Bank Charges Reclaiming Guide discussion

Little_Mo_70

fifilabouche wrote: »

Hi

I am hoping to make a claim to Natwest for bank charges on the basis that the amount of charges is massively unfair in relation to the original debt but I have a few questions.

Basically I had an account with Natwest with what I believed was an interest free overdraft of £300. I had wages paid into the account and used it fairly regularly for about 2 years from 2008-2010. Around 2009 I noticed a monthly interest charge of around 1p to 2p being charged. Eventually I stopped using the account and left it overdrawn at £290 aware in the back of my mind I would pay it off when I had the cash and that the interest would not send it over the overdraft.

To cut a long story short the account went overdrawn by 7p due to the interest which at this point was at around £5 a month. This has now basically spiralled into a debt of £1300 essentially for going 7p overdrawn.

Stupidly I moved and didn't change my address so I had no letters from them. The debt was passed to a debt collection agency who have sent me 6 years of statements on my request. Even thought it has been passed to a debt collection agency can I still make a claim with the bank?? I have tried to contact them and they have refused to speak to me saying the account has been frozen.

Would I be better making a claim for financial hardship as I am sure I would also qualify for this due to other debts and bills etc

There is no way any bank would consider unfair charges as a basis for claiming now.

You can make a claim for refund of charges under the financial hardship route but be aware that if your bank agreed the refund will generaly be offset against the debt.

You must have a very strong basis for hardship to claim, not just a case of having debts and bills to pay.

Checkout the Ombudsman criteria for financial hardship on here
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

ehig

I would never usually be bothered to post anything on a site like this, but I felt compelled to share this news on here, especially since I was inspired by success stories on this site.

I appealed against the unplanned overdraft fees at Lloyds TSB using a template letter downloaded from this site (on the grounds that I am in financial difficulty) and I just thought you should know, I have not only been refunded the £120 charges I was challenging, but a total of £276. Incredible!

It took a while to write the letter and to compile all my evidence for challenging the fees, but boy was it worth it!

I hope other people will be as fortunate as I was in this instance.

lisaw87

lisaw87 wrote: »

Santander did not reply within the 40days that they were meant to but i did not see on the guide about following it up with a phone call, instead i sent another letter requesting the information whilst mentioning that it was my second letter. Is it possible to still report them for it?
Also after sending the first letter for all details on open and closed account both at my current and previous addresses, all they have sent is one from my current account. This is not really the account i was looking for. Do i need to report them to the information commisioner for that?

Can anyone help? I have sent another letter asking for them to send my details and this time i received a letter saying i have never held a loan with them. But this was not what i was asking - it feels like they are just fobbing me off! Shaould i report them?

Premier_2

lisaw87 wrote: »

... Is it possible to still report them for it?...

Do i need to report them to the information commisioner for that?

lisaw87 wrote: »

...Shaould i report them?

I get the feeling you are chomping at the bit to report them, so I suggest you just go ahead

Alex444

Govan Law Centre in Scottish Courts just now, hot on the heels of the out of court settlement against Santander for Bank Charges.

SKINTSADIE

hi
I was wondering if anyone can help me on here, I bank with Nationwide and my part time wages were due to go in today,instead I went to the bank and it was showing that my account is -£5.34. I dont have an overdraft facility at all. couldnt access my internet banking so rang the customer services to be told i was charged 3 returned direct debit fees-£25 each = £75, when I queried what they were for i was told it was for 3 paypal payments of the following amounts- £2.25
£2.49
£3.79
I used paypal to pay for things on ebay and at the time I paid I had money in my account to cover them,seems that paypal didnt take it til a week later. but how is it justifiable to sting me £75 charges for going overdrawn by what is in effect £8.78??
I asked the guy on the phone could he refund the charges and he said no as I had charges refunded in october but the charges in october were entirely the banks mistake so had to be refunded. anyone got any advice on what i should do? this has left me skint for the next week,not to mention i will now get charged AGAIN next month for going overdrawn by a fiver when their charges caused it! :S

J4ffa

Right im after some help i have been thinking about claiming back bank charges but i dont know how much i might be owed so unsure what to put on the letter as i have been unemployed for over a year now i told my bank and they didnt want to know all they kept saying was your account is over drawn if you dont pay then we will take your overdraft off you. i have recently been to the job centre to sign on as i need help to get work and dont want all my job seekers allowance been taken up paying the stupid chargers that they have put on my account any help would be great cheers

Little_Mo_70

SKINTSADIE wrote: »

hi
I was wondering if anyone can help me on here, I bank with Nationwide and my part time wages were due to go in today,instead I went to the bank and it was showing that my account is -£5.34. I dont have an overdraft facility at all. couldnt access my internet banking so rang the customer services to be told i was charged 3 returned direct debit fees-£25 each = £75, when I queried what they were for i was told it was for 3 paypal payments of the following amounts- £2.25
£2.49
£3.79
I used paypal to pay for things on ebay and at the time I paid I had money in my account to cover them,seems that paypal didnt take it til a week later. but how is it justifiable to sting me £75 charges for going overdrawn by what is in effect £8.78??
I asked the guy on the phone could he refund the charges and he said no as I had charges refunded in october but the charges in october were entirely the banks mistake so had to be refunded. anyone got any advice on what i should do? this has left me skint for the next week,not to mention i will now get charged AGAIN next month for going overdrawn by a fiver when their charges caused it! :S

Several issues here really:

Did your wages go in on the allotted day or not? If not then you need to speak to your employer to see why.

Your bank told you that you were charged £75 for 3 returned direct debits and then they said they were 3 paypal purchases (hardly direct debits) What was it? Direct debits or paypal purchases?

If you knew you had the money to cover your paypal purchases (even if it was a week ago) you must have known that any further spends would put your account in the red. Can you not get mini statements from your branch to see if salary has gone in etc. if you can't check on line.

Speak to someone in your branch (not phone and not over the counter) make app.to see someone in authority and explain situation and ask for possible refund of charges this time - providing the previous refund was definitely given due to bank error. Have your facts and figures written down ready and be polite, explaining that the charges will cause you to have difficulties to pay for basic stuff etc and may have a knock on effect. Do not complain that 'their charges' have caused the problem as banks do charge for using money that is not yours - fact!:(

Little_Mo_70

J4ffa wrote: »

Right im after some help i have been thinking about claiming back bank charges but i dont know how much i might be owed so unsure what to put on the letter as i have been unemployed for over a year now i told my bank and they didnt want to know all they kept saying was your account is over drawn if you dont pay then we will take your overdraft off you. i have recently been to the job centre to sign on as i need help to get work and dont want all my job seekers allowance been taken up paying the stupid chargers that they have put on my account any help would be great cheers

First of all I'd like to wish you the very best of luck and hope you find a job soon. Good for you. It is disappointing that your bank did not offer any help, even some advice about how it might be possible to come to some agreement regarding a manageable repayment plan. If it should come to passing your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman in the future this would be worth noting as part of your complaint (ie the way your bank treated you unfairly)

Study all the advice on here very carefully first:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges
It will tell you how to get all your information regarding charges etc. (Don't just ask for your statements) use the template letters altering them to suit your circumstances etc. There is usually a charge of £10 for this but some lucky people have not been charged. See if you fit the hardship criteria.

Just remember that you will not have any chance of claiming because of 'stupid charges'. Your claim will only be considered on financial hardship grounds so don't mention unfair charges at all!!. You will need to have a very good, strong case to have any chance of success. Study the scenarios to get the idea.

Best of luck.

Mo x

clairemarie24

I know this may sound a little silly but i have had an account with hsbc and just looking through some old statements ive discovered i paid in 1 year over £800 in charges for going over my overdraft bearing in mind i only worked 10 hours a week some of these charges took nearly all of my wages. I have rang hsbc and they have told me there is no point in asking for the money back as the court case is now over and the bank do not have to pay out. Just would like some advice as to weather i should still claim?
Thank you