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

[Mags]

Brilliant news Emma!

[alexgirl73]

well done you!!!

[Fran]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Well Barclays and Abbey have both paid the claims today

Excellent news Emma!!!

[EmmaG]

Thanks, very tempted to go shopping in the January sales, but we are going to get our fence for our garden and some new windows next year, the remaining amount will go into Premium Bonds

[EmmaG]

This is an article from the Daily Mail

Customer sends bailiffs in to seize bank's computers

Last updated at 23:55pm on 19th January 2007

Declan Purcell: Striking a blow for the customer




A man who was fed up with paying massive bank charges decided to give one of the high street giants a taste of its own medicine.
When Royal Bank of Scotland refused to refund £3,400 charges that Declan Purcell believed he was owed, he sent in the bailiffs.
Stunned customers at his branch of RBS watched as debt collectors seized four computers, two fax machines and a till filled with cash.
The branch manager was told that the items would be sold unless RBS came up with the money owed to Mr Purcell.
Only when the manager gave an undertaking that the debt would be paid did the bailiffs leave.
Mr Purcell said: "I think the bank was pretty shocked when the bailiffs went in. But my view is that this is exactly what they would have done to me."
The move, which will raise a cheer from millions of other bank customers, is part of a consumer fightback against bank charges, which net an estimated £4.5 billion every year.
Every time a current account customer goes overdrawn by as little as £1 most banks will charge around £28, even though the administration cost is only about £4.50.
Then every cheque, direct debit, or card transaction that goes through or is bounced incurs another charge of up to £38.
The Office of Fair Trading is investigating whether banks have implemented these charges unlawfully.
The Daily Mail's Fair Play on Charges campaign and that run by the Consumer Action Group have helped thousands reclaim charges in the past year.
Like other customers Mr Purcell, 48, from East London, had warned his bank that he was prepared to go to court to claim back charges he believes were imposed unlawfully.
In June last year he demanded the refund of £3,400 charges he accrued during the previous six years while running a motorcycle dealership.
RBS ignored the claim so in October Mr Purcell filed an online application to get the money back through the county court.
After 30 days the bank had not responded and so on December 10 the court ruled in Mr Purcell's favour.
It ordered RBS to pay the charges and £120 court costs. When RBS again failed to respond Mr Purcell got the court to give him a warrant of execution, allowing him to order debt collectors to reclaim items from the bank equal in value to the amount he was owed.
Finally on Monday, January 8, a team of debt collectors walked into the busy Camden Town branch in North London, demanded to see the manager, showed their court order and announced that they were repossessing items.
Mr Purcell, who now works for London Underground, said: "I was dismayed by the bank's reaction when I made my claim for a refund – it was so rude and arrogant.
"They thought they were above the law, so it is great to know that customers can use the law in the same way the bank does to get money they are owed."
A spokesman for RBS said: "We are looking into this as a matter of urgency, but early indications suggest that unfortunately due to an administrative error, the bank failed to defend the claim leading to a default judgment being obtained on the branch and a resulting warrant.
"The confusion was cleared up at the branch."
Marc Gander, who set up campaign website Consumer Action Group, which helps consumers get refunds from their banks, said: "I am quite sure that Mr Purcell will not be the last person to send bailiffs in to his bank.
"The continued operation by UK high street banks of their unlawful charges regimes will see to that. "The heavy-handed debt collecting approach is something that the banks have been handing out to their customers for years. Mr Purcell simply gave them a bit of their own back."

[jenny]

im so glad this was posted cos i was on the fence after numerous people assured me the bank could do what they want as its the contract.

anyway, ive had 6 yrs worth of bank statements sitting in my drawer since probably october last year. think its time to start highlighting!

will do the same for my OH's bank too as he is charged ridiculous amounts of money!

[Samz5]

lol @ sending the bailiffs in

My B/f got a cheque for £499 a few months ago for his unfair bank charges, its worth doing.

[jenny]

well i sent my bank a letter a few weeks ago to claim £900 back. they have today offered to pay me a £550 refund havent decided if i will take them to court for the last £350, seems like too much hassle. what do u think?

[dinahsmum]

Originally Posted by jenny

well i sent my bank a letter a few weeks ago to claim £900 back. they have today offered to pay me a £550 refund havent decided if i will take them to court for the last £350, seems like too much hassle. what do u think?

How about a response along the lines of "I am minded to continue my pursuit of this claim, which I believe is quite legitimate and should be addressed. However, to save both parties time and yourselves the expense of court procedings I would be willing to accept a full and final settlement of £750" (or whatever figure)
That's if you would, of course. Think I might hang out for the full amount - after all you won't lose the £550 going for £900 - just delay it.

[Fran]

At least you have an offer Jenny, well done for that! Emma might be able to offer you some advice on what to do next when she comes on.


Right, I am definitely going to do it. I need to get bank statements from my bank. Does anyone have or know where I can get a draft copy of the letter I need to send (I don't want to jepardise my chances by getting the letter wrong) and is it £10 to the bank to get these statements?

Thanks for your help