Stop Press - View On Oft/bank Announcement

Crying_over_spilt_milk

k1mmie wrote: »

I just called the Fo as we had a claim going through. They told us that the file had been passed on to team 10. I was passed through to them and all they would say was that we would get a letter within the next 3 weeks. Not sure what that is supposed to mean!!!!! Anyone have any ideas?

I also called the Natwest, who informed me point blankly - whilst reading monotimously off a card that as of the 27th July all complaints were on hold - they are loving it! I said yes- but I did not claim for overdraft arrangement fees - I have no overdraft on my account - it is a basic account. All my charges were for returned d/d. They said its all the same thing and thats the end of it. Not arguing with you - end of story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THe charges are for an unauthorised overdraft (which you would have if they allowed the DD to go through). THis is always the catch 22 situation as you may also get charged by the company you were trying to pay for a failed DD!!!

konaboy

Seems to coincide with the Parliamentary summer break as well- no PM qustions for a while... Do I smell a conspiracy....

Sent my court payment off two days ago, not sure what will happen now, some people on here are saying they have been refunded their court fees, is this true?

Crying_over_spilt_milk

Martin - How come, if the banks are allowed (by the FSA) to suspend their complaints procedure until the outcome of the court case, which could be many many months, except in cases of financial harship, that bank charges aren't also being suspended???

mosaic_2

KT-K <script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("postmenu_5858696", true); </script>
Newbie MoneySaver

<hr style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);" size="1">Hi
Like thousands of other people, I too was getting so close to at last being able to post my success story, and after watching TV this morning I truely feel sick!!

I feel like that too, if I had the money and friends abroad I'd have gone overseas for a month or two by now.

Unjust banks, unjust councils, unjust fathers, certain workplace and non work place bullying aquaintances, floods, magnified global warming doom, illness', and a certain family members 'beyond funny' PMT at the moment. I think I'm gonna pray hard for justice ('moneysavers for justice') and dollops of mercy, and fast from chocolate. Enough is enough!

We are gonna win Martin!!!

quote martin from channel four show:

'If we win, which of course we will'.

I am still going to send off the 'give me my money' letter today anyhow. At least they've got it then. Thanks everyone who has helped so far.

Crying_over_spilt_milk

Sorry but the more I'm on here the more questions occur to me!! Would (in this case Halifax) branch bank staff have known about the suspension yesterday (around midday)? I ask because I was encouraged (by their mortgage adviser) to remove an overpayment from my mortgage (£2k) to pay off and close my badly overdrawn (due to interest and charges) accounts with them. I only agreed to this, becasue I am reclaiming them and therefore it at least stopped them pursuing me further. Had I known what was to be announced yesterday evening I would not have agreed! How sick did I feel last night!

novelli

• you are in very difficult financial circumstances – 'hardship cases'
  If you have a case of genuine financial hardship, your bank or building society must deal with your complaint – see the Banking Code for how they can help. If you're not happy with the firm's response to your complaint, you can take it to the Ombudsman, who will consider whether your complaint can be dealt with before the test case is resolved.

would this apply to me as i am a recently seperated single parent caring full time for a disabled child, so unable to work and totally reliant on benefits and suffer ill health myself. Have debts i need to pay (dont we all), how is genuine hardship to be defined?? If its left to the banks then none of us will fit the criteria?? Should i let the bank know my circumstances and state that i expect them to continue to deal with my claim, the deadline of which is in 2 weeks ( 8 weeks since claim letter sent)?? I can just imagine the answer???:mad:

Crying_over_spilt_milk

novelli wrote: »

• you are in very difficult financial circumstances – 'hardship cases'
  If you have a case of genuine financial hardship, your bank or building society must deal with your complaint – see the Banking Code for how they can help. If you're not happy with the firm's response to your complaint, you can take it to the Ombudsman, who will consider whether your complaint can be dealt with before the test case is resolved.

would this apply to me as i am a recently seperated single parent caring full time for a disabled child, so unable to work and totally reliant on benefits and suffer ill health myself. Have debts i need to pay (dont we all), how is genuine hardship to be defined?? If its left to the banks then none of us will fit the criteria?? Should i let the bank know my circumstances and state that i expect them to continue to deal with my claim, the deadline of which is in 2 weeks ( 8 weeks since claim letter sent)?? I can just imagine the answer???:mad:

I'm not an expert but I would have thought that you are precisely in that category! THat's the line I intend to take, though I would always try to get advice (not my local CAB as they are dreadful) before doing so, so that the wording is correct and the approach is in-line with the rlues and regulations!

Eowyn3066

I applied to 3 banks to reclaim bank charges back in April 2007, 1st Direct replied to the 1st letter in under two weeks & my 2nd asking for a refund within two weeks, all done and dusted in 5 weeks and money in my account.

The other two, Lloyds TBS and Halifax have frankly been crap. Lloyds sent the charges info through pretty quickly, but then haven't replied to my refund request sent to them in May. Halifax only sent me my statements last week together with a rejection letter before I had even requested a refund! I called them yesterday and told them I didn't accept their ruling and my case was supposed to be reviewed.

What is annoying me so much is that if both of these banks had been a quick to respond as 1st Direct I wouldn't have two claims on hold as of today.

I have spoken to the ombudsman and Halifax this morning and both have confirmed that the claims are all on hold. The OBM wouldn't give a timescale, but Halifax confirmed they are looking at a delay of 12 months minimum, possible one of several years if it goes to appeal. The chap I spoke to said they only found out this morning themselves and had a 1 hour training session on how to deal with customers this morning!

Interestingly Halifax did ask if I have been made an offer - apparently if you already have an offer on the table your claim will still be processed. Those of us that don't it's hard luck for the duration!

This is all so unfair - by the time they sort this out I will have lost years off my claim as the statutary time limit is 6 years - are we going to be allowed to resurrect the claims as they were of will they then lop off the years that are no longer valid!?????

There really does need to be some very definate clarification of where we all stand and what will happen to our claims both if the case goes in the OFT's or the banks favour. At least that way we stand a fighting chance of knowing where we stand in all this. And lets face it, we are the ones they should be telling - after all it's our money!

Stokey125

A few points which might answer a number of queries.


Unless the Lord Chief Justice issues a direction to the Courts staying all the current cases then Consent Orders will be needed to stay any current cases. Accordingly, contrary to the impression given by some media reports the case which was launched today does not automatically stop any other case. Those people who have directions hearings or other hearing dates should still attend if they do not wish to stay there case assuming the LCJ does not stay them by direction.

It should be noted that what is happening today is that solicitors acting for the OFT will issue the claim for a declaration as to what the position is. It is unlikely that this matter will come up for a hearing much before Christmas.

Judging by what happened the last time the OFT brought a test case then the losing party will appeal. However in this case due to the number of cases that are likely to be affected it may be that any Appeal will be expedited.

Michael

Hillsy_2

I've received my statements today, gone through them all and have added up the charges which amount to 2285. I was just going to send off the letter to barclays and noticed the info about the test case. Can anyone advise whether it is still worth doing this now?? I'm new to this and would appreciate your comments