Fee paying account

The timebar rules are set by the regulator and the Ombudsman enforces FCA rules.

The 3 & 6 year rule is that you have to complain within 6 years of the start (so when you bought the fee-paying account) or within 3 years of being reasonably aware of an issue (the date you changed from that account). Both rules have to be met to allow a timebar. In your case it appears to be a valid timebar and I would expect the FOS to agree (based on published decisions they have made on cases similar to yours. It is also worth noting that the FOS only uphold around 11% of packaged bank account complaints. Its not a major issue for them. Although admittedly, the number of people time barred now means that is the reason they reject. That said, I was at a meeting with the FOS and they said they didn't have an issue with packaged bank accounts as a product.

my arguement is that I have only just found out that I could reclaim the money.

That doesn't work I'm afraid. People are free to complain about whatever they like in any walk of life. Saying you didn't know you could complain goes against human nature.

Gruber1650! wrote: »

Sorry I should have added that I didn't ask for the fee account, it was imposed on me and I wasn't told of any alternative.

Doesn't matter. You are barred from a complaint. You could have the most nailed on complaint reason going but you would still not get past the time bar.