Bank Charges Refunds

[BensGrandad]

I would have thought that if they wished it would be easy for the banks to extract and print out the charges that have been added to an account during any given period. By sending statements and leaving you to do the work they are probably hoping that you will give up and not bother.

 

[Nibble]

If you can access internet banking you can pick a specific date and print off statements for three months either side of that date. if you do that a on the right dates you can then get print offs of as many as you like going back to whenever you like.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

HSBC have promised to send me a summary of charges I have incurred over the last 6 years, but I am concerned they may conveniently overlook some of the charges. I was wondering if any of you guys can advise if you too have received a summary only from HSBC (as opposed to a full set of statements) and if so whether they looked accurate.

Cheers in anticipation

Hsbc where ok with me, they just offered me money.

 

[Nibble]

Funny how they only charge you £10 to look up and print and post all your bank charges for 6 years but it allegedly costs them £30 to send an automated letter to tell you you have gone overdrawn. Something stinks here people. I for one intend to f*** them for all I can. Bastards.

 

[csider]

well i think its all a load of bollocks. this thing has built up from the OFT "opinion" that fees are too much, and has been turned into the idea that all fees are unlawful? they been charging the same (or fact more relativly) for decades. one of the links mentions contract law but the clause there is only applicable if you break a contract, but by overdrawn you aren't breaking any contract, just changing to higher set of tariffs.

does it not occur to you that it does cost them x amount to process somthing, and also does noone concider the fine/dont do it again aspect of the fees?

I know lots of people think its unfair that banks make money from peoples financial misfortune. But i like the fact that i dont get charged monthly just to have the privilege of leading them my salary. i hope you enjoy banking in a couple of years time when going overdrawn doesnt mean a £30 fee anymore, but closing of your account.

I have had 2 banks refund me approx £750 As for the above.......work for a bank or have shares in one I wonder?? The figure x he/she refers too is about £30 more than it sfould cost, therefore making a HUGE mark up. Any info required mail me.

 

[byf]

Ive only just read this thread...and have been charged hundreads of £ over the last 6 years...I just went into my bank to find another charge has been put on my account.....ive had enough....they gave me some phone number to call to claim them back...

Does anyone have any hints or tips of what I should do next?

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Sent off my first letter yesterday, requesting details of all the charges I've had to pay over the last six years. Will be interesting to see what comes back.

Will let you know.

 

[byf]

Sent off my first letter yesterday, requesting details of all the charges I've had to pay over the last six years. Will be interesting to see what comes back.

Will let you know.

How did you phrase the letter? Did you send it to head office with one of those internet company templates?

Im with Natwest so do I just send the letter to head office or should I call the number that a lady in natwest got for me?

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Ah ha...will paste the exact letter here in a mo.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Put your name, address and phone number (just in case they need it) at top, then here's the Nat West bloke you need to write to:

Mr Alex Lyons
Data Protection Manager
Retail Regulatory Risk
2nd Floor
Business House B
Gogarburn
P.O.Box 1000
Edinburgh
EH12 1HQ

Dear Mr Lyons,

Re. Account number: xxxx; sort code xxxx

I am writing to request a fully comprehensive list of all the default charges for direct debit, unauthorised overdrafts and standing orders I have paid over the last six years.

Please find enclosed a cheque for the maximum statutory charge of £10. If you are unable to provide this data, I will accept a copy of my statements going back six years; I understand that statements on their own are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998, yet I’m not requesting the statements per se, but the charges, which I’m entitled to by law.

I look forward to your response within 40 days, as the National Westminster Bank is obliged to reply under the Data Protection Act. If not I shall seek remedy from the Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,


xxxx

 

[byf]

Put your name, address and phone number (just in case they need it) at top, then here's the Nat West bloke you need to write to:

Mr Alex Lyons
Data Protection Manager
Retail Regulatory Risk
2nd Floor
Business House B
Gogarburn
P.O.Box 1000
Edinburgh
EH12 1HQ

Dear Mr Lyons,

Re. Account number: xxxx; sort code xxxx

I am writing to request a fully comprehensive list of all the default charges for direct debit, unauthorised overdrafts and standing orders I have paid over the last six years.

Please find enclosed a cheque for the maximum statutory charge of £10. If you are unable to provide this data, I will accept a copy of my statements going back six years; I understand that statements on their own are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998, yet I’m not requesting the statements per se, but the charges, which I’m entitled to by law.

I look forward to your response within 40 days, as the National Westminster Bank is obliged to reply under the Data Protection Act. If not I shall seek remedy from the Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,


xxxx

Did you not put Natwest on the address?

Also I see you didnt threaten them with court action?

Nice 1 for that...how did you get the info of who to send it too.....and what to write?

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Did you not put Natwest on the address?

Also I see you didnt threaten them with court action?

Nice 1 for that...how did you get the info of who to send it too.....and what to write?

It's all on the moneysavingexpert website. This is just an initial letter requesting details of charges.

When you've received their breakdown of charges (by law, they have to give you them), that's when you then politely write back, requesting a refund (with interest, if you want).

If they refuse, that's when you can get a bit harder with them. But don't hurtle straight in, threatening court action.

It's all detailed, step by step, on the MSE website.

 

[byf]

It's all on the moneysavingexpert website. This is just an initial letter requesting details of charges.

When you've received their breakdown of charges (by law, they have to give you them), that's when you then politely write back, requesting a refund (with interest, if you want).

If they refuse, that's when you can get a bit harder with them. But don't hurtle straight in, threatening court action.

It's all detailed, step by step, on the MSE website.

so am i ok to use the letter you have typed?

is that a guy who works for natwest?

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Yep

 

[byf]

Yep

thanks mate....lets have em!!!!!!!!

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

My brother followed the advice on the BBC website shown on the following link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6170209.stm

He worked out an esitmate of how much he'd paid going by an average of the recent charges. Wrote a letter, few weeks later he got a letter back saying they wouldn't do anything but if he didn't agree with the letter to contact the Financial Ombudsman http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

He contacted them, and filled out some forms. They contacted the bank on his behalf, a few weeks later the charges have been credited back to his account.

If you follow the advice on the BBC website then you should get something back. Write to them first, once they've written back contact the ombudsman and the bank will give in.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

How does one go about getting refunds from credit card companies?

Capital One absolutely CANED me on interest for years even though I was paying them back. Scum!

 

[beorhthelm]

I have had 2 banks refund me approx £750 As for the above.......work for a bank or have shares in one I wonder?? The figure x he/she refers too is about £30 more than it sfould cost, therefore making a HUGE mark up. Any info required mail me.

yeah, i got this all a bit wrong. read something about it months ago and thought it was just a few whingers. i had no idea there was this much momentum, nor the degree to which the banks where rinsing "customer" for with fees.

I'll still stand by one thing though, this will be the end of free banking in the UK. Im no employee or shareholder (at least not directly - anyone with an isa or a pension is indirectly), simply someone who lives within my means and doesnt go overdrawn.

i say good luck to all getting fees back.

 

[Timbo]

requesting a refund (with interest, if you want).

You can't request interest until you actually take them to court. Once you have filed with MCOL (Money Claim Online), Thats when you add your 8% interest.

Also people seem to be content with accepting part refunds. Don't. Take them all the way and don't accept a penny less. HSBC offered me £2100, I had claimed £2400. I told them they could wind their offer up their arse. Never let the fuckers off a penny, they wouldn't if it was the other way round.

I'm actually quite glad they didn't offer me all of it because now, I can claim interest as well, taking it to nearly 3K. And they have to pay court fees as well.

 

[bathseagull]

My flatmate worked out a total of £991 charges over the last 6 years from First Direct.

He downloaded the letter from the BBC website and sent it off a week and a half ago.

Today he got a letter offering him £845 full and final settlement.

We're having a curry tonight.