Advice on bank charges..

barteh

I have received alot of bank charges lately, and ive just decided to stick up for myself and ask for them back.
I made an official complaint and then recieved this letter basically apologising and offering me £125.

I was about to take this, before i seen the big thing on GMTV about the illegal bank charges and also the fact that they have just applied another account fee to my account when i was clearly within my limits. so ive put together the following letter, but not yet posted it.
I was asking for some advice, or if anyone can thin of anything to add to it?

Dear XXXX,
Thank you for your response regarding the recent complaint I made.

Since I spoke to a Barclays representative almost three weeks ago I have been in contact the office of fair trading and the FSA who has advised me that I could claim up to six years back unless the bank could show me how its cost you the costs that you have charged me.
Additionally, it has now been confirmed that your particularly high level of penalties are considered to be unfair by the OFT who reported on the 5th April 2006 and are therefore presumed to be unlawful in the absence of specific proof to the contrary.

For almost two years I have been trying to increase my overdraft from £10 to £50 just to use as a simple buffer due to the fact I was living alone and struggled with direct debit dates alone. Barclays knows full well that for the last four years I have been paid every fortnight without fail the same salary (not a varying wage) of which has increased by over £10k (annually) over the last four years.

After my complaint I was put through to the department for overdrafts, and the kind assistant managed to increase my overdraft to £50.
I have just checked my statement as of today (02/08/06) and im currently -£47 which is within my agreed overdraft of £50, but yet there is an account fee of £5 on there.
If my new overdraft has not yet been applied to my account, then why has my new overdraft protection payments been applied to the account which was setup with my new overdraft.
I am frankly shocked that you have operated my account in this way as I had always reposed confidence in your integrity and expertise as my fiduciary.
I consider that your repeated representations that your charges are fair and reasonable are deceptive and that they have deceived me into agreeing to pay them.
Your concealment of the true nature of your charges has prevented me from asserting my right until now.

In light of all of the above information, I ask you to reconsider your kind offer of £125.

I look forward to hearing back from,



Regards
Adam Venn

dchurch24

I would send it pretty much verbatim from the CAG site.

barteh

sorry DC.. i dont understand what you mean :-s

i was thinking of applying for the complete list of transactions which could take up to 40 days. i might have to include that in my letter.

dchurch24

Go to the https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk website, register on the forum and get the letters you need from there.

There will also be a lot of people on there in the same boat as you and will know what to do when the bank ignores your letters.

Be patient with the site today though, it's being hit quite hard because of the GMT thing and the Daily Mirror thing yesterday, so it's a bit slow.

Kay_Peel

Take out the bit that says 'I ask you to reconsider your kind offer.'

It's not a 'kind offer'.

Tell them that you want a reply about a full refund within 14 days.

Download a copy of the small claims form from Her Majesty's Court Service's site. Fill it in. Print it off. Attach a copy of it to your letter.

K.

bengal-stripe

barteh wrote:

I have just checked my statement as of today (02/08/06) and im currently -£47 which is within my agreed overdraft of £50, but yet there is an account fee of £5 on there.

I don’t know what the “account fee” of £5.00 is, but it’s not a penalty charge (they are considerably higher, £25.00 upwards).
Maybe Barclays charges for “setting up" an overdraft, I don’t know. At one time all banks used to charge for that. Ask what the “account fee” is for.

If it’s a cost for services provides, you cannot claim it back.

barteh

I think the £5 is an initial fee.. and then they charge £25 a day or so after that.. this is not the second time it has happened to me.

i will not send the letter off just yet.

Thanks for your advice. i have already posted on the website and awaiting response.

I have not yet applied for a full statement (£10 one), but i will do today.
That can take a long time to come through though cant it?
I also assume i send that to my local branch and not the head office?

thanks again