halifax bank charges (merged)

Edinburghlass_2

If you don't get a response in your 14 days other than the standard "wait 8 weeks" then send out the next letter saying you will be taking court action.

weetee10

Rex_Mundi
Mad Maverick MoneySaving Maniac



Join Date: Dec 2004
Post Count: 4,462
Thanked 2,617 Times in 1,739 Posts Interest....Some Facts

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Questions about interest come up a lot, and there seems to be some confusion about what can and cannot be claimed.

There are two types of interest to keep in mind, contractual interest, and statutory interest.

Contractual interest

This is what you see on your bank statements charged by the bank when you go overdrawn. It appears on your statement as 'INTEREST', or 'INT'.

There are normally two different interest rates charged. A lower rate is charged when you are overdrawn, but still within your agreed overdraft limit. Under no circumstances can this interest be reclaimed. There is a higher rate of interest (up to 29.9%) charged when you go over your overdraft limit (unnauthorised overdraft). This is a bit trickier to deal with. You cannot claim any of this interest if your spending has caused you to go over your overdraft limit, but you can claim this interest on any bank charges that have caused this. The problem with this is working out the interest only on the charges. It can be difficult to get right, and you have to be very accurate with your figures in case the bank at any stage challenges them. Generally, most people don't claim this interest.
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i have just read this article and relised i think i may have made a mistake. i have had 2 offers from bank, half original claim and the full amount. both without interest(as i was claiming charges and 8%) but after reading this, am i correct in thinking i should have taken the full amount offer, before going to court ??

denim.demon

crazycook wrote: »

i sent off for my statements on the 1st feb, and have heard nothing since, i telephoned them today and was told it could take up to 6 weeks to get statements, i am at a loss as to what to do now.

I phoned the Bank of Scotlands Telephone Banking service last week (08457 213141) and requested the statements from there Yesterday I received statments from Jan 2000 till April 2004, I am going to give them a couple of days more to send the rest before following up with another call, to ask about the remaining statements.

If you are registered with the Telephone Banking service this seems to be the best way to get a response and they only charge a fiver for the statements :T .

As for timescales this is a judgement call but I personally would not let the bank dictate the timescales.

denim.demon

emmastar wrote: »

Hi all

I have challenged the halifax over my unfair charges and they wrote 2 weeks ago offering me the full amount less interest. Trouble is they said i have to wait 14 working days from receipt of the signed letter (accepting the money) and that time is up friday. What do i do if it is not back in my bank by then?

The money should be in your bank by then so do not worry too much.

If it is not then the the first thing you should do is contact the Bank either by telephone or better still I would go into your nearest branch with the letter from the bank, and ask them to sort it out for you there and then.

Remember not to have a go at the staff as your complaint is with the bank and not them.

If this does not work then log a formal complain through the banks complaint system, this will show to anyone that you have gone through all the correct procedures and give you a good case against them with the financial onbudsman.

I very much doubt that you will need to chase them up as the bank have agreed to pay you the money within a certain timescale and really do not have a leg to stand on if they don't.

Oh and congratulations on getting your charges back.

Jessie_M

Hi all,

Quite new to this site, so hello to you all.

I have received the last 6 years of bank statements from the Halifax with no problems, so I sent the next letter asking for my money back along with a schedule of the charges, but I realised yesterday that I didn't date the letter, so I'm going to re send the letter just to cover myself with a date on it. I was just wondering what address are you sending your correspondance to, I have been sending it to my local branch rather than the head office is this right or should I be sending it to an other address, please help I'm a bit confused and I don't really want to delay this much longer, because i want my money back. :mad:

Hopefully if I get my money back I can take my little girl on a nice holiday in the summer.

I'll keep you informed of my progress.
Thanks in advance.
Jess

Miz

Edinburghlass wrote: »

If you don't get a response in your 14 days other than the standard "wait 8 weeks" then send out the next letter saying you will be taking court action.

Hi again still waiting on my letter to be signed for as was sent recorded delivery 12th March, tracked and still not signed for, do you think could refuse?

Another question a friend of mine also with Halifax, is suggesting to go through Ombudsman, they sort for you but are telling her takes 8 weeks? and cut off date is 31st March for claims, anyone out there know anything on this?

Jessie_M

nikiwiki wrote: »

I have claimed from January 2000 also as in that year I had a HUGE amount of charges, Halifax sent me a letter today saying they would refund me £157.00. I rang them and refused their offer as I am reclaiming £1004 they say they work out my charges as £213 (its actually £283 from January 2001) a manager is contacting me tomorrow to discuss this. Do anyone have any advice, Should I/Can I push for the amount from Jan 2000 or will I just have to accept the amount from Jan 2001

NIKI

Hi Niki,

I think you can only claim back 6 years, so if you go back has far as Jan 2000 you going back 7 years, I don't think you can do it something to do with English law. martin does mention it in his page about reclaiming bank charges, take a look at it, it should answer your questions.

best of luck

Jess

gerrybhoy1974

Hi folks, does anyone have a telephone number direct to the data protection office for HBOS. I have just received my statements. However they seem to have sent a random selection (11 sheets in total), covering only a couple of years. I have done the same with Lloyds TSB and they have sent everythjing since 2001, so hats off to them for actually getting it right 1st time. What should I do with HBOS?.... anyone in the same position?
Thanks
Ger

ThaiJ

i think they come in batches as mine from hsbc are coming through in dribs and drabs so if it just from today hold tight and you should get more through the letterbox!

gerrybhoy1974

Thanks ThaiJ,

poor postman's arms were nearly breaking with the Lloyds TSB statements this morning... I might give him a tip if successful!!
Thanks again
Ger