Excessive bank charges - anybody going to complain to their bank?

[Kazz]

See two unpaid D/D charges of £35 - then the other is made up of 3 overdraft interest charges of 96p each.....Will look back further and see what I can find.

[Fran]

Emma, over the years my hubby and I have had some charges like these. What is the first step to recoupering the losses and how can you calculate exactly what the losses are? We have thought about trying to claim them but have been put off in case it is really difficult and we really wouldn't know where to start. Being in a much better postion financially these days, it is easier to think 'oh let it go' but if it is possible to recouperate the money then surely it would be better in our pocket than theirs?

[EmmaG]

Fran, first course of action is to see if you have got your bank statements (also credit card statements if you have had charges on these as well) then you need to send to the bank a letter asking for the charges back together with a list of the charges and the dates, if they haven't paid up after 14 days you send another letter (letter before action) requesting that they refund charges or you will take them to court, if they haven't paid up by the 14th day (or you haven't come to an agreement) then you issue court proceedings (you can do this on line) when you issue court proceedings you can add 8% court interest (there is a spreadsheet on the Consumer Action Group website to calculate out the interest as it is 8% from the date of the charge - OH's sister has just done a claim for £6,000 and the interest is over £1,000!!!)

First letter can be found here

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...-approach.html

Second letter can be found here

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...re-action.html

It would be best to join the Consumer Action group and post a thread about your claim and other members will help if you have any queries, they are excellent on there!!!

[Kazz]

Go for it Fran I hope you find more than £72.98 though.

[Fran]

Thanks for that Emma, I know you can claim charges for around 6 years back is that correct? What happens if you don't have all the statements? Is there any other way of finding out exactly what you have been charged over the years?

[Fran]

Originally Posted by Kazz

Go for it Fran I hope you find more than £72.98 though.

I have a feeling that it might be a little more than that amount Kazz

[EmmaG]

Fran if you are with the HSBC and have internet banking you can download your statements. If you do not have all of your statements (you can go back 6 years and there is some argument being raised at the moment that it would be possible to go back further if you had proof - but perhaps just best to stick to 6 years )

If you do not have all of your statements you can request them and send a cheque for £10 to cover the admin fee

Letter to request statements here

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...ction-act.html

[Fran]

Thank you Emma, we have banked with HSBC but not online and also have an account with the Hailfax.. I'll write to them requesting the statements and send them the cheque... Thank you so much for your help. Have you any idea how the Halifax and HSBC deal with these sort of claims?

[EmmaG]

Not sure about the Halifax, but HSBC will deal with them quite quickly, our three claims with HSBC which were started on 27th June were paid on 18th August.

You might have to wait the 40 days for your statements though.

[EmmaG]

Well Barclays and Abbey have both paid the claims today