Bank Charges Success Stories II

annered22

I became ill and was forced to give up work, things were not so bad to start with, as I was getting incapacity benefit and also child tax credits / child benefit as my daughter was still in college. My incapacity benefit stopped and I failed the medical despite still being ill. Then my daughter left college and all other benefits stopped. I have been turned down for E.S.A because of the small income I have, although I have managed to get D.L.A lowest rate of 18.50 per week.

suitsyousir

I reclaimed £500 from HSBC 2 years ago, apologies for the long time to reply.

I added £250 for interest which they would not pay, Iwas going to pursue the interest through court, but my girlfriend told me to be happy with getting my money back, and not worry about the interest.

Im glad I listened to her because it was not long after the payment, that the charges were frozen pending appeal!

I used to money to buy the computer I am writing this on!

natweststaffmember

annered22 wrote: »

I became ill and was forced to give up work, things were not so bad to start with, as I was getting incapacity benefit and also child tax credits / child benefit as my daughter was still in college. My incapacity benefit stopped and I failed the medical despite still being ill. Then my daughter left college and all other benefits stopped. I have been turned down for E.S.A because of the small income I have, although I have managed to get D.L.A lowest rate of 18.50 per week.

Then that is your argument to the bank ie benefits stopped because of this and that is where bank charges started eating into your income. Can you check that the life insurance policy still covers you with these problems and that you have informed them of a change of circumstances on the health side because otherwise you may already have an invalid policy ie cancel it.
Is there anyway to get the mobile phone bill lower even to the lowest premium and changing to pay and go?
Virgin Finance I assume is a loan?

annered22

Virgin finance is my car insurance. The 3 mobile contract unfortunately runs until next march, so I can't change that. The life insurance is only 10.80 per month, as I am a single parent I want my daughter to have something if anything happens to me! But I will get in touch with them and let them know things have changed.

natweststaffmember

annered22 wrote: »

Virgin finance is my car insurance. The 3 mobile contract unfortunately runs until next march, so I can't change that. The life insurance is only 10.80 per month, as I am a single parent I want my daughter to have something if anything happens to me! But I will get in touch with them and let them know things have changed.

.....and argue with the bank that charges since the lifestyle event ie benefits have caused hardship on yourself and see what they say, ok?
They might say no but we will see if we can get them to an offer.

annered22

Thank you for your help, I will try what you say.

natweststaffmember

porkmaster wrote: »

Has anyone had any success claiming charges against the Natwest since everything was put on hold? Not going down the hardship route, just claiming normally?
Financial hardship is the only route where a refund would be considered unless there was bank error or it was a first charge gesture of goodwill.
I'm about to send my husbands letter off and I'm interested to hear of anyone else getting even a partial offer from the Natwest? I thought they might be more prepared to settle now, seeing as they've reduced their charges on everything (wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that they're practically a Nationalised bank?)

Anyone?

Unless you are in financial hardship the bank is unlikely to refund but you will be in the queue once you have received an acknowledgment which is why you should still send in a claim.

vikk

I put in a claim for more than £3,000 from First Direct a few months ago. They refused to pay unless I was in hardship, so in July I told them I was (having become a pensioner). They then sent their Financial Statement form. I would have little difficulty in showing hardship with my true answers to the questions, BUT Step 6 is a declaration that I must amalgamate my account with my wife's AND that I offer to repay them the amount I'm overdrawn (nothing about them repaying me the charges) AND they will pass the details to credit reference agencies. But if they didn't owe me the refund of charges, I would owe them nothing. Allowing them to impair my credit record would make it v hard to improve my financial situation for several reasons (My affairs are admittedly complicated!). Must I go along with this in order to be judged as in hardship, or would I be better off going to the Financial Ombudsman and let them decide if I'm in hardship, avoiding having to amalgamate our accounts AND a bad credit record? Or should I sue them for blackmail?

Sorry if this has been covered before: searching 200+ pages is too much.

natweststaffmember

vikk wrote: »

I put in a claim for more than £3,000 from First Direct a few months ago. They refused to pay unless I was in hardship, so in July I told them I was (having become a pensioner). They then sent their Financial Statement form. I would have little difficulty in showing hardship with my true answers to the questions, BUT Step 6 is a declaration that I must amalgamate my account with my wife's AND that I offer to repay them the amount I'm overdrawn (nothing about them repaying me the charges) AND they will pass the details to credit reference agencies. But if they didn't owe me the refund of charges, I would owe them nothing. Allowing them to impair my credit record would make it v hard to improve my financial situation for several reasons (My affairs are admittedly complicated!). Must I go along with this in order to be judged as in hardship, or would I be better off going to the Financial Ombudsman and let them decide if I'm in hardship, avoiding having to amalgamate our accounts AND a bad credit record? Or should I sue them for blackmail?

Sorry if this has been covered before: searching 200+ pages is too much.

I don't have a definitive answer yet but I will shortly so please bear with me while I ask the question.
In general, financial hardship claims are about priority debts and household financial hardship so on the face of it, it does not seem entirely unusual apart from that form.

Escapee_2

Bank: HSBC
Amount claimed: £2500 roughly
Offer received: £640 partial payment as in hardship.

Original claim in 2007 on hold. Wrote in as in financial hardship sending budget agreed with CAB showing ctax and rent arrears. HSBC made initial offer of £460, not quite enough to help me fully so I telephoned and after a negotiation they've offered £640. That will get my arrears paid! Afreed offer and sent in evidence by recorded delivery in light of the strikes (cost a fiver but I think was worth it) waiting for cash to be paid into account now. Timescale from sending in hardship letter to offer letter around 1 month.
Good luck to you all