Have the banks got 8 weeks to reply?!!!

sbfc_26

I sent my copies of charges and letter requesting my money back on the 16th May. I received a response dated 23rd May which to cut short said they are investigating and will will respond with a full response as soon as they have completed there investigations. Well, i havent heard anything since that letter so i phoned them up and they said due to the high volume of people claiming it is taking a bit longer to deal with (8 weeks). She went on to say that if i havent heard anything in these 8 weeks (its been just over 3 weeks now) then i should phone them up and chase it up.

Has anyone else had this and should i wait the 8 weeks?

Thanks,

Matt.

Stephen_Leak

sbfc_26 wrote: »

I sent my copies of charges and letter requesting my money back on the 16th May. I received a response dated 23rd May which to cut short said they are investigating and will will respond with a full response as soon as they have completed there investigations. Well, i havent heard anything since that letter so i phoned them up and they said due to the high volume of people claiming it is taking a bit longer to deal with (8 weeks). She went on to say that if i havent heard anything in these 8 weeks (its been just over 3 weeks now) then i should phone them up and chase it up.

Has anyone else had this and should i wait the 8 weeks?

Thanks,

Matt.

If you are in no hurry to get your money back, you can leave it as long as you like.

The letters saying that they are investigating and have 40 days to respond are little more than acknowledgements of receipt and attempts to make you give up and go away. The 40 days timescale only applies if you are going to escalate the claim to the Financial Ombudsman.

If you have not received an acceptable reply by 14 days from the date of your first letter, send them the second “Letter Before Action” letter, giving them either another 26 days to respond or else you will refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman or another 14 days to respond or else you will start court proceedings. If you have not received an acceptable reply by your deadline, then refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman or start court proceedings on Money Claim Online.

Please read the Reclaim Bank Charges Help thread.

maxwell76

Well forgive me if this is in the wrong place but im after some advice. 2 weeks ago i sent the template letter asking for just short of £1000 back from my bank. Today i received a letter saying..

"Thank you for you recent letter regarding the fees applied to your account.

We are currently considering your claim. Given the work involved in assessing your claim we anticipate that we will be in a position to respond withing 6-7 weeks, but will endeavour to do so sooner if we are able to."

Obviously this is a stalling tactics but what do i do...just wait and see if i have any response in 7 weeks??


Thanks

Beate

Sure, if you want to gather moss....

Honestly, stick to YOUR timescale, not theirs, they will just mess you around otherwise. Send the second letter threatening to take them to court and then do just that after two more weeks. Don't let them get away with it.

margymuggins

maxwell76 wrote: »

Well forgive me if this is in the wrong place but im after some advice. 2 weeks ago i sent the template letter asking for just short of £1000 back from my bank. Today i received a letter saying..

"Thank you for you recent letter regarding the fees applied to your account.

We are currently considering your claim. Given the work involved in assessing your claim we anticipate that we will be in a position to respond withing 6-7 weeks, but will endeavour to do so sooner if we are able to."

Obviously this is a stalling tactics but what do i do...just wait and see if i have any response in 7 weeks??


Thanks

well i waited till 4th june got offer posted straight back money in bank 7thjune its up to u but i didnt really want to go to court give them a few phone calls in between if ur gonna wait its a free phone no 0800 015 4212 best of luck

stonehedge

Hi,

I sent my 14 day letter to Natwest about 18 days ago. I have received their standard "please wait 6-7 weeks" letter.

My claim is for ~£3600

Should I wait for 6-7 weeks or push ahead with MCOL now?

Would be grateful for your thoughts...

Thanks,

Dan

princesskez26

stonehedge wrote: »

Hi,

I sent my 14 day letter to Natwest about 18 days ago. I have received their standard "please wait 6-7 weeks" letter.

My claim is for ~£3600

Should I wait for 6-7 weeks or push ahead with MCOL now?

Would be grateful for your thoughts...

Thanks,

Dan

Hi, I wouldn't wait carry on with your claim, stick to your timescale not theirs. Many of the banks use stalling tactics, at the end of the 6-7 weeks they'll probably send you a standard bog off letter stating their charges are fair etc anyway :rolleyes:

Good luck,

Kez

sc2005ra

Hi!

Im at the same stage as you in all this. i have got as far as to writing them a letter threatening to tke them to court but gt the same 6-8 wks responce time. I am not too sure what step to take next? do i go to moneyclaime and take it from there? all adv wil be much appreciated.

Stephen_Leak

If you want to wait 7 or 8 weeks for a letter telling you that the charges are really service fees, were in the term and conditions and are in line with the Office of Fair Trading so are therefore correct, be my guest!

These days, your chances of getting all your charges back in response to a strongly worded letter are as slim as a size zero model. The first two letters are just to show that you have tried to settle the matter before you escalated it to the Financial Ombudsman or the courts.

The letters saying that they are investigating and have from now until the next ice age to respond are little more than acknowledgements of receipt and attempts to make you give up and go away. The 40 days timescale only applies if you are going to refer the claim to the Financial Ombudsman.

Your first claim letter should give them 14 days to respond. If you have not received an acceptable reply by your deadline, send them the second “Letter Before Action” letter. If you are threatening to refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman, give them until 40 days from the date of your first letter to respond. If you are threatening to start court proceedings, give them another 14 days to respond. If you have not received an acceptable reply by your deadline, then refer your claim to the Financial Ombudsman or start court proceedings on Money Claim Online.

Please read the Reclaim Bank Charges Help thread for information and the Reclaimed Bank Charges Success Stories and Reclaimed Bank Charges Success Stories II threads for inspiration.

Stevie342000

mumof3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

Can anyone advise me......I think I'm being messed about by my bank?

I'm in the process of taking the Royal Bank of Scotland to court (sent 2nd template letter 3 weeks ago) and after I telephoned them for an update, they have advised me that they are "investigating my case and that they are legally allowed 8 weeks to deal with my enquiry/claim"?

Has anyone else been told this by their bank and should I wait this l ength of time (i.e 8 weeks) or proceed now with the court letter?

Would appreciate any feedback/advice, thanks.

I have just been told the same thing today Monday 11th of June 2007 by the spokesperson at HSBC, that I had to wait 8 weeks from the date of there letters both of which quote different days for the letter I sent them, I am making a claim for joint account and personal account...different claim numbers same letter sent by me but different dates on their replies dated 25th of May 2007.

What do I do now, I need to send second letter to them but not sure where to look have read the stuff on the main site but find it all a little confusing.


Can anyone help and point me in the right direction, I take it that this 8 weeks I was told is just a delaying tactic?

Thanks
Steve