TSB Bank charges problems.....Help!

andyred03

Hi all,
First time on here but im looking for some advice on the bank charges situation. I am with Loyds TSB, and around May of 2009 i filed a claim for unfair charges. I received a letter saying it was on hold until the hearing result but have heard nothing since. I do beleive i have a case of claiming under hardship. I care for my partner (both 32) who sufferes from severe mental health. I have got various debts like credit card, shoppacheck loan, catalogue etc. At the end of each month we have around £120 left out of all benefits with a few misscelaneous items to come out of that. I am still now getting returned direct debits on a monthly basis. The total charges are only £210.00 but in my situation thats a lot! Just wondered if anyone could advise on what steps i should now take.
Thankyou in advance
Andy

the_insider

Contact the bank and ask them what's going on. If they have put your case on hold they haven't acknowledged that you're in financial hardship. Did you complete an income and expenditure declaration when you applied for the charges back? Give them a call and ask them the best move from here. Or use the hardship letters on the site.

You need to make sure that you're not putting yourself into further difficulty in the short term whilst they're looking into it. Can you make alternative arrangements to stop your Direct Debits bouncing? Maybe pay with cash or Bill Payments to save you from getting more charges.

Hopefully NatwestStaffMember will be along later to give you his words of wisdom! Good luck with it all.

Premier_2

Have you explained to the bank that you were claiming under financial hardship grounds? Claims based on financial hardship should never have been put on hold; there was a waiver in place before November 2009 (and no new cases since that date when the Supreme Court gave it's ruling should have been but on hold)

If you have not made a claim under financial hardship, read the lending code (section 9, page 20) to check you are eligible, and if you think so, contact the bank and explain to them the situation. The MSE article explains more on how to do this.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

andyred03

Thanks for the reply covert. No i did not fill in a income & expenditure form. Just filled in the template letter from here and got the 'on hold' reply letter from them.

andyred03

Thanks Premier. I actually rang the bank a few weeks after the 'on hold' letter and explained that i considered myself to be in hardship, and after explaining my circumstances the girl dismissed it as not being. I have not however sent them anything detailed in writing

chipbeck

andyred03 wrote: »

Thanks Premier. I actually rang the bank a few weeks after the 'on hold' letter and explained that i considered myself to be in hardship, and after explaining my circumstances the girl dismissed it as not being. I have not however sent them anything detailed in writing

How unlucky were you to get a highly paid boss on the phone, who could then and there tell you you weren't a hardship sufferer. Pity you didn't get an ordinary call centre girl who wouldn't have been able to make that decision. Heaven forbid that this may be a standard response hoping you'll not bother them again.

andyred03

In my niavety i just accepted it. Im getting more & more frustrated however at the amount of money these people make off our backs and we seem to be powerless to do anything. Just rang the bank and they say i need to go into my local branch and speak with an advisor. So i am now in the process of gathering as much info and evidence as possible and intend on going in there and not being fobbed off. Will it be worth it? Probably not but here's to giving it a go

Premier_2

andyred03 wrote: »

In my niavety i just accepted it. Im getting more & more frustrated however at the amount of money these people make off our backs and we seem to be powerless to do anything. Just rang the bank and they say i need to go into my local branch and speak with an advisor. So i am now in the process of gathering as much info and evidence as possible and intend on going in there and not being fobbed off. Will it be worth it? Probably not but here's to giving it a go

No, no, no.

I would only call the bank, or speak to the branch advisor, if it was a one off charge I was trying to get waived on the basis of goodwill gesture.

Anything more serious needs to be made in writing and to the formal complaint address. Template letters are available in the MSE article. If you are in financial hardship, they must treat you sympathetically (which may or may not result in a refund of the charges)

natweststaffmember

Everything should be done in writing. Premier knows the type of advice I give and so has stated to read the Lending code chapter 9 and has given the link to it.
The bank will look at priority debts as well as living expenses. I would add that if you can cancel any non essential DD's and pay when the bill is sent that it will avoid unpaid DD charges. Furthermore, if you are in arrears on priority debts which is specifically defined like this:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/PlanYourWayOutOfDebt/DG_10013266
You should contact your creditors and see what they can do to help since non payment will lead to arrears.
Catalogue charges if they are for non payment, late payment overlimit fees CAN be reclaimed even the £12.00 ones so consider doing that as well.

andyred03

Ok thanks for that. Would the original template be ok to use or is there a more updated one? Also I seem to go around in circles trying to find exacly where to send the info to TSB so anyone have the correct address?

Thanks all for your help it is very much appreciated:T

andyred03

One more thing, Is it worth trying to claim interest or would that be bordering on greedy?