Bank Charges Success Stories II

Ellamax

Hi to all,

Bank: Abbey
Amount Claimed: 135
Amount received: £165!

I sent off a template from this site and received immediately a response quoting the ombudsmans ruling that they dont have to respond until the test case is settled but acknowldeging receipt of the claim. Then, out of the blue 8 weeks later I received 3 letters from them, 2 of them holding the claim in abayance, the 2rd saying they were refunding me and the money would be in my account within 10 working days. In fact I think it was more like 3 days!!!
I have also submitted a claim to Nationwide (our previous bank), now gone to their internal debt collecters for our overdraft. They also acknowledged receipt of the claim but have heard nothing more from them. I am claiming about £700 from them.

I hope this helps.

Regards to all.

heroes_girl

Hi Everyone,
I would personally like to thank Martin Lewis for all his hard work and effort in helping people claim there unfair bank charges back, i have just had my bank charges from the halifax credited back to my account also the charges they have charged me whilst my case has been ongoing, i was lucky i asked for my statements before they started charging people for the privilege.
I hope the banks now realise that charging people £35 for an automated letter every time they go overdrawn causes distress and hardship to people on no income.
Once again Martin you are a kind and helpful person and i hope you get knighted soon you would definately deserve it.
Thanks Heroes Girl xx

montymud

Hi all, last year I won against Natwest for £4600 charges, it was an amazing win and I was so pleased. My advice is reflective of many others, don't accept the first offer of settlement, however tempting it may be!!

John_0771

Nationwide.

Request £50
Gave back £30

hayley8374

Took Martin's advice and just asked!

Bank: Halifax
Amount claimed: £63
Amount paid/waived: £63

I have been with the Halifax for approx 17 years and had opened a second currennt account last year. I had no arranged overdraft on this account but had not been overdrawn on my main account in 10 years. I filter money from my main current account to this one for standing orders. I had been off work sick and so my income was lower than usual and I had forgotten to transfer money to cover a standing order. It was for £100 and put me £97 overdrawn. I received a letter informing me of charges I would have to pay for going overdrawn without authorisation. These totalled £63. I telephoned the Halifax, explained how long I'd been a customer etc and quoted the test case. They waived the fees "as a good-will gesture"!!!!

Woo hoo. Thanks Martin and thanks Halifax

Rosa66

Bank: Barclays
Amount claimed: £92
Amount received: £70
Story:
Rang to request statements and got them within a week or so. Said they would charge me £5 but have not yet! Most of my 'bad' period with bank charges was at Uni which was over 6 years ago, so I did not actually have many charges to claim. The last charge I got was a couple of months ago and Barclays have started something called a Reserve Usage fee of £22 flat rate when you go over overdraft, and this is the one they would not refund, which is why I got £70 not £92. They said they were giving me back the other charges as 'a gesture of goodwill.' All happened quite fast and I just wrote one letter. When their reply came I checked my account the next day and money was there. Between 1 and 2 months from request of statements to resolution. :beer:

rawh

Very happy! I sent an email to HSBC pre-emptively (before they were about to charge me £21) and just changed the template so that it was in the future (i.e. I believe I will be unlawfully deprived) and I got a long email back explaining why they had applied the charges and a statement that they would make a special exception in this case and refund me the money! Have just checked my account and they have put the money back in. Thank you Martin!

vizzo

Got money back from Nationwide

Squeaking_Otter

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Nathan/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]I first complained to my bank on 8/8/2008 about excessive charges applied to my account over the summer of 2008, I was unemployed and to be honest wasn't completely in control of my spending. After a few standard replies from Nationwide, it was obvious that there was going to be no movement until the test case was resolved. So upon reading advice from your money saving expert.com. I took out a claim on MCOL (Money Claim Online) on 5/9/08 including all my charges dating back to when they first occurred, 2005. I also wrote to Nationwide and the Financial Ombudsman who I had a complaint with, and advised them of the proceedings and claim number. My understanding at the time was that Nationwide would automatically ask for the case to be put on hold, and that this would be granted by the courts - as Nationwide are involved in the OFT test case. I thought it worth putting in a claim in the hope that the judgement would be favourable, and that at least my claim would be in the pile.


However what happened next was quite unexpected, but not really at all surprising. Nationwide failed to put a hold on the claim, and judgement was entered on the 23/10/2008. During the period from 5/9/08 - 23/10/2008 I was still corresponding with Nationwide, primarily to satisfy their internal complaints procedure, every letter I wrote had the county court reference in the heading, and was addressed to a named individual. None of the 4 letters I received from them during this period even mentioned the court claim, some of the letters contained statements such as 'if you choose to issue a claim in the County Courts Nationwide will apply to the Court for an order .......',. Incredible!


I eventually went into my branch on 3/11/2008 to discuss this and ask for my money. The gentleman I spoke to was actually extremely polite, helpful and was keen to close the matter. I have always had good service in the branch. After his phone call to their legal compliance until, I was told that the matter would be investigated at once and I would be contacted within a week. After 4 days I had enough and issued a warrant of execution (bailiffs!). On the 10/11/2008 the gentleman who saw me at the branch contacted me, and said that Nationwide's head solicitor would be writing to me personally, this obviously never happened ! However their solicitor did find time to write to the court and ask for a stay of judgement hearing, the court granted this and set a date for the application to be heard. On the application their solicitor writes 'I am unable to explain why the claim form was not forwarded to me'. My warrant of execution was rejected by the courts because of the test case.


The application was heard on Monday (5/1/2009) at Southampton County Court before District Judge Grand, who dismissed the application. Judge Grand appeared to be unimpressed by Nationwide's sloppy administration of the case, and their solicitor was unable to explain why they had not replied to the claim. I was able to provide all correspondence between myself and Nationwide from the claim issue date to judgement being entered, when requested. So as it stands I am awaiting the court papers from Monday, and then under instruction from Nationwide, I am to present the papers in my branch where my charges of 657.93 will be refunded. No doubt Nationwide have another trick up their sleeve, but as far as I can see there is nothing they can do other than refuse to pay, at which point I will serve a warrant of execution

bekki007

I know this is small beer but thought I'd post it any way.
Bank: Lloyds
Amount Reclaimed:£105
I got it back in a week using Martin's templates!! Cheers Martin