Help please, where do I start?

Mrsapplegate

Hi all

I arrived here from a Google search as been struggling with bank charges for the last few months. My charges are over £100 every month and they take the money whilst I'm in the emergency reserve of my overdraft, so I'm now stuck in a viscous cyclE and am really struggling.


Now I've been reading everyone else's post about bank account fees (Barclays additions) and would like to peruse that too.

My question is, where do I start? Is there anything I can do? Do I go to Barclays directly to complain or send them a letter like the templates I've seen here.

Thanks in advance and sorry for being clueless!

Macsaving

This person has had success reclaiming charges as they were in financial difficulty, sounds like you are to.

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5334005

dunstonh

Do not use a template. You need to make your case to the bank so they believe you are in financial hardship. A template will not do that as it lacks the personalisation needed. Plus, many of the templates are obsolete and contain things that can harm your case.

Contact the banks complaint team (you are not making a complaint but they are the ones that handle hardship cases). Make your case why you believe you are in hardship. Tell them what arrears/defaults you have and mention the cycle of charges.

If your statements show luxury spending (such as sky tv, high mobile phone bills, shopping in non-budget shops) then this will harm your case as it can mean you are just spending beyond your means and not actually in hardship.