which I should fill out and then contact their financial team to discuss the best way to manage my finances. They didn't actually include that particular booklet and it is unclear as to whether they require the financial statement in order to progress with my claim or not, however in the second half of the letter they say that their desicion is final and if I want to pursue the claim I should now write to the financial ombudsman. All very confusing but I will not let this go so will press on. Having read an earlier post where the financial ombudsman had replied to a particular claim stating that the bank had requested a financial statement which had not been returned to the bank and therefore the claim could not be upheld, I think the best course of action would be to obtain a financial statement form and return this completed to HSBC which should hopefully mean that I have covered all angles. This will take a lot of patience but I have oodles :rotfl:.
Sarah xx

Hmmmm I don't think they sent me this. Just said they weren't to blame, talked about some of the points on my letter and that I was welcome to write back if I wasn't happy.

In regard to your later post (not sure how to quote twice) I too was a victim of HSBC 'off setting'. Main bank account went from £400 to zero as they moved funds to another account that had bank charges on. The money was swallowed up by the charges so I couldn't move it back and had to borrow money from a friend to get through the month. Total disregard for people needing money to live, eat etc., but according to a debt charity I spoke to, totally legal!

Tip is never to have two accounts you rely on with one bank, so I second your advice to the other poster!

kylie-berry

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that i had over £600 pounds in charges repaid and £50 given, from Halifax, to say sorry. I used the letter template and sent the letter yesterday. I missed 3 calls from the bank this afternoon and had 2 text messages sent to call them. They were very keen to give me my money back which makes me think if i had taken it further i could have received more. But i was just happy to get what i was owed.

Do it, but give evidence. Bank statements ect. If you have online banking you can print back statements from there to save the fees.

Hope this helps.

Kylie :j

kymmie_2

Bank: Santander
Hi, im usually going into my overdraft and sometimes over my overdraft especially over christmas! but for the past 3 or 4 years twice a year i will call up santander and request all of my charges back. Its never failed once. The most i've managed to get back is £800 which was when i first called up. Im trying to encourage my friends and family to call up and ask as the worst they can say is no... right? I manage to get back never any less than £150 a time it all depends how many times i dip in and out and over my overdraft. but i get the money back.
You can do it! they can only say no? dont be shy get back what is rightly yours!

iturner15

Bank name: SANTANDER
Amount Reclaimed:£395
Amount they paid:£110

I used the template letter and claimed finical hardship (despite just taking out a £5k car loan with santander and showing no outgoings as living with parents!) They refunded the last months charges £110 and said they will refund any charges in the next two months to help me out...

Unsure whether to accept or not!!

Little_Mo_70

iturner15 wrote: »

Bank name: SANTANDER
Amount Reclaimed:£395
Amount they paid:£110

I used the template letter and claimed finical hardship (despite just taking out a £5k car loan with santander and showing no outgoings as living with parents!) They refunded the last months charges £110 and said they will refund any charges in the next two months to help me out...

Unsure whether to accept or not!!

How can you reclaim charges using hardship criteria if you have just secured a £5k loan and claim to have no outgoings?

SueMumof3

I have just received a refund of £531 from Santander. I'm over the moon! I wrote to them last November but was told a refund was a no no. I put a short post on here at the beginning of Jan and had a reply from Little Mo 70 who basically gave me the swift kick I needed and told me to go straight to the top, which I did. With renewed vigour, I sent an Email and letter to the CEO. Within a day or so there was a flurry of activity and I was introduced to Julie Savage from the Corporate Complaints Team. What a super lady she was. A real live normal human being. She rang and emailed me to keep me up to date. She said the bank had made mistakes. She was able to track every transaction (I'd been spot on with my letter). I'm so relieved it's finally sorted. Thanks Little Mo 70. You're a star. :A

Chez1_2

Hi to all @MSE and firstly thanks to Martin and all who work at MSE for the sterling efforts in maintaining this site.
After many efforts over the past three years to re-claim my charges, i have now reached an "impass" with RBS (their termonolgy)in realtion to refunding of my said charges.
Cutting a long story short i`ve even e-mailed Steven Hester Executive Director regarding the matter only to be fudged again by the Group Executive Manager.
I have tried the Ombudsman route but to no evail as they state they can`t force the bank to instigate the refunding of said charges.
I`ve been continually in my overdarught for a period of more than 2 years due(in my opinion) to the excessive charges i received on my account pre-recession.
I`ve even tried to go down the Financial Hardship route, however i don`t fit their criteria!!
I`ve tried to appeal to their better nature and asked about the gestures of goodwill payments only to be told i don`t fit the criteria for those payments either.
Does anyone on the forum have any ideas where i can go from here??As i`m at my wits end with it all!!
I understand the option of threatening Court action but they said they would stand by the original decision to not refund any of the charges as they still consider them fair.
I`ve also spoke to their Policies Team and asked why they can`t refund the difference between the £36 charges i was receiving in comparison to the £12 charge that now is used - only to be told that it was the Banks policy to charge that amount previoulsy and that its their perogative to change as and when they see fit.
I`m virtually on the verge of giving up and this is my last hope that someone on the forum maybe able to give me another route??


Chez1

Little_Mo_70

SueMumof3 wrote: »

I have just received a refund of £531 from Santander. I'm over the moon! I wrote to them last November but was told a refund was a no no. I put a short post on here at the beginning of Jan and had a reply from Little Mo 70 who basically gave me the swift kick I needed and told me to go straight to the top, which I did. With renewed vigour, I sent an Email and letter to the CEO. Within a day or so there was a flurry of activity and I was introduced to Julie Savage from the Corporate Complaints Team. What a super lady she was. A real live normal human being. She rang and emailed me to keep me up to date. She said the bank had made mistakes. She was able to track every transaction (I'd been spot on with my letter). I'm so relieved it's finally sorted. Thanks Little Mo 70. You're a star. :A

Excellent news. I'm so pleased for you Sue. What a nice, efficient lady Julie Savage sounds. Excellent start to your New Year.:beer:

Little_Mo_70

Chez1 wrote: »

Hi to all @MSE and firstly thanks to Martin and all who work at MSE for the sterling efforts in maintaining this site.
After many efforts over the past three years to re-claim my charges, i have now reached an "impass" with RBS (their termonolgy)in realtion to refunding of my said charges.
Cutting a long story short i`ve even e-mailed Steven Hester Executive Director regarding the matter only to be fudged again by the Group Executive Manager.
I have tried the Ombudsman route but to no evail as they state they can`t force the bank to instigate the refunding of said charges.
I`ve been continually in my overdarught for a period of more than 2 years due(in my opinion) to the excessive charges i received on my account pre-recession.
I`ve even tried to go down the Financial Hardship route, however i don`t fit their criteria!!
I`ve tried to appeal to their better nature and asked about the gestures of goodwill payments only to be told i don`t fit the criteria for those payments either.
Does anyone on the forum have any ideas where i can go from here??As i`m at my wits end with it all!!
I understand the option of threatening Court action but they said they would stand by the original decision to not refund any of the charges as they still consider them fair.
I`ve also spoke to their Policies Team and asked why they can`t refund the difference between the £36 charges i was receiving in comparison to the £12 charge that now is used - only to be told that it was the Banks policy to charge that amount previoulsy and that its their perogative to change as and when they see fit.
I`m virtually on the verge of giving up and this is my last hope that someone on the forum maybe able to give me another route??


Chez1

RBS are not easy to deal with. My complaint about them is now with the FOS (after lots of fruitless negotiations) but only because I met financial criteria. However, looks as though you've tried all routes, unfortunately to no avail. Neither you, nor FOS can force them to part with any money. Looks as though they have run out of good will.

Since the court ruling, and as you don't fit the financial hardship criteria, there is no other route I'm afraid except perhaps going in to see the bank manager to discuss affordable ways to pay off your overdraft.

There are loads of money saving tips on MSE forums. It's a bit like post war where everyone is really being resourcful now, and you would be surprised at the savings you can make if things are difficult. Sorry I can't suggest anything more useful, perhaps other members might be able to.

Don't give up hope, there is always a way round difficult situations even if it's not the way you were hoping for. Good luck

karenslater08

hi

After contacting the Halifax by recorded delivery for claim of charges due to hardship, they contacted me the same day to agree to refund the charges and ten pounds as a goodwill. received £330.00 and the money was in my account with 2 days,... all in all took less than a week, after receiving the letter... thank you :j:T