Bank Charges Test Case Article discussion

natweststaffmember

evil wrote: »

If I have sent a letter requesting my bank charges back, after now waiting for this test case. Do I need to contact the bank again with a follow up letter requesting it or are they obligated to contact me?

WHen all the OFT test case issues are resolved then we should be able to answer that question but because it is still ongoing then it is not possible to know the answer but at the moment you do not need to do anything unless you move house as you will need to update the bank of that.

natweststaffmember

stapeley wrote: »

Given the fact the Government now own a large part of the banks , is it not likely they are putting pressure on some of the Law Lords ? It should be becoming clear that they will allow the banks to worm out of it !

No they would not be doing so since the case is based on the law not and Law Lords are usually ones appointed based on their legal expertise and not their "friends" in government. I don't agree with your last statement.

natweststaffmember

pingchris wrote: »

everyone involved in this bank charges scam ruling knows the banks the government etc are taking the water out of the british people,and we all just take it,they dont want to push me too far,i snap easy when it comes to thieving scum.:money:

I have no idea what you mean.

orc_2

People in hardship due to bank charges should be aware that there are other dedicated consumer action groups and sites specialising in assisting people. Try Consumer Action Group, (CAG) for instance.

Whilst MSE has a lot going for it, it appears to have grown away from specialist help on bank charges, it is perhaps, not action orientated. The focus on MSE is perhaps these days more on money saving, money deals, best buys, collecting points and accumulating wealth. That certainly has a mass appeal, has a righful place and is financially rewarding. I am in no way critising Martin here- he has played an invaluable role in the campaign and will continue to do so.

Martin is an expert at headline consumer issues, (that's his job, not much doubt there) but perhaps Martin has lost touch with the grass roots of the campaign. Martin certainly does not claim, nor could he, to offer detailed debt help which is what many people need.

The Bank Charges Forum on MSE has depended for some time on a relatively few dedicated individuals lately, who deserve our thanks. Don't blame them.

As an example, people in difficult circumstances due to bank charges, facing the biggest challenges in their lives, with fear in their hearts, often come on this site and are routinely ridiculed by "Daily Mail" types who blame the person suffering for the situation they face. A regular walk about the whole site shows numerous everyday examples of that. It has no heart. No compassion.

Don't stick with this site for dedicated bank charges help. If you need help on bank charges and related issues, far more informed advice is available elsewhere.

Please try the following sites and make up your own mind:

Consumer Action Group
Legal Beagles
Penalty Charges Forum

Alpine_Star

orc wrote: »

People in hardship due to bank charges should be aware that there are other dedicated consumer action groups and sites specialising in assisting people. Try Consumer Action Group, (CAG) for instance.

Would this be the same Consumer Action Group that automatically advises everyone who types in 'FOS' into their post, ''For the most part don't bother''?

And the same Consumer Action Group who's leader was quoted in a BBC article about the number of people who having failed to have their complaints upheld by the banks, went on to lodge a complaint with the FOS, asking ''How many people have given up along the way ?'' ?

natweststaffmember

orc wrote: »

People in hardship due to bank charges should be aware that there are other dedicated consumer action groups and sites specialising in assisting people. Try Consumer Action Group, (CAG) for instance.
Orc, I would never suggest people go to Consumer Action Group because their hardship forum has half a dozen posts at best per week. Their site team do not fully understand the Financial hardship issues. It is very sad to see some of the statements on their hardship guide which are grossly inadequate for financial hardship claimants. I have one issue with the MSE guide and that's all I do.
Whilst MSE has a lot going for it, it appears to have grown away from specialist help on bank charges, it is perhaps, not action orientated. The focus on MSE is perhaps these days more on money saving, money deals, best buys, collecting points and accumulating wealth. That certainly has a mass appeal, has a righful place and is financially rewarding. I am in no way critising Martin here- he has played an invaluable role in the campaign and will continue to do so.
Orc, I don't agree with you.
Martin is an expert at headline consumer issues, (that's his job, not much doubt there) but perhaps Martin has lost touch with the grass roots of the campaign. Martin certainly does not claim, nor could he, to offer detailed debt help which is what many people need.
I don't have a claim and have never had a claim so that could equally disqualify me from being able to offer detailed advice?
The Bank Charges Forum on MSE has depended for some time on a relatively few dedicated individuals lately, who deserve our thanks. Don't blame them.
I think many people are helping and continue to help. Many of them are claimants not disqualified, like I would by the criteria,. to provide help.
As an example, people in difficult circumstances due to bank charges, facing the biggest challenges in their lives, with fear in their hearts, often come on this site and are routinely ridiculed by "Daily Mail" types who blame the person suffering for the situation they face. A regular walk about the whole site shows numerous everyday examples of that. It has no heart. No compassion.
I like eating them for breakfast and regularly do if need be,
Don't stick with this site for dedicated bank charges help. If you need help on bank charges and related issues, far more informed advice is available elsewhere.
I'll stay thanks cos I am disqualified from giving advice elsewhere
Please try the following sites and make up your own mind:

Consumer Action Group
Legal Beagles
Penalty Charges Forum

People can choose where they want to go, You missed out, consumer credit support, penalty action group, consumer corner and british consumer as well

mumwiv3

I've today received copy statements which I've gone through with a fine tooth comb. Oh, how those charges mount up! I know I'll probably get a "holding" letter until we all hear the final decision of the Courts - but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Whilst I don't fall into the hardship category, the charges I am incurring are slowly pushing me further into debt and I'm finding it very difficult to keep my head above water - £1,007.00 charges to date. (This is only a small part of the debt that I am facing at the moment, but one step at a time)

I would like to say thank you to all people who post on here - it gave me the encouragement to take the first step. It has also given me a kick up the rear end to watch my spending and consider the want -v- need syndrome! Especially thanks to Martin for the downloadable templates and the info so far.

laalaa41

orc wrote: »

People in hardship due to bank charges should be aware that there are other dedicated consumer action groups and sites specialising in assisting people. Try Consumer Action Group, (CAG) for instance.

Whilst MSE has a lot going for it, it appears to have grown away from specialist help on bank charges, it is perhaps, not action orientated. The focus on MSE is perhaps these days more on money saving, money deals, best buys, collecting points and accumulating wealth. That certainly has a mass appeal, has a righful place and is financially rewarding. I am in no way critising Martin here- he has played an invaluable role in the campaign and will continue to do so.

Martin is an expert at headline consumer issues, (that's his job, not much doubt there) but perhaps Martin has lost touch with the grass roots of the campaign. Martin certainly does not claim, nor could he, to offer detailed debt help which is what many people need.

The Bank Charges Forum on MSE has depended for some time on a relatively few dedicated individuals lately, who deserve our thanks. Don't blame them.

As an example, people in difficult circumstances due to bank charges, facing the biggest challenges in their lives, with fear in their hearts, often come on this site and are routinely ridiculed by "Daily Mail" types who blame the person suffering for the situation they face. A regular walk about the whole site shows numerous everyday examples of that. It has no heart. No compassion.

Don't stick with this site for dedicated bank charges help. If you need help on bank charges and related issues, far more informed advice is available elsewhere.

Please try the following sites and make up your own mind:

Consumer Action Group
Legal Beagles
Penalty Charges Forum

I dont know where you sprung from but this email reeks of bitterness and has at its very essence a totally different tone from anything else Ive read on this forum or anywhere else on this website.
Not at any time have I ever read a post ridiculing anyone on this forum nor has any reply Ive seen ridiculed me or anyone else for being in difficulty.
As far as Im aware a forum (on any website) is a place where people with varying experiences can share them, perhaps feeling less isolated in whatever ails them - its reassuring to know there are others going through similar situations. If another's experience can give me insight or perhaps galvanise someone to take someone up on a good idea that worked before, then that's great - and a bonus - but I would never expect a forum to be ABLE to offer detailed help. That as you say IS the realm of the experts.
There are advisers who are qualified - but it's still up to the individual what action to take and we know where to go for that sort of help.
I fear, Orc, that companionship, as well as compassion and heart aren't apparent to you - despite that it's entirely in evidence but you just can't see it here. I can.

PhiltheBear

laalaa41 wrote: »

Not at any time have I ever read a post ridiculing anyone on this forum nor has any reply Ive seen ridiculed me or anyone else for being in difficulty. .

I'm sorry but I disagree with you. I've seen a number of posts that suggest that financial difficulty is the fault of the individual (when patently it's not), that those on benefits ought to get back to work (totally ignoring the lack of jobs), that excessive bank charges should be kept so that those with money can still keep their 'free' banking, etc.

I have a banking background. On and off I spent about 25 years working in various banks as a consultant. So I have a pretty good idea of what goes on at high levels and in a lot of different banking areas. But, not for one second, could I defend what the banks do in terms of charging. By and large the banking industry isn't in favour of personal accounts. This is hangover from the days when personal accounts required a lot of time and effort to look after. But computerisation removed a lot of that surveillance. It also gave the banks a weapon for levying charges.

The banks then discovered that they could raise those charges - by stealth - and customers were stuck with them. Move bank? What for? The charges were pretty uniform.

Whereas once an individual would check your account daily to see if you were overdrawn, and maybe phone you about it, now all that happens is a computer program checks your balance against a figure which shows how much in the red you can be. If you are over it generates a notice to you. I've seen the printout area of several banks. They are almost totally automated. They take the statements, credit card bills, etc. away daily in lorries. Not vans. Lorries. They are huge operations. Because of the scale their actual costs per item are tiny. So, when they send you an 'overdrawn' letter it has cost them pence. But they've been charging £35 a time.

That's not just. It's not equitable. It's not good business. It's plain greed.

Unfortunately, there are people who are too stupid to understand that. And, regrettably, some of them vent on this forum.

OTOH - alot of what Orc posted was, in fact, true.

laalaa41

Truth is relative. Yes of course Ive seen on other websites that there are one or two posters who really do seem to think that anyone in any sort of debt or has had to pay charges - ever - has only themselves to blame. I ignore those because I figure they are in very comfortable situations - earning enough money to absorb life's ups and downs unlike the rest of us who earn average (or less) wages.
I hate what the banks are doing and under no illusions that they've been shafting us for at least a decade, probably two. Greed is king it seems and its up to us to fight them all the way.
Personally, I am constantly battling with some organisation or another to be treated fairly and have been waiting for the outcome of a claim against Egg PPI for 18 months. My finances are up the swannee because of TWO banks and 3 other organisations totally messing me up and all but two companies failing to even own up. FSO found for me against RBS though.
I moved to Bank of Scotland when I sacked RBS and they failed to transfer my accounts properly and now they've moved the goalposts again so Im on the lookout for the best of the worst so I can sack them too. Id have done it before but I sometimes lack the strength to face a new battle. Then I reboot and start all over again. I come back to this website/forum because there are people in the same situation as me posting in it - seemples!
L