Bank Charges Success Stories II

AlexisJennifer

Bank - NatWest
Amount Reclaimed £5446.74 (including interest) £4364 in charges
Amount repaid - £4350

What a result this only took me two letters plus the £10 to get the list of charges (Which they sent as statements, with duplicate pages in to make life difficult and searching the statements took me nearly two weeks of spare time). Yes this was their first offer but i didn't dare turn it down as it was so close to what i had asked for. Thanks to This website and the advice on it I am better off than i thought i was!

Just a big thanks to Martin as I've listened to his advice on radio and found everything he says very useful!

Les101_2

GM Card
Amount Reclaimed £1,370
Amount They Paid £1,370

First letter received advising that they would not be refunding the charges,I challenged them and I then received a partial offer of £700. I accepted the £700 partial payment, without prejudice, and advised them that I would continue my claim for the full amount. I then received a letter within a week offering a full refund of charges which I obviously accepted. A cheque was received 10 days after my acceptance of their offer.

Thanks for all the help on this site, just got 3 more to do now.

:rotfl: :T

TraceyP_3

:j :j Finally - after 4 months - we have won the battle - 1,000 back from Halifax.

Amount REclaimed - 1344
Amount They Paid - 1000

The story:- It took around 10 weeks to get the statments,
sent number 2 letter off - 8 weeks later we got the - 'sorry but we think your charges are acceptable' letter.
I then sent the 'Threated to take to court letter' and after reading numerous sucessful cases on here, I decided to give them a call just before sending them to court. I scanned the threads for a telephone number for Halifax, held my breath and rang. I was passed around to a few other numbers first until finding someone who said - 'Sorry I cant deal with it but my colleague can. He is not at his desk now but I'll leave a message for him to call you'. I bet! ANyway - I tried another number and spoke to a nice lady who said - 'Ok, I understand you are not happy - I can arrange for someone to have another look at your account if you like' -'How long will that take' I asked - '8 weeks' she replied. Not likely I said - I am afraid I will have to go to court then. 'Fair enough' she said.
However,before I got a chance to complete the court proceedings part online, I got a call from the Halifax - It was the 'colleague' who could help me. he said he could re-look at my case and would get back to me within 2 days. Sure enough, 2 (well 3) days later we got an offer of 610.50 - not bad, but not enough. I called them back and, almost without hesitation, they asked - How much will you settle for? I guess I could have said the whole amount - but I didnt quite have the nerve, so asked for £1,000 - 'OK' he said - 'it will be in your account within 48 hours' Phew. I couldn't help screaming 'Yes Yes yes' - before realising I hadn't hung up yet!!
Thanks so much every one for all your encouragment. I know this is a long post - but I wanted to encourage others as much as I have been. Don't give up!:j

olliehayman

Yippeeeee. Claimed around £550 last month through MCOL, waited, hsbc said they intended to defend it all, waited some more, 3 days to go untill I win by default and I just got a letter from hsbc offering me the whole lot. GET IN!!! to anyone who is having second thoughts, just keep at it. I put in minimal effort and I still got my money. HOORAY!!!!

mike654321

Bank: ABBEY (Abbey National plc)
Amount reclaimed: £270
Amount paid: £270

Loads of cheers go to Martin Lewis and his very informative moneysavingexpert website. I found that this website contained everything I needed to go through the bank charges claim process, e.g. template letters, how the claim process works, etc. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
At www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/index.php don’t waste your money on buying the resources advertised there on the marketovert link, i.e. Patricia Pearl’s book “Small Claims” (£17.10 + £1 p&p) or the Small Claims Lawpack (£10.99 + £1.00). I bought them both & never needed to use them. I found Martin Lewis’ website, together with the information on the Consumer Action Group site, ample for a successful claim.<o:p></o:p>

shauw

HSBC
Claimed £4200
Received £3500

Sent letter requesting repayment of charges on 9 May, sent second letter 2 weeks later threatening court action. Got letter back to say had 8 weeks to respond. I couldnt really afford the court fees, so decided to wait and see what the bank would do. Received offer of £3500 today, which I am really pleased to accept, as I thought it would be much more difficult to get a positive result.
I would not have gone through with this, had it not been for Martin and this web site. So thank you to you all, and good luck to all those seeking payments.

mike654321

Bank: ABBEY (Abbey National plc)
Amount reclaimed: £270
Amount paid: £270
The FULL STORY is as follows:

I found Martin Lewis’ website, together with the information on the Consumer Action Group site, ample for a successful claim – there was no need to buy or look at other resources. I did not write to my bank’s local branch but to the address given on the bank’s letterhead. The following sequence of events may be helpful for Abbey (or other) customers.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Chronology of events leading to my successful claim:<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
18.03.07: I send the 1<SUP>st</SUP> letter to Abbey (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 382</st1:address>, <st1:address><st1:Street>Prescot Street</st1:Street>, <st1:City>London</st1:City> <st1:PostalCode>E1 8RP</st1:PostalCode></st1:address>) – request reimbursement of bank charges with interest – 14 days given for reply.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
22.03.07: an unsatisfactory reply from A.N. at Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 5885</st1:address>, MK10 1FA) – vague & unhelpful<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
03.04.07: I send a 2<SUP>nd</SUP> letter to Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 382</st1:address>) – again requesting reimbursement with interest – 14 days given for reply otherwise will seek court action.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
17.04.07: an unsatisfactory reply from R.H. Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 5129</st1:address>, MK9 2YN) – again vague & unhelpful. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
01.05.07: I make my claim to the online court (<st1:Street><st1:address>Northampton County Court</st1:address></st1:Street>) at www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp – defendant has 14 d to reply. Notice of Issue is sent to me by the online court. Subsequently, I include my court fee of £30 in the claim.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
14.05.07: reply from S.S. at Abbey (PO Box 5129) – acknowledges my letters of the 18.3.07 and 3.4.07 – says has carried out full investigation on my behalf – takes stance in support of Abbey – says will keep my file open for next 8 weeks for any further enquiries.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
15.05.07: The document Notice that Acknowledgement of Service has been filed is sent to me by the online court. Abbey now has 28 days to file a Defence.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
29.05.07: Abbey’s legal Defence is sent to me. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
01.06.07: I send 3<SUP>rd</SUP> letter to Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 5129</st1:address>) – a robust reply to S.S’s 14.05. letter refuting Abbey’s claims that they had behaved correctly & that I will defend my claim in court. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
05.06.07: an unsatisfactory letter again from R.H. at Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 5129</st1:address>) – almost identical in its content to his 17.04 letter, with the usual blah-de-blah about wanting to resolve my complaint quickly. The letter gives the impression that this is the first time I’ve contacted Abbey with my complaint! I’m growing inpatient, but keeping cool.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
11.06.07: The document Notice of Transfer of Proceeedings is sent to me by the online court, indicating that my case will be heard in the town where I live. District Judge Murdoch (<st1:City><st1:place>Northampton</st1:place></st1:City>) indicates that the filing of an allocation questionnaire is not required. I contact my local court who confirm this is the case for them too<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
14.06.07: I receive a Notice of Allocation to the Small Claims Track from my local county court and appointment for the court hearing (10 minutes duration) on the 18.07.07<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
29.06.07: SUCCESS. Abbey (<st1:place><st1:City>Triton</st1:City> Square, <st1:PostalCode>NW1 3AN</st1:PostalCode></st1:place>) send a letter stating that they will settle my claim in full.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
05.07.07: Full payment for my claim of £280 is finally received by my Abbey bank account, paid by Abbey’s <st1:Street><st1:address>Triton Square</st1:address></st1:Street> office<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
06.07.07: I write letters to 1) the local county court; 2) R.H. & S.S. at Abbey (<st1:address><st1:Street>PO Box</st1:Street> 5129</st1:address>), & 3) Triton Square office, confirming settlement and my wish to withdraw my claim.<o:p></o:p>

Jazzy34

reclaimed £2741 inc £120 court fees accepted £2500+£340 goodwill gesture
:j Total £2840:j

• Started March requested statements
• March 14th sent first recmmended letter saying give me back £2475 please
• Got an offer of that months bank charges of £140 and £200 as gdwil gesture, had 10 dys to respond
• Said no thanks, got refund anyway!
• I Threatened court action
• Abbey said they'd look into it 14 days came and went with another letter saying sorry about the delay we are still looking into it more delay tactics
• Started court proceedings (scared!)
• Abbey asked for extention to the 14 day deadline
• 28 days were up they defended last minute!
• I Panicked had visions of being quizzed by barristers, thought I would be the 'one' who was made example of!
• This website and forum made me see it through
• It was transferrred to a local court and I was awaiting a hearing date
• Decided to contact Abbey and give them the chance to settle out of court instead of £2741. I asked for £2700
• Abbey sent letter back offering £2300
• I wrote back saying no but I will accept £2500
• received a letter today saying ok will be in my account shortly:T

I cannot believe it's finally over! What a relief, I had a few wobbles along the way and nearly gave up but this site kept me going! I'm sure I would have been offered the £2741 if I'd have stuck it out for a while longer but with the initial payment I'm better off anyway! Also wanted the money for the hols and was told there was a 2mth wait for court dates once transferred!
A big thank you to Martin and this forum for helping me be brave! I am soooo Happy!:j

159Colenso

Bank: Nationwide B.S.
Ammount reclaimed: £804.36
Ammount they paid: £814.61

I have been fighting my son's corner and after a few months of letters and refusals I used the small claims process online, so easy. With 5 days remaining of the 28 days allowed, money started to appear in my son's account. First the £655.50 in charges. Next day the £80.00 court fee, £68.86
of recalculated interest at the court rate of 8%, and also £10.25 of pending charges, for what we do not know. Next day my son received a letter from Nationwide stating they are refunding all the above mention monies.:j
There was no return letter to sign.

Many thanks to Martin Lewis & his Team for his superb consumer support:money: Regards 159Colenso

Aidanjm

Bank: HBoS
Amount Reclaimed: £6841.49
Amount paid: £6841.49


Well, they paid out eventually. I started this at the end of February. I telephoned for the statements which took around 6 weeks to appear. It took me a while to calculate and figure out exactly what I was doing with it all but finally took the plunge and sent them the LBA with the standard phrases and cases but this was met with the standard refusal letter.

Went to court and filed at Blackpool on the 30th May, it was deemed served on 2nd June. They did not even acknowledge my claim so after their time was up I asked the judge for a "judgement by default" which was granted in my favour.

I called the legal dept. to ask them what they were doing with the repayment and a nice lady informed me the money would be in my account within 24 hours - she was right

Keep up the fight :beer: