Bank Charges Claim Back

avfc82

Hi,

I'm new to this site, now I've got that out the way I want to ask this...


A few years ago there was all this saga about the bank charges i.e. if you went over your overdraft you would get charged and certain interest rates.


I sent the relevant letters to about 4 banks, it was only co operative who gave me back a goodwill gesture of £800. Barclays however did not give me back anything, cannot remember what it said on the letter but they said they wouldn't.


Anyway I am seeing now about something to do with this "ombudsman fair trading" what is this? And can I still claim these overdraft charges back? I just can't stand Barclays they always get away with everything!


Thanks

meer53

avfc82 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new to this site, now I've got that out the way I want to ask this...


A few years ago there was all this saga about the bank charges i.e. if you went over your overdraft you would get charged and certain interest rates.


I sent the relevant letters to about 4 banks, it was only co operative who gave me back a goodwill gesture of £800. Barclays however did not give me back anything, cannot remember what it said on the letter but they said they wouldn't.


Anyway I am seeing now about something to do with this "ombudsman fair trading" what is this? And can I still claim these overdraft charges back? I just can't stand Barclays they always get away with everything!


Thanks

In 2009 the banks won the court case regarding "unfair charges" so it's unlikely you'll get anything back now unless you're currently in financial hardship. Historic charges wouldn't be considered. Financial hardship means being unable to meet essential living costs.

The FOS will investigate complaints made against banks but with regard to charges, they mainly side with the banks.

avfc82

Thanks for the reply, so if I was to reply back would i just send the same letters again? Is ther any other way of getting money back from these Bankers?!

[Deleted User]

avfc82 wrote: »

I sent the relevant letters to about 4 banks, it was only co operative who gave me back a goodwill gesture of £800. Barclays however did not give me back anything, cannot remember what it said on the letter but they said they wouldn't.

You were lucky to receive anything from anyone as the Banks were not obliged to refund such charges at the time and even less so now. The Banks won their court case over "unfair" charges.

avfc82 wrote: »

can I still claim these overdraft charges back?

No.
Banks will only even consider a refund of (some) recent charges if you
currently fulfil their "hardship" criteria.

A complaint about historical charges will be rejected.

No idea about the phrase you have heard.

avfc82

So how do I meet this "hardship" criteria?

dunstonh

avfc82 wrote: »

So how do I meet this "hardship" criteria?

By being in current financial hardship and the bank believing that you are.

This typically means being in arrears and defaulting on debts. Not having any consumer spending on your statements (so no sky tv, mobile phones, restaurants/takeaways etc) and/or being in a cycle of charges that increases the debt without having the income to clear it.

meer53

avfc82 wrote: »

So how do I meet this "hardship" criteria?

You don't "meet" it, you're either in it or you're not.

If you can pay your essential living costs, ie, Gas/Electricity/Water/Rent/Mortgage/Food then you're not in financial hardship.

Anything on your account for things like Sky/Mobile Phone Contracts/Gym Memberships/Eating Out etc don't even bother asking !

[Deleted User]

avfc82 wrote: »

So how do I meet this "hardship" criteria?

You cannot do anything to meet it unless you are genuinely finding it impossible to pay essential bills and food. You need to be caught in the spiral of paying more charges because earlier charges took you over your overdraft limit.

If you decided to plead "hardship" with the Bank, they would comb through your statements looking for payments to subscription television, gyms and restaurants etc.

If you did meet the criteria, only recent charges (typically in the last six months) might be considered for refund.

avfc82 wrote: »

so if I was to reply back would i just send the same letters again?

If you no longer Bank with them, it really is completely futile to write to them at all. No historic charges will be refunded no matter what your circumstances.

Aquamania

avfc82 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new to this site, now I've got that out the way I want to ask this...


A few years ago there was all this saga about the bank charges i.e. if you went over your overdraft you would get charged and certain interest rates.


I sent the relevant letters to about 4 banks, it was only co operative who gave me back a goodwill gesture of £800. Barclays however did not give me back anything, cannot remember what it said on the letter but they said they wouldn't.


Anyway I am seeing now about something to do with this "ombudsman fair trading" what is this? And can I still claim these overdraft charges back? I just can't stand Barclays they always get away with everything!


Thanks

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

Aquamania

avfc82 wrote: »

So how do I meet this "hardship" criteria?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2428497