Reclaim Unfair Bank Charges article discussion Part II

Greggo

Hi!
Maybe I'm being really thick but can you claim for all your charges going back to July 2001 or just six years from when you write you letter? sorry to ask a simple question. I'm getting confused and want to get it right!

Anyone help?? thanks!

rosey68

hi as far as im aware its back to 2001.

Yogini

Hi,

Am first time forum user, so apologies if this post is in the wrong place.

I have a question really - I was inadvertently paying NatWest £10-£12 per month for about 4 years for the privilege of being an Advantage Gold customer, although I don't actually remember signing up for anything or having any confirmation of this in the form of a letter. I know I would never have continued any such payment had I been aware. Having spoken to my parents, it turns out they were offered a similar thing - ie upgrading from a normal current account to advantage gold but cancelled when they started getting charged.

The moral of the story is 'always check your statements', but I was wondering if I could claim back the charges? They had increased the charge periodically from time to time, but I never got anything through the post notifying of an increase - it just came up on the statement.

Does anyone know the answer? I know it's not the same as going into your overdraft, or using the hardship argument, but I feel aggrieved that the bank has taken over £400 off me just like that! Especially as I didn't receive any of the benefits (eg free travel insurance etc) and was never notified of any of them by post. Although ultimately, should have checked my statements thoroughly of course. But it feels as if the bank, once they'd got my money, conveniently 'forgot' to remind that I was paying this charge and carried on taking it from me.

superdood

I've had a similar disagreement with Natwest over their monthly charge for the advantage gold account, but in my case I did complain to the bank in writing in 2005 that I was unable to use the 'advantages' as I didn't need any insurance products, didn't own a mobile phone, or need carbreakdown cover as I can't even drive and therefore shouldn't have to pay.....In short, I had an abrupt reply informing me that I could swap my account for a cheaper one if I wanted but would have to pay back my overdraft first......As a student with £2500.00 overdraft I couldn't afford to do that so have been paying this fee on a monthly basis while natwest have knowingly been taking money from me to pay for services that I cannot use, and I have put up with it out of fear of being ordered to repay everything I owe (debt is now shrinking at last!)

Atleast I have kept a record of all correspondence with Natwest and once the overdrafts paid off I do plan to complain again and see where it gets me, they have it in writing that I had no intention of using the services after all, and I have stuck to my word and haven't used them so...

To be fair though, you can't expect them to have to 'remind you' on a monthly basis that you have actually agreed to pay them this charge...that is if you even agreed to it in the first place though, assuming you would have had to sign something?.....good luck to you though, if you get anywhere with this I'd love to know

natweststaffmember

Greggo wrote: »

Hi!
Maybe I'm being really thick but can you claim for all your charges going back to July 2001 or just six years from when you write you letter? sorry to ask a simple question. I'm getting confused and want to get it right!

Anyone help?? thanks!

You can claim back your charges as far back as you like but the bank only have to consider them from July 2001.

natweststaffmember

Yogini wrote: »

Hi,

Am first time forum user, so apologies if this post is in the wrong place.

I have a question really - I was inadvertently paying NatWest £10-£12 per month for about 4 years for the privilege of being an Advantage Gold customer, although I don't actually remember signing up for anything or having any confirmation of this in the form of a letter. I know I would never have continued any such payment had I been aware. Having spoken to my parents, it turns out they were offered a similar thing - ie upgrading from a normal current account to advantage gold but cancelled when they started getting charged.

The moral of the story is 'always check your statements', but I was wondering if I could claim back the charges? They had increased the charge periodically from time to time, but I never got anything through the post notifying of an increase - it just came up on the statement.

Does anyone know the answer? I know it's not the same as going into your overdraft, or using the hardship argument, but I feel aggrieved that the bank has taken over £400 off me just like that! Especially as I didn't receive any of the benefits (eg free travel insurance etc) and was never notified of any of them by post. Although ultimately, should have checked my statements thoroughly of course. But it feels as if the bank, once they'd got my money, conveniently 'forgot' to remind that I was paying this charge and carried on taking it from me.

In the past I would normally say you couldn't reclaim this. However, recently someone on MSE reclaimed similar charges from their lloyds account and this is how their argument went.
They went through all the benefits discounting things they could never use, for example, breakdown cover cos they didn't have a licence or travel insurance because they were unable to travel abroad and they worked out exactly what benefit they actually gained and wrote to the bank on that basis and the bank refunded two years worth of charges. It is worth looking at this approach.

They would have sent information out but you could have binned it as junk mail.

natweststaffmember

superdood wrote: »

I've had a similar disagreement with Natwest over their monthly charge for the advantage gold account, but in my case I did complain to the bank in writing in 2005 that I was unable to use the 'advantages' as I didn't need any insurance products, didn't own a mobile phone, or need carbreakdown cover as I can't even drive and therefore shouldn't have to pay.....In short, I had an abrupt reply informing me that I could swap my account for a cheaper one if I wanted but would have to pay back my overdraft first......As a student with £2500.00 overdraft I couldn't afford to do that so have been paying this fee on a monthly basis while natwest have knowingly been taking money from me to pay for services that I cannot use, and I have put up with it out of fear of being ordered to repay everything I owe (debt is now shrinking at last!)

Atleast I have kept a record of all correspondence with Natwest and once the overdrafts paid off I do plan to complain again and see where it gets me, they have it in writing that I had no intention of using the services after all, and I have stuck to my word and haven't used them so...

To be fair though, you can't expect them to have to 'remind you' on a monthly basis that you have actually agreed to pay them this charge...that is if you even agreed to it in the first place though, assuming you would have had to sign something?.....good luck to you though, if you get anywhere with this I'd love to know

Can you give me the wording of that letter about having to repay the overdraft because that is utter nonsense by the bank. The overdraft would simply be slightly more expensive rather than you have to repay the lot. In fact, I would say that was additional misselling since the facts are incorrect.

russ2601

Apologies for asking, as I've just registered....

I followed the process on MSE website and duly wrote to my bank (Co-Operative) in May 2008. I received a reply on 5th June 2008 where they referred to the OFT test case, and they closed the letter by asking if I wish to make a complaint, and that they would keep me updated on proceedings with the OFT via their website.
I have a question, should I write back and formally lodge a complaint with them, or wait until a final ruling is made available? Any advise greatly appreciated.

natweststaffmember

russ2601 wrote: »

Apologies for asking, as I've just registered....

I followed the process on MSE website and duly wrote to my bank (Co-Operative) in May 2008. I received a reply on 5th June 2008 where they referred to the OFT test case, and they closed the letter by asking if I wish to make a complaint, and that they would keep me updated on proceedings with the OFT via their website.
I have a question, should I write back and formally lodge a complaint with them, or wait until a final ruling is made available? Any advise greatly appreciated.

Did you write to them asking for a refund on bank charges?

ticbrian

Hi all, new poster here ...

I reclaimed £468, from firstdirect in May 2007......since then I have incurred newly titled charges, namely Arrangement fees they start at £25 & the bank stared them a few months after I claimed them in 2007 every time i slipped over my overdraft limit .

Can I now reclaim these ?