getting paranoid re: reclaiming bank charges

Madam_Ra

Hiya

I have been doing the rounds with challenging my bank (barclays) to pay up the unfair bank charges and have finally done the moneyclaim online.

I did it about 4/5 weeks ago and 2/3 weeks ago (ish)the bank told them that they disputed it and they have been given 28 days to file their defence. I think it is almost that time now and I'm SO paranoid about it all. I'm just worried that I may be stuck with the court fees, my luck has been so bad lately, I just feel that the courts might change the rules or something so that I am not entitled to anything.

They owe me about £1500 (probably even more, I've been charged more since!)now after all the fees. And I borrowed the court fee from my dad.

There is no way they can win is there? It's just taking so long and I thought it would be sorted by now. I started my first letters in the beginnning of June.

Has anyone else recently been in the same situation (with barclays especially) and how long did it take? What was the next stage form where i'm at?

Thank you in advance everyone. I'm just so skint and could do with that money really soon, just to get some food and pay my rent.

M*

flower_chops

Hi hon,

I'm sorry I can't offer any experience in this (am tackling my bank charges when I get paid from my new job). However, I'm sure you're probably aware of https://www.consumeractiongroup.com who have their forum on there and I'm sure if you post on the Barclays section you'll have lots of people able to offer experienced views on this. Big hugs and keeping my fingers crossed for you...you WILL get your money!

southernscouser

Hey Ma Ra!

Stick with it! I've been waiting for a court date for 3 weeks or so then the other morning I had a letter from Natwest's solicitor, offering me £600! I've sent a thank you very much letter but telling them I will carry on for the rest of it!

Got an odd letter from the court aswell but after posting on the BAG site I've got a letter to send to them!

You will get your money back and you won't go to court. Just lie back and enjoy the thoughts of what your refund is going to spent on!

Madam_Ra

thanks I just need some reassurance

barclays already offered me a 'goodwill gesture' of £495 (which in my eyes is admittance of everything) which I declined, and promptly filed my claim (which I warned them about 3 times!).

I've had just the one letter from moneyclaim, stating that they have responded to say they objected and they have 28 days to file their defence.

I don't relly know what to expect next - do I need to inform someone of all the latest charges AND interest or just leave it til last minute? I am working it out now - should i just keep hold of it, send it to barclays, or to moneyclaim?

Ma Ra*

southernscouser

If it goes as mine did then your bank will issue their defence and send you a copy. Your court will then send you a copy.

They try to use a legal jargon to confuse and it works but all mine was basically asking was to send a list of charges which I did.

Then you get a court alloacation questionaire (sp) and so do your bank. It's basically just to determine that the case should be heard at your local court and are there any problems, do you need an interpretor (sp) that sort of thing!

I have now had a letter from the court and I'm presuming Natwest have asked them to contact me for not supplying the information they requested! :rolleyes: It's just all stalling tactics! Obviously between them contacting the court and the court contacting me they made me an offer! :rotfl:

It's one of those situations where no matter how many people reassure you you just have to go through it all, then you wonder why you didn't listen to what people told you or why you worried in the first place. I've been exactly where you are and so will the next person. :rolleyes:

lightatendoftunnel?

Hang in there. I started my request with data protection 5th June and finally got my full offer on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:beer:

I had half offer etc. had to put claim on moneyclaim but hang in there. I started to get worried at the end. As i think you get paranoid thinking i will be the first test case and i will lose. But i got lots of support and waited. I will now be £4000 better off by the end of next week.
So take a deep breath, relax and wait for the offer to come. Remember its your money!:D

justruth

Just a couple of things, I'm in the process with Barclays and they waited till midday of the last day they had to file their defence. If they had fail to file in time you win by default! I spoke to one of their legal team before completing the allocation questionaire and he basically suggested that they didn't take claims seriously until after the allocation questionaire had been filled in. While that was going on I claimed £1975 + interest off HSBC and they have just offered £1775 which I am giving serious consideration to. Ultimately the banks want this whole thing to just go away, so just go through the motions till they pay up.

*Sparkle*_3

Best wishes and try not to worry like previously mentioned they use all these tactics to try and scare you off, so be strong!

cmorlife

good to read all your messages, im sending off the initial letters tommorrow to barclays and hsbc, so will keep you all updated, and would love to hear how other people got on with this.

dave318

I'm not sure that I have heard of anyone being taken to court. They just don't want to go there. Then they would have legal recourse not to charge these charges to others.
You really have to see it through. Just be organised and prepared to wait. As others have stated, it is generally stalling tactics by the bank. They know that they are in the wrong and are desperate to avoid it.
Keep the faith.

oakdale_minx

hi there - keep hanging on! i'm at various stages with my claims - three are with the courts (I've filed an Allocation Questionnaire with one, they've just acknowleged another and I'm waiting for acknowledgement on the third) ,one will have a court claim filed next week and the last one will be getting aletter before action tomorrow.

They do not want us to know how little it costs them to charge us £12/£20/£30 etc, so that is why they won't go to court.

After acknowledgement, they file a defence , then (with the abbey) they offer 50%, thenyou get the allocation questionnaire, it's easy to fill in, then wait for a court date, then they pay up at the last minute.

Stay strong - you'll get it all back,don't worry.