HSBC trying to blow me out

GingerBob_3

I sent the standard letter (from this site) to HSBC. They've blown me out, saying the charges were "fair". These "fair" charges amounted to about £1500 over two years, including additional charges caused by an earlier charge which made me exceed my overdraft again. What next? Is it worth trying the Financial Ombudsman, or have the banks now won the battle?

dunstonh

I sent the standard letter (from this site) to HSBC. They've blown me out, saying the charges were "fair".

If you used an "unfair" template then you are years out of date. That boat has long sailed as the banks won the court case.

Is it worth trying the Financial Ombudsman, or have the banks now won the battle?

The FOS will not take on complaints about "unfair" bank charges.

Wywth

GingerBob wrote: »

I sent the standard letter (from this site) to HSBC. They've blown me out, saying the charges were "fair". These "fair" charges amounted to about £1500 over two years, including additional charges caused by an earlier charge which made me exceed my overdraft again. What next? Is it worth trying the Financial Ombudsman, or have the banks now won the battle?

Essentially yes, the banks have won.

As dunstonh says, the FOS will not arbitrate over the fairness or otherwise of bank charges. Although I'm a little confused as there is no standard letter on this site that uses such argument.

Unless you mean perhaps from this article:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/oft-bank-charges

But as it now says:

UPDATE: This guide hasn't been updated since 2010. Very few have tried this system and we've not had any successes.

... despite Martin having paid top dollar for the some of the best legal advice in the country on such matters.

But if you want to try, then you will need to go to court as the article suggests. I don't hold out much hope of your success ... but you never know