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I've been reading all the information regarding reclaiming unfair bank charges etc.
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In which case you will know that the reclaiming of "unfair" bank charges ended in 2009 when the banks won the court case.
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I'm interested in doing so as I have been in financial hardship for quite a long time now.
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Requests under current financial hardship is not the same as unfair bank charges. under no circumstances should you ever say in your request that the charges are unfair (or words similar to that).
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I know what I have to write about in a letter to the bank but I'm a bit confused on how to work out exactly which charges I am to include so that I can give them a total about how much I am requesting to reclaim.
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You dont specify an amount to reclaim. The bank will make a goodwill payment based on how deep in financial hardship you. Return is not the only option available to them either. Sometimes they refund nothing but suspend new charges for the next x months. Sometimes they put you on a debt management plan. If they do refund, they typically do no more than the last 12 months. In extreme cases they will go back further.
Interest is not refunded.
Your job is to make your case to the bank that you are in genuine financial hardship and not just spending beyond your means. You should tell them what arrears and defaults you have. How you can't spend money on basic requirements etc. They will look at your spending habits. If they find you buying sandwiches for lunch, McDonalds, buying clothes in Next etc then you are not in financial hardship.
I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). Comments are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.