Report Bank Charges successes and failures

jollygoodjo

Hey Everyone
I first wrote to my bank - Barclays asking for £3500 in June 2010. They put my case on hold waiting the high court judgement and then swiftly rejected my claim once that had been decided. I left it for a long time and then thought I would try and make a claim through the hardship route. I am currently on a DMP and asked the bank to assist me last year but they wouldn't help.
This June I put a claim in explaining the spiralling debt, how this had affected my health and that I am now in DMP. They declined to settle my new bank charge request of £5000 as they looked at my account and could see that whilst I was using my money to cover debt there were also transactions at high street shops - have they never heard of trying to spend yourself Happy (I know my fault) They did however offer to pay £250 which would cover reserve fees applied to my account so at least it's something. They are paying this straight off my overdraft which is now with DMP
You never know if you don;t try - not as much as I hoped but every bit helps
Jo x

studiobob

i reviewed my charges for the last 5 years - totalling some £800.00. i took a template letter from this site and completed everything. i detailed my case for hardship dating back a few years where i was paying utilities on credit cards, incurring rolling fees - one month i was charged £110 in 2 days! was considering IVA and wasnt in a good place. I've managed to turn things around now and come march 2012 will be completely deby free. I based my letter around the fact that the charges didnt help my situation and i considered them unfair.

I recieved a 5 page letter from santander citing various reasons why i wasnt entitled to anything. One of the reasons was that I had 'clearly used a template letter' and therefore they are not willing to consider my case. Now i heavily edited the template letter but certainly the 1st part was the same where it cites various parts of the banking code.
The response letter was quite heavy handed and i felt quite intimidated by it, it seems like they were basically asking me to seek legal advice. Or saying I should have taken legal advice prior to sending my letter.

since recieving the letter i was charged a random £20 fee for my overdraft (authorised) usage (last 3 years its been £5 a month) I asked what this was for and was told the charges for overdraft usage had changed so i would be charged £20 per day for going just slightly into it. I requested copy documentation which still hasnt arrived and my overdraft usage has gone back to £5 a month.

Any advice from here? considering writing a letter to the FOS as I dont feel they are treating me fairly...

regards

bedfordgal

Hi
I wrote to Lloyds TSBusing the template to reclaim bank charges from over 4 years. My main reason for claiming was because I entered into a DMP 2 years ago to pay off my 300.00 overdraft. I was paying £5.00 pm but recently found the account was being charged £5 interest plus a £5.00 overdraft usage fee. Unimpressed and extremely fustrated I wrote to Lloyds asking for a list of all fees and charges on the account. I received a very big envelope full of statements and paperwork plus a list of charges which I was gobsmacked to find came to 739.00. I wrote to them again complaining about the charges and how it had not helped my situation. All I asked for was that they clear the 300.00 overdraft and to be honest I didn't even think I'd get that.
But then today out of the blue I received a letter from Lloyds TSB. The first few lines of the letter said I was aware of the charges when I signed up to the account and that they were correct to issue them. So I thought it was a refusal.. but then reading on I was so happy to find that not only are they clearing the overdraft they have refunded ALL the charges along with 10.00 to assist me.
I am so happy right now I keep thinking I'm dreaming. Now I'm just waiting for my PPI claim from HSBC.

Just thought I'd share my piece of happy news here as it was all of your successes that inspired me to apply in the first place.
Happy smiles to you all,
Mags

baby_miece

Hi there!

I sent a letter to Lloyds on 31st July explaining our financial hardship using the template letter and asked for the total charges against our account to be refunded, without interest this was £762. I am over the moon to report that they have deposited 50% of this amount straight into our account today. I'm assuming it is 50% because it is a joint account and it is technically only me that is in financial hardship!

Great I got some money back - very happy but just wondered if this was why we only got 50% as the financial hardship is really just me as my Husband still has his Job!?

ariell

bedfordgal wrote: »

Hi
I wrote to Lloyds TSBusing the template to reclaim bank charges from over 4 years. My main reason for claiming was because I entered into a DMP 2 years ago to pay off my 300.00 overdraft. I was paying £5.00 pm but recently found the account was being charged £5 interest plus a £5.00 overdraft usage fee. Unimpressed and extremely fustrated I wrote to Lloyds asking for a list of all fees and charges on the account. I received a very big envelope full of statements and paperwork plus a list of charges which I was gobsmacked to find came to 739.00. I wrote to them again complaining about the charges and how it had not helped my situation. All I asked for was that they clear the 300.00 overdraft and to be honest I didn't even think I'd get that.
But then today out of the blue I received a letter from Lloyds TSB. The first few lines of the letter said I was aware of the charges when I signed up to the account and that they were correct to issue them. So I thought it was a refusal.. but then reading on I was so happy to find that not only are they clearing the overdraft they have refunded ALL the charges along with 10.00 to assist me.
I am so happy right now I keep thinking I'm dreaming. Now I'm just waiting for my PPI claim from HSBC.

Just thought I'd share my piece of happy news here as it was all of your successes that inspired me to apply in the first place.
Happy smiles to you all,
Mags

I am so pleased for you I have been in the same situation and have had to go to the obmusman please give advise how to write to them again

penywaun_2

Hi I used your template earlier in year and got a blah blah letter back from Halifax , well things have got worse for me as my ESA has stopped so I wrote again on 8/8/12 with your letter, outlining all my problems and issues .I had a phone call friday 10/8/12 offering me £148 refund and next two months bank charges free, so in total about £250, i refused this offer , the lady seemed to get quite stressed and shirty , and threw in that the ombudsman would side with them as they were making an offer to help me , I replied very calmly that I would now be taking the matter further and to the ombudsman , but would like her offer in writing please, as I thought the offer was very low and really wouldnt help to ease our situation:mad:.
any ideas ? I am happy to speak to MSE if they would like to help. thanks

ariell

bedfordgal wrote: »

Hi
I wrote to Lloyds TSBusing the template to reclaim bank charges from over 4 years. My main reason for claiming was because I entered into a DMP 2 years ago to pay off my 300.00 overdraft. I was paying £5.00 pm but recently found the account was being charged £5 interest plus a £5.00 overdraft usage fee. Unimpressed and extremely fustrated I wrote to Lloyds asking for a list of all fees and charges on the account. I received a very big envelope full of statements and paperwork plus a list of charges which I was gobsmacked to find came to 739.00. I wrote to them again complaining about the charges and how it had not helped my situation. All I asked for was that they clear the 300.00 overdraft and to be honest I didn't even think I'd get that.
But then today out of the blue I received a letter from Lloyds TSB. The first few lines of the letter said I was aware of the charges when I signed up to the account and that they were correct to issue them. So I thought it was a refusal.. but then reading on I was so happy to find that not only are they clearing the overdraft they have refunded ALL the charges along with 10.00 to assist me.
I am so happy right now I keep thinking I'm dreaming. Now I'm just waiting for my PPI claim from HSBC.

Just thought I'd share my piece of happy news here as it was all of your successes that inspired me to apply in the first place.
Happy smiles to you all,
Mags

brill news:T

ariell

Glammy wrote: »

Hay. Reclaiming my bank charges was suggested to me by a friends the other day. I'm planning in doin both my accounts.. My current and a closed account. My closed account was with lyodds and I have only jus finished payin them off over 2years later. I went over my overdraft once via a few pound. This started a viscious circle resulting to over £1200 in debit as I couldn't afford to pay these charges therefore resulted in more charges. It then went to debt collectors n I finished payin it 3weeks ago. I'm a single mum an had a child in thi time so it really didn't help my finances payin these charges... Does anyone think it's worth going for lyodds? Do they pay out? If so hell they give me all the details as I don't use them no more.. Please help
Kinds regards
Nikki

yes do I have done it and involved the ombusman and getting something back not sure But been in the same situation as you and hell they were unpleasant to deal with but hoping to see a good amount in the account
Put pen to paper and try and fight

missczh

I made a claim regarding HSBC bank charges going back 6 years. After 3 months i've finally got a call from the ombudsman, but they have made it very clear that they arent looking into fairness as in the amount the charges are for, they are only interested in the way the bank has dealt with the issue and if that was fair.

I would like to know if MSE will be updating their guide as one of the 3 instances given for ombudsman complaints states fairness of charges...

Wywth

missczh wrote: »

I made a claim regarding HSBC bank charges going back 6 years. After 3 months i've finally got a call from the ombudsman, but they have made it very clear that they arent looking into fairness as in the amount the charges are for, they are only interested in the way the bank has dealt with the issue and if that was fair.

I would like to know if MSE will be updating their guide as one of the 3 instances given for ombudsman complaints states fairness of charges...

Are you sure you are looking at the latest article that was last revised 29 Nov 2011?

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

Because the 3 reasons I see in that article are:
1. You're in financial hardship
2. The charges are disproportionate
3. You are/were stuck in a cycle of charges you can't break out of

:huh: