Can a get a debt consisting entirely of bank charges reduced?

milly_molly_4

Hello - I wonder if anyone can help me...
I have an outstanding debt of about £500 that the Royal Bank of Scotland are chasing me for (actually being chased by a company in glasgow who say they are a debt collection agency working on behalf of RBS). They're ringing me everyday, it's been going on about a year, and I'm just ignoring them (stupid i know but I'm scared!).
The debt is made up of charges and interest which all come from a direct debit that got refused due to insufficient funds. So, the direct debit wasn't even paid - every penny of this debt is bank charges.

I've researched how to claim charges back, and have the statements fot this account, but haven't found any advice anywhere on whether I can pre-empt claiming the charges back by getting the bank to reduce/elliminate the debt.

I know it was bad to not have money in acct for a direct debit going out, and bad to have ignored the consequent debt - but not £500 bad! The debt collection people made (well - somehow convinced me) to pay £10 over the phone, and that was around the point I started ignoring their calls.

Is anyone in a similar situation? does anyone have any advice or template letters on how to approach them?

Any advice at all would be very much appreciated - the constant missed calls and general worry that bailliffs might arrive is not something I want at the back of my mind anymore.

Cheers
MillyMolly

robert_harper_2000

consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum is an excellent source. Also yes you can get all the charges and everything back!

Edinburghlass_2

If you have a read of Martin's blog here you'll find MSE user Chrissie had a similar experience due to her benefits being paid into her account late. The discussion thread is here.

The good news is she has reclaimed her bank charges and been successful to the tune of £900, the story was in the email a couple of weeks ago.

Check back on the forum tomorrow as the new article will be on the Main Site

Lizzy

Yes you can claim that back. Also it may be best to pop over to the CAG and read up. Once you have put the debt/account into disbute nothing else is allowed to happen as you are saying the debt is not correct.
The problem is that they may not listen and you could get a default on your credit file which you need to avoid at all costs. If you could just manage the £10 to the debt collectors it will shut them up until its sorted. There is lots on the CAG about debt collectors and agencies.

MSE is my hero but on certain matters I don't feel that every issue can be covered on this subject. Some people have indepth legal matters but you can be sure the legal buffs over there will have come across it before.
If you have a straight forward claim all will be well.

Go for it and good luck.

Lizzy

bengal-stripe

milly_molly wrote:

They're ringing me everyday, it's been going on about a year...The debt collection people made (well - somehow convinced me) to pay £10 over the phone

Is it possible to dispute a debt after this time and after having made a payment?

Lizzy

bengal-stripe wrote:

Is it possible to dispute a debt after this time and after having made a payment?

Yes certainly. Claims can be made on closed accounts. Just because someone forced you to pay does not mean it is correct.We all thought the big boys were right we now know they are wrong. The small payments are only to prevent matters from damaging the credit report further.

nblaen

dead right I had the same challenged the debt and have just received a cheque from halifax for all the charges