Bank Charges Success Stories II

RockylovesAdrian

I began following the Money Saving Expert guide to reclaiming my charges in April this year and finally got all charges, plus interest and court costs, paid back into my account on Friday (27th July).

I followed the guide to the letter. After my first few letters I kept getting pretty standard responses from Lloyds stating that the charges were lawful and that I'd agreed to pay them when I signed the T&Cs. They referred to the fairly recent case where Lloyds sucessfully defended the charges and basically suggested that I'd get the same outcome if I filed a court case.

I ignored them and ploughed on with the guide and opened a small claim at a cost of £50 last month. After about 2 weeks I had a letter from Lloyds solicitor's saying that they were entering a defence against my claim and advised me to contact my bank manager to discuss my accounts and it's "suitability" for my needs. I must admit that I became a little apprehensive at this point and began to um and ah about proceeding. However, I remembered the advice in the guide that banks will use scare tactics to put you off claiming so I ignored the letter and did not contact the bank.

A week later I had another letter from the solicitor's. Lloyds, it seems, had had a sudden change of heart as "as a good will gesture" and "without prejudice" they offered to pay the full amount of my claim plus court costs back into my account. I merely had to sign a form to say that I accepted their terms etc. A tidy sum of £509.16 appeared about a week later! Not a huge fortune but still £509.16 I may never have seen again.

My accounts (all 4 of them!) have not been closed and I've heard nothing further from them.

If I could give anyone any advice at all, it would be to follow Martin's guide to the letter and carry on with your case regardless of scare tactics from your bank. The last thing they want is to go to court because it could mean they end up paying back every penny they have ever charged every single one of their customers. They'd rather pay out bits and pieces now and agin but they rely on people being too scared to fight them.

AmandaMC_3

OMG Im FINALLY writing this!

Told them I wanted £4600 which included court fees and interest.

Did all the normal stuff asking for statements etc, getting standard 'chuff off' but in a nice way.

Got the one with the 40 days to reply palarva, submitted a claim on MCOL.

Got a court date for 1st August, started to get slightly worried, got a letter on Saturday saying they were offering me £4800! Woo Hoo!

Thanks Martin, you're a legend!

:EasterBun :hello:

Just don't accept any offer, see it through, you WILL get what you want.

Amanda x

hvr1

Not huge one I'm afraid, but claimed for £60.00 & offered £25.92 (difference between old charges of £20.00 & new ones of £12.00 & inteterest).

Sent letter 12th July asking for statements - received statements today along with offer - accepting.

Like a say, not a huge amount, but better back in my pocket rather than theirs....
:j

andyandalfie

I got my offer letter on 12th July for £2.2k and immediately returned it signed "yes please" and was told I would receive a cheque within 14 days. I sent it recorded delivery and they signed for it on 16th July. No cheque yet! So obviously worried with last Fridays happenings I rang them. I was told that because I had sent my full acceptance back to them prior to Friday 27th they will be honouring the offer. Nice chap I spoke to also said that if the cheque had not already been processed then it would be done today and to ring them if it had not arrived by Friday of this week. I feel sooooo much better now!
Good luck everyone and thanks again to Martin and the team. :beer: :money:

amber88

Bank: Halifax
Amount Claimed: £1700
Amount received: £1345

Followed the process as suggested, first 2 letters sent, then received a 50% offer which i was going to accept, then after reading posts realised i could get more, so i called and they upped it with arguement to the 'maximum she said she could offer', which i accepted. Started process mid june, complete (but waiting for cheque) end July! fantatstic site, i make all my financial decisions after reviewing Martins advice - and i work in the industry!!! :j :money:

bonnie_2

HSBC paid up £60 of late payment fees going back 6 years, they tried to only pay £30 but i argued and got £60. Got 3 more accounts to go.
£1080, £425 and £130.
It was a nice victory for starters.

mightymouse

Bank: Bradford Bingley
Amount Claimed: £145
Amount received: £145

Well done BB, less than ten days altogether, only one letter and one phone call and my signature.

They offered half, I said no, they sent acceptance to sign for full amount.

redhead999

Amount claimed £2800
amount paid £2980

Went through the whole process on behalf of my nephew, and got turned down every step of the way. Finally submitted it to court through MCOL, which they defended after 28 days. Then sent a letter saying 'there's nothing more we can do' Queried it with the court, who didn't reply but the whole amount (including court cost) turned up in his account this morning without any notification. Just in time too, from what I've been reading!!!

Moneygrabber

Claimed: £482
Refunded: £200

Did this for my O/H. Knew he would get £200 as my dealings with Cap One were same. They pay up less £12. Prob could have pushed for more but he's happy !! :beer:

Really easy. Got response after 2nd template letter. Whole process took about 6 weeks in total.

Once again Martin we can't thank you enough and your team. :money:

bmen

LlyodsTSBStarted claim in May and was getting nowhere with them they just ignored me after receiving standard its lawfull letter.Went to Obudsman 3 weeks ago and on the 27 july received letter saying bank was willing to pay £2000 ,We instantly sent acceptance letter back,which they wouldnt receive till after the court case decision.Contacted obudsman today by email as to the banks stance on this ,their reply was that they expected the bank to honour ALL instanced where an offer had been made