Claiming bank charges- A little help?

Poppyf13

Hi everyone just looking for a little more help on reclaiming bank charges.

Ive read the part on the website but its all so confusing. here is my situation

in 2007 i took some money out of my bank from being paid for a job.. unknowingly a few days later the transaction was reversed through error which i didnt know it was (different thing all together)

so this left me in an unauthorised overdraft... at the time obviously i remember going into the bank to try and sort it out.. So i was now in an unplanned overdraft.. being charged and charged.. At the time also I can see a transaction for job centre went in.. which was used to pay off my overdraft by the bank (goodness knows how i coped without my money as the bank swallowed it up)

SO after a little while i can see on a statement they gave me an 'AGREED BORROWING LIMIT' but yet was still charging me interest?

This went on for around 6 months.

I am now in a DMP not because of that but do you think I will fall into the hardship catagory?

Do i have a leg to stand on to get any of these charges and interest back?

:(

dunstonh

SO after a little while i can see on a statement they gave me an 'AGREED BORROWING LIMIT' but yet was still charging me interest?

If you borrow money then you pay interest on it whether it is agreed or not (there are some exceptions where a fixed fee is used in place of interest).

I am now in a DMP not because of that but do you think I will fall into the hardship catagory?

All you can do is ask them.

Do i have a leg to stand on to get any of these charges and interest back?

It isnt about having a leg to stand on. It is totally reliant on the goodwill of the bank. If they refund some then fine. if they say no then there is nothing you can do about it. All you can do is put your case to them.

You do have a weakness in your reclaim in that financial hardship applies to now. The current DMP would is a good indication of that. However, the charges are 5 years ago. not recent. Some banks only look at the last 6-12 months charges. Effectively you have to be in hardship now and the charges in relation to the period of hardship.

Poppyf13

So in relation to all this, who am i writing to first? My actual bank where i live or the head office or do i write to the ombudsman? I find this all really confusing. I have nothing to lose I guess just need a point in the right direction.

dunstonh

So in relation to all this, who am i writing to first? My actual bank where i live or the head office or do i write to the ombudsman?

Forget the FOS. They cannot review your complaint (although its a request for refund, its handled by the complaints/customer relations team) until you have given the bank an opportunity to review it first. You have to write to the bank.

Since the banks won the court case on bank charges, the FOS cannot tell the bank to refund charges. The best it can do is make sure the bank has treated you fairly in its assessment of whether you should get a refund or not (and if not, encouarge them to change their mind - but they cant force it).

Wywth

Poppyf13 wrote: »

So in relation to all this, who am i writing to first? My actual bank where i live or the head office or do i write to the ombudsman? I find this all really confusing. I have nothing to lose I guess just need a point in the right direction.

There's plenty to lose. Time, effort, even the price of the stamp.

It was years ago. Banks only refund in current hardship cases (where the hardship is current and the fees are currently being applied) ... and then only sometimes, if they think it might help you.

Get on with something more productive