halifax bank charges (merged)

Edinburghlass_2

bigbird1971 wrote:

any advise please - just noticed looking back on my statements that i put three charges on that shouldnt have been included should i send my second letter again acknoledging that it was my error and give them another seven days to reply??

As long as your final claim if you take it to court is accurate I wouldn't worry about it at the moment but should you get an offer do remember to take those charges into account.

Rex_Mundi

raq wrote:

What do you think on this quote about their date order and going by the financial side of things and not ours.???

Consumeractiongroup have covered this aspect of the banks saying they are entitled to delay these claims in one of their front page articles.

Quote from THIS article...............

Banks provide a very good example of this. They tell their customers that they are only required to deal with complaints within an eight week timescale. They tell their customers that this is a timescale which has been laid down by the FSA. The truth is that there is no reason why this eight week timescale should be binding upon consumers or even the banks. The eight week timescale is part of some agreed industry practice. However there is no evidence that consumers were ever consulted when this arrangement was put together. Unfortunately, time and time again banks publicise the eight week target in a way which is calculated to make their customers believe that there is no other choice and that the timescale is binding upon them. This is not true. There is no reason why simple complaints should take such a long time and we have found that bank charges complaints can be solved within a week or so where there is goodwill on the part of the bank. A feature of the present campaign against bank charges is that all of the users of The Consumer Action Group are encouraged to reject the eight-week timescale and to impose their own maximum four-week timescale before legal action. The experience is that this works very well.

skintscouser

andersjt wrote:

Hi Guys,

Just like to carry out a quick straw poll if you don't mind.

I made a claim to Halifax for £737 + interest (£281.57) grand total of £1018.57.

Today recieved a first offer of £532, following my initial letter, approx £200 shy of the actual claim amount. As its so close to the claim amount (I thought the interest was always a gamble) I'm tempted to deal, what would you guys do?!?

Deal, or no Deal?

Thanks in advance.

This is purely my personal opinion. That's a good 1st offer. It's your decision mate. But, in my experience generally in negotiations you don't accept a first offer, unless it's everything you want of course, as the other party usually holds back something. The fact the bank has offered you £532 suggests you may get more. If you go back on this thread there are some examples of people getting more by negotiating. I would push for more. Why not hey? Depends upon whether you need the money now, or whether you can wait as you potentially could get the lot plus interest at the end of the court procedure. Let us all know how you get on.

andersjt

Thanks Frank and scouser, I'll let you know what happens!

malkkky

hogpog wrote:

Bank : Halifax

Amount Claimed : Charges 1796.00, plus interest, plus legal costs £120.00

Amount Paid : £1976.00 & £233.48 :T

Details :

24/11/06 1st letter sent to Halifax with breakdown of charges. They replied advising charges are part of t&c.

11/12/06 2nd letter sent to Halifax giving seven days for full response before court action. They replied advising the matter would be passed to their Customer Relations Dept. As I considered their letter not to be a full response as requested in my letter I began court action.

28/12/06 entered claim online; dated documents served to Halifax 3/1/07.

Halifax acknowledged claim and had until 31/1/07 to reply/defend.

17/1/07 checked bank account and two credits appear today; one for full charges and another for interest plus costs, just over £2000.00 No letter received yet.

it can be done; don't be scared of the court process. the banks have gotten away with overcharging for too long.

the entire process has taken 55 days; just under 6 weeks.

thanks to Martin :money: and every forum member who offered advice :beer:

Having a similar experience with the Halifax myself:

1. Wrote letter 1 on 15 December requesting repayment of £1,053. Got a reply about a week later enclosing T&C's and stating that the charges had been properly applied.

2. Wrote letter 2 on 2 Jan advising that I found their first response completely unsatisfactory and if they didn't refund charges within 7 days I would take action through the courts. I offered (without prejudice) to accept £800 as full and final settlement. Three days later they replied saying my complaint had been escalated to customer relations. By 10 Jan I had heard nothing further so I phoned my local branch at 9:30am and said if I didn't have an offer by 3pm that day I would commence proceedings. They rang back half an hour later saying they had spoken to customer relations and had been advised that they were allowed (by their regulator) 8 weeks to respond but they normally try to aim for 4 weeks. I said that I was the one setting the deadlines and if they didn't respond by 3pm I would start the proceedings. She basically said "well go on then".

3. So I did, I entered the claim online at 3pm and now await the outcome.

magw_2

I sent a letter to the Halifax requesting statements. Within 2 weeks they wrote back. They have since sent another letter telling me that my statements are on there way. Unlike Lloyds who have not replied to me at all

bigbird1971_2

thanks edinburgh lass

Salama55

andersjt wrote:

Hi Guys,

Just like to carry out a quick straw poll if you don't mind.

I made a claim to Halifax for £737 + interest (£281.57) grand total of £1018.57.

Today recieved a first offer of £532, following my initial letter, approx £200 shy of the actual claim amount. As its so close to the claim amount (I thought the interest was always a gamble) I'm tempted to deal, what would you guys do?!?

Deal, or no Deal?

Thanks in advance.

NO DEAL!! They wouldn't let you off if it was you who owed them money so why should they expect you to let them off? Go for it mate.

Salama55

lookingforward2summer wrote:

I too am getting fed up with Halifax. Requested my past 6yrs statements on 12th Dec & so far have only received last 2yrs ( 8 days ago. )
Is there a phone number to chase the others up?

I sent in 1st request in june, got acknowledgement but no statements, sent another letter in nov (had lots of health probs inbetween) & they said I had to send written request again, so I called the normal helpdesk, told the advisor I had already paid the £10 & she sent them, I had them in 5 days.......then 4 days later.......I received them all again!!!! So much for requesting them in writing. Just ring the helpdesk & they'll send them.
HTH:T

supersal_3

YES YES YES I DID IT. Today I got an offer of £1000 for a claim of £1200, I was going to do my mcol tomorrow(pay day!), but now have saved myself that expense. Cant quite believe it, and I have another claim going through for much more so it has given be a real boost to know that YOU CAN WIN!!!!