halifax bank charges (merged)

MartinaMoney

Hi - very new to this site - but followed all the steps since January and have been ignored and passed from one dept to another - in general made a fool of I submitted my moneyclaim and it's just been issued. The Halifax address I used was the Leeds - Customer Relations one - I've read one of the messages here that it should in fact be a West Yorkshire address - have I snookered myself. Secondly I've been messed about so much by Halifax that I'm also charging them for my time, postage and telephone costs - has anyone else done this and been successful. Halifax have driven me nuts - it's nothing personal but they had no problem taking money from me over the years and the first time ever I've been to them with a query they send me on a wild goose chase. Highly unprofessional. Well done all of you who have been successful - I've got a feeling that it will be my luck that I will face them in Court. (Has anyone ever been to court with Halifax ?)

astevens4

MY STORY, I submitted my first polite request for my charges info on 11 Feb, Followed by a full SAR (Subject Access Request - the industry standard term for the date protection paperwork) on 8th March, and handed it in in branch with a postal order AND MADE THEM STAMP A RECEIPT - THIS IS VERY USEFULL TO HAVE AS YOU WILL SEE IN A MOMENT! after the 40 days were up (To be clear the legislation CLEARLY states 40 Calender days, NOT working days, so dont let them put you off with that!) to be told that they had never received either - pointed out that i had a stamped receipt proving it - and they just put it through the normal complaint procedure (N.B. I CALLED THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, TO BE TOLD THAT BASICALLY ALL THEY WOULD DO IS WRITE TO HALIFAX ONCE A MONTH AND REMIND THEM THEY WERE OVERDUE - IF YOU WANT ANY RECOMPENSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE HALIFAX TO COURT AND SEEK DAMAGES YOURSELF - BASICALLY THE ICO IS GOOD FOR SQUAT ALL!!) - i insisted it be processed as a FOS complaint (Financial Ombudsman Service - they are the mediators set up to adjudicate on complaints for the regulator - they have the power to order banks to do stuff- N.B. Banks HATE FOS complaints cos they get charged a small fortune every time the FOS has to get involved), and eventually got my statements on 11th May. Submitted my request for refund same day - BUT FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF IM EXPECTING NOTHING BUT AN ACKNOWEDGEMENT IN THE 14 DAY TIMEFRAME - i spoke at some length with them (No point shouting at the Phone Monkeys - not their fault, and they have no power - nor their managers for that matter!) and they confirmed that they are taking up to EIGHT WEEKS TO EVEN LOOK AT REQUESTS, and DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO PROCESS ALL THE COURT PAPERWORK WITHIN THE 14 DAYS - so the best route for a speedy settlement, is to issue court papers, and time your Judgement bydefault to the microsecond!!
My personal opinion from speaking to the 3 companies i have / am claiming from, and my experience in working in the Financial Services sector since college (so quite some years now!!), the banks are running scared from this, because it is looking like the next "endowment mis-sales" scandal, so dont be afraid of them, and dont let them bully you into excepting it - IT IS ALL BRAVADO AND POSTURING - OUR BUSINESS PAYS THEIR WAGES, AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO STOP OUR BUSINESS TOO!!! VIVA LA REVALUCIONE!! Maybe a touch dramatic, but the principle is sound!!

tjclilac

Here is an update on my story so far.

Obtained list of charges direct from local branch on 3rd May and sent off on 4th May with initial letter. Received reply on 10th May, very surprised it was so quick I might add, with the now common letter saying "we have looked into your complaint, and find that the charges have been applied to your account properly" blah blah blah... So today have sent off the next letter re; Court action by recorded delivery.

Will let you all know what happens next.

But so far seems to be moving pretty quickly

astevens4

suzy83 wrote: »

need a little advice?

i have filed a claim with halifax on a closed joint account.

long story but me and my partner split due to him having an affair and running the joint account into serious money problems and leaving me in debt.

its only when i heard that i could claim the bank charges back i thought i would give it ago so it would help me out with the mess that he has left me in.

anyway halifax have said they will refund the money but are sending a cheque. only thing is, there sending it in a joint name cheque.

any ideas??

You could try asking for the sum to be split into 2 seperate cheques, but that would mean you only get half - unfortunately, in terms of legality, as the account, and therefore any monies refunded to it is in joint names, you are only entitled to half of the proceeds (even if you have paid all the charges!)
At least it means you could get SOME of it back!!

blue_meany

Stick to the timescale, you set the pace. These are Halifax employees who are paid to give you as little as possible,this is your money not theirs, they are not nice people:mad: . Go through the court system and they have to become nicer-they will give you everything that they unlawfully took from you:beer:

Deegee wrote: »

Hello.

I am new to this forum having lurked for a month or so. I filed my claim for just over £3k a couple of months ago. Usual 8 weeks letter was received and I too was sent a letter of rejection last week (just within 8 week timescale).

I spoke to their Customer Relations man on number at head of rejection letter today; seemed like a decent bloke who confirmed he was logging my unhappiness and confirmed that rejection letter is ploy to buy more time and hope a few folk don't pursue action. I asked for timescale for offer, however due to overwhelming workload at bank re charges he could not commit. We agreed I will call in a fortnight and court action threat would be carried out if no offer was in the offing.

I hope (probably naively on my part) that not rushing to threaten court will make the offer from Halifax more generous, although I will not hesitate to carry on with this claim if they offer a meagre sum.

Jonesr19_2

Hello,

I have just had my claims from halifax rejected. One for £1602 and one for £836. Now i intent taking them to the small calims court. But do i have to file to separate claims or can i but the both claims on on court claim???? They are two separate claims can anybody help??

Thanks:eek:

lee8040

anyone know how much it would cost to take halifax to court. My claim is for £280?

Janbo25

I guess around £40 - £50 however the amount then automatically gets added to your claim.

lee8040

so if im claiming £280 then pay the £40 approx cost i should get back £320 providing it goes to court?

Janbo25

yes thats right if you commence court proceedings online then the amount automatically gets added on for you, it's a very simple procedure.