Reclaiming bank charges

SAC_MC

Hello, any help would be greatly appreciated here.

I currently have in front of my 6 years of bank statements as i am trying to reclaim my bank charges from a while ago as i lost my job and got into debt and was up to my eyes in charges.

So im with lloyds tsb and i have noticed that in the "payment type" column i have "CHG" , and then the amount in the payment out column.. I take it this is the amount i can claim back for this one month? May i also note that it says in the"details" column this says "returnedD/D".

I also see the word "FEE" which is account fee and then the amount again, can i also claim this back?

JuicyJesus

The bank charges reclaiming horse bolted about six years ago as the charges were found lawful. You have no entitlement to get any charges back at all, let alone all of them.

If you are in current financial hardship then the bank is required to be sympathetic and assist you, but this does not have to involve refunding charges and would involve a full review of your circumstances to find a solution.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

SAC_MC

I am under no illusion that i will get anythhing back.

However i lost my job and it started then, and i was and still am in financial hardship. Th bank charges made tings 10 times worse.

Cash withdrawals from credit cards, gurantoor loans, payday loans, the lot.

grumbler

CHG means just 'charge'.

Re the 'account fee' I guess it was some pay-for account. See Packaged Bank Accounts

SAC_MC

Thank you for your help

So the carge would be my bank charging me for a returned direct debit? And they are allowed to do this?

colsten

SAC_MC wrote: »

So im with lloyds tsb

Lloyds TSB doesn't exist any longer. You are either with Lloyds or with TSB now as they split last year. You will have had communication about this, particularly if your account ended up with TSB.

First thing you should clarify who your account is with.

SAC_MC wrote: »

So the carge would be my bank charging me for a returned direct debit? And they are allowed to do this?

Banks are allowed to charge you, and they tell you

1. how much their charges are in general and
2. that they will charge you specific amounts, about 20 days before they actually charge you. This will appear on your statements

When you applied for your account, you confirmed that you understood this, along with other terms and conditions that you agreed to.

Bank charges are published online and on leaflets in banks and you periodically get updates to charges mailed to your registered address.

The current Lloyds charges are here: http://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/Banking_charges_guide.pdf

The current TSB charges are here: http://www.tsb.co.uk/current-accounts/banking-charges-brochure.pdf

You appear not to have heard of the Lloyds/TSB split, or of general banking charges. Nor do you appear to have checked your statements on a regular basis. I tend to think you won't be successful with claiming back your charges but even if you were, you have to fundamentally change how you deal with your banking and money matters. It's in your own interest that you do.

SAC_MC

I am well aware of the split, its just habit typing lloyds tsb thats all.

Im with lloyds.

And if people were aware of the charges how did they still get charges back before 2009?

JuicyJesus

SAC_MC wrote: »

And if people were aware of the charges how did they still get charges back before 2009?

Because the legal position was uncertain and banks were scared. The Supreme Court cleared all that up and the position now is that bank charges are not penalties and are therefore lawful.

Now, the position is as I said in my post. A blanket reclaim letter will not work, and neither will escalating to the Ombudsman when that doesn't work. Politely asking for assistance with your hardship may not get you a windfall refund of charges, but it will get you help with your hardship - even if it isn't the sort of help you are after.

Swestuser

A few years ago, I complained to my bank (at the time) Halifax, because they'd upgraded my bank account to a paid account with benefits, and refused to change it back when I requested this. After nearly 3 and a half years, I managed to get it changed back to the old account, but was out of pocket in fees, by about £500. I wrote to the bank, who offered £25.00 as a goodwill gesture. I wrote to the financial ombudsman who ruled in favour of the bank. I appealed the decision and again, they ruled in favour of the bank. I think this is really really unfair. Is there anything I can do? Thanks.

eskbanker

Swestuser wrote: »

A few years ago, I complained to my bank (at the time) Halifax, because they'd upgraded my bank account to a paid account with benefits, and refused to change it back when I requested this. After nearly 3 and a half years, I managed to get it changed back to the old account, but was out of pocket in fees, by about £500. I wrote to the bank, who offered £25.00 as a goodwill gesture. I wrote to the financial ombudsman who ruled in favour of the bank. I appealed the decision and again, they ruled in favour of the bank. I think this is really really unfair. Is there anything I can do? Thanks.

If you've completely exhausted the full process through the bank and FOS, then the only other avenue is the courts, but clearly if everyone has rejected your argument thus far you shouldn't be under any illusion that you have much chance of success - what were the full grounds of the various decisions?