Bank out of time limits

farmercocky

I have sent a letter to the bank using the templates from here and asked for my bank charges back. I received a letter saying they would investigate and get in touch within 5 working days. They then phoned me and said it would be another 5 working days. This was 2 weeks ago and I've heard nothing. Anyone know what I should do now?

dunstonh

I have sent a letter to the bank using the templates from here and asked for my bank charges back.

I dont believe there is a current template letter. The old one ceased to be of any use after the banks won the court case in 2009. Are you sure you are not reading an old article?

Anyone know what I should do now?

They have 8 weeks before you can go to the FOS. Although the FOS no longer considers complaints on unfair bank charges. Your rejection should come through soon. You just need to wait a bit longer.

caveat to above is if you used financial hardship criteria where banks do still consider those. Although you wouldnt use a template for that.

Atidi

dunstonh wrote: »

I dont believe there is a current template letter. The old one ceased to be of any use after the banks won the court case in 2009. Are you sure you are not reading an old article?...

The current MSE guide to reclaiming bank charges is available here:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

It says it was last updated in February this year.

It includes template letters for reclaiming. Here is the one for making a new claim:
http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/attachment/11newBCletter.rtf

and whilst I guess it probably isn't really applicable to many now, here is a template letter to re-open an previous claim that was put on hold
http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/attachment/11openBCletter.rtf

Atidi

farmercocky wrote: »

I have sent a letter to the bank using the templates from here and asked for my bank charges back. I received a letter saying they would investigate and get in touch within 5 working days. They then phoned me and said it would be another 5 working days. This was 2 weeks ago and I've heard nothing. Anyone know what I should do now?

As the previous poster says, the banks have up to 8 weeks to respond and resolve any complaint.

Many banks will also provide a status update on your complaint if the meantime, especially if it cannot be resolved quickly.

5 working days + 5 working days = 2 weeks

Or are you saying it is now a total of 3 or even 4 weeks since you initially made your complaint? If so, then have you contacted the bank to ask how they are getting on?

dunstonh

That article is obsolete. If you follow that approach then it will result in an automatic rejection stating the court case outcome.

Atidi

dunstonh wrote: »

That article is obsolete. If you follow that approach then it will result in an automatic rejection stating the court case outcome.

Nonsense.

There is a sticky thread here with MSE users success & failure reports since the court case in 2009

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2248309

Over 1000 posts in that thread, and they are certainly not all reporting failures.

Have you even read the article?
The article says you may get an automatic rejection letter from the bank, but not to let that faze you.

dunstonh

I had a quick scan back on that thread and found no successes other than first time error refunds and hardship cases. It was mostly conversation or rejections.

Have you even read the article?

Yes. and most of it no longer works.

CKhalvashi

Atidi wrote: »

Nonsense.

There is a sticky thread here with MSE users success & failure reports since the court case in 2009

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2248309

Over 1000 posts in that thread, and they are certainly not all reporting failures.

Have you even read the article?
The article says you may get an automatic rejection letter from the bank, but not to let that faze you.

Dunston is one of the most experienced users on this forum, and also has a number of years as a financial advisor.

Trust me, what he says is correct!

CK

Atidi

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Dunston is one of the most experienced users on this forum, and also has a number of years as a financial advisor.

Trust me, what he says is correct!

CK

Is he more experienced than MSE Martin?
If not, I think I'll prefer to trust MSE Martin and his team, thank-you all the same.

Atidi

dunstonh wrote: »

I had a quick scan back on that thread and found no successes other than first time error refunds and hardship cases. It was mostly conversation or rejections.

Look harder! There's a success reported as recently as 05-Sep-2013

Not a huge amount claimed, admittedly, but when someone is in genuine financial hardship, then every penny counts I guess

The article is primarily about reclaiming first time error refunds and hardship cases, hence why that thread has so many comments on that basis. Why do you not suppose the OP is claiming under those grounds??? :huh:

CKhalvashi

Atidi wrote: »

Is he more experienced than MSE Martin?
If not, I think I'll prefer to trust MSE Martin and his team, thank-you all the same.

Is there any need to be so rude?

The only cases now being considered are based on hardship. If the bank reject the claim, and hardship doesn't come into this, the only option will be to fight it in court.

I don't know of a case that's won on this route, and Dunston (who works in the financial sector) will possibly be able to back this up.

The bottom line, is that the banks won the case on this one, and therefore, whilst they have to treat customers fairly, don't have to repay any charges that you (or anyone else) have contractually paid.

CK