Bank Charges Reclaiming Guide discussion

dunstonh

Has anyone had any experience and any kind of success in claiming for charges against Barclays in the past year or so?

We have seen no reports of success posted on this website that hasnt come from current financial hardship.

Whilst a refund of some charges is an option open to the bank, they can also suspend charges for the next x number of months, suspend interest or typically a combination of the last 6-12 months charges and some ahead. That cant be done with a closed account. You may get lucky as banks are very scatter gun in their approach. However, any refund they make is a goodwill gesture and cannot be forced on them.

It states on this website you can still put in to reclaim bank charges even if now you are not in finantial difficulty but were at the time of all the charges......

Doesnt mean its right. Your situation is a hit and hope with low odds of success but if you dont ask you dont get.

Even the FOS guide makes reference to current position:
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/financial-hardship-unaffordable-lending.htm

If the financial business is to assess how it can best help, then it will need to understand the consumer's current financial position, including income and outgoings, other debts, and things like savings accounts. We would expect the consumer to provide this information to the business as the sensible first step towards reaching agreement. But a financial business should take care to ask only for relevant information. And it should be sensitive in how it collects it.

Common misunderstandings

The complaints we see show that there are frequent misunderstandings by consumers and financial businesses about how financial difficulty complaints involving current account charges should be approached. Here are some of the most common misunderstandings we see:

I have heard that consumers who are in financial hardship are entitled to have all their current account charges refunded.

No. A bank should respond helpfully and fairly where a consumer is in genuine financial difficulty, but that will not necessarily involve refunds of charges. There are various measures that might represent a fair outcome as part of putting things right.

carrot_cake

I'm presuming these charges are different to packaged bank account monthly charges? I am also claiming for a refund of my monthly charges due to being mis-sold the account back in 2000. Lots of people appear to have already been refunded their fees.

[Deleted User]

carrot_cake wrote: »

I'm presuming these charges are different to packaged bank account monthly charges?

Yes, the charges for going overdrawn without permission etc are completely separate from the charges for a packaged bank account.

jasper27

Is it still possible to claim Bank Charges?


I originally claimed 2 lots of bank charges back in 2007, at the same time from Barclays Bank.


One worked out at £275 and they offered me £200, which I eventually accepted, but the other one worked out at approximately £700 and after they paid out the £200 they said they were putting all cases on hold for 12 months.


I haven't heard anything since.. is it too late to do anything about it?

dunstonh

Is it still possible to claim Bank Charges?

The banks won the court case. Now, only goodwill gestures for people under current financial hardship and incorrect application of charges are considered.

I haven't heard anything since.. is it too late to do anything about it?

No. its game over for you.

jasper27

dunstonh wrote: »

The banks won the court case. Now, only goodwill gestures for people under current financial hardship and incorrect application of charges are considered.



What constitutes 'current financial hardship'?


No. its game over for you.

No ... it's not too late to claim? or Yes it's too late to complain?

[Deleted User]

jasper27 wrote: »

Yes it's too late to complain?

Your complaint was over when the Banks won their court case.

jasper27 wrote: »

What constitutes current financial hardship?

Typically, living in your overdraft and being unable to afford even basic necessities. You'd have to ask the Bank to look at your financial circumstances and it is they who determine whether you are in current financial hardship. If you have subscription television, a mobile 'phone account etc then you are not in financial hardship.
You will never receive historical charges back even if you are deemed to be in financial hardship. Banks mostly only refund charges from the last six months and they are under no obligation to refund even that.

jasper27

Thank you for your repy.


I'm struggling to survive living on a minimum wage and really could do with a bit of financial help, as the bank charges dropped me into a deep dark hole, but I understand it's game over, thanks anyway.

[Deleted User]

jasper27 wrote: »

I'm struggling to survive living on a minimum wage and really could do with a bit of financial help

Try posting on (or just reading) the "Debt Free Wannabe" board of this forum. Plenty of hints, tips and support from others in a similar position;
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76

Working-Girl

dunstonh wrote: »

The banks won the court case. Now, only goodwill gestures for people under current financial hardship and incorrect application of charges are considered.



No. its game over for you.

Charging someone 12 twelves in one month surely should be illegal!?? Doesn't make their situation any better, what banks do is disgraceful, I'd like to know who they did an underhand payment to in the courts to win the case!! This happened to someone I know and I have put a claim in for my bank charges as has my friend and I wont be happy unless they refund a quarter of the full amount!

I'm sure the FOS would have something to say about being charged 12 twelves in one month....surely that's excessive?

I have heard people on this thread say they've been offered a quarter of charges back and some people have had all their charges back so I don't think you should be advising people it's game over....