Claim back illegal bank charges

[nathan]

Noticed an article in the independent...

Been charged for going over your overdraft?, well more and more people have been claiming these charges back of the bank. Under british law it is illegal for the bank to charge more than the cost of their processing for you going over your overdraft. I've just claimed back £200 from HSBC, may i mention one more thing. WOOOOHOOOOO!

Have a read Here for the full posting with links to sites that will help you do it.

 

[chudley]

Well done matey, I am never go over my overdraft limit so wont have nothing to claim, unless they have records from 10 years ago.

Gratz on your claim tho

 

[nathan]

u can claim up to six years ago only.

 

[chudley]

hey ho, that is my luck!

 

[nathan]

just been looking into some financial software. found one called acemoney. It is free for 1 account, and $30 for multiply accounts. It's really easy to use and you can import QIF files from your internet banking website. I've just imported the last 4 years

Anyone else use any software like this?

 

[JN]

Just be careful when doing these peeps, many banks are actually closing peoples accounts down when they make a claim So be prepared to take your business elsewhere.

BTW nathan, did you just phone your bank up and say "I want my money back" or did you have to compile a list of charges over the past x years?

 

[FleX.overclock3d]

interesting, I remember when I went over and they were charging me £36 a pop

 

[Toxcity]

Nice stuff!

200 quid for just asking! Did they argue?

 

[nathan]

i sent them a message on their control panel thing. Just saying i was unhappy with the service and that it was becoming a very expensive one. I said i was seriously considering closing my account.

I dont think they are allowed to close your account because you make a claim. If the do start proceedings for the small claims court. They will soon pay up then.

 

[Rastalovich]

Hmmm I thought this was old news, guy in work did his bank in january and got £1500 off them, then a bunch on his m8s did it too.

Some guy in the news this week hit them for 10k I seem to recall.

They come at with "you can`t do this" and when u persist it works. Or atleast thats how it worked, maybe they`re easier to go with now.

Took him about 2 weeks to get it sorted from memory.

 

[nathan]

yeah it is old news. It resurfced in the independant this week.

 

[Toxcity]

Maybe old, but it is darn intresting!

 

[JN]

I dont think they are allowed to close your account because you make a claim. If the do start proceedings for the small claims court. They will soon pay up then.

What I've heard from someone who works at one of the banks is that if you do make a successful claim, the bank will pay you (to avoid court), but will then close your account as they no longer want your business.

 

[nathan]

What I've heard from someone who works at one of the banks is that if you do make a successful claim, the bank will pay you (to avoid court), but will then close your account as they no longer want your business.

i see, They could end up with not much business in the end if the papers keep publishing articles on this. I think they have got to change there ways.

 

[JN]

i see, They could end up with not much business in the end if the papers keep publishing articles on this. I think they have got to change there ways.

Yeah, its not for everyone - just people that take the p155 afaik.

 

[PV5150]

It has started to happen here too. People are sick and tired of being charged exorbitant amounts for the most ridiculous charges. Backlash against the banks perhaps, but it'll be interesting to see who has the curlies here to take the banks to court

 

[Rastalovich]

Yeah I think it`s a case of their legal eagles are as good as advising the banks that "u could have to goto court, unless.." and the possibilities their are that the judge could order them to do anything up to and include looking over all their charges to all their customers. So even those customers either unaware of the degree or those who think they`re getting a good deal @ 1.5k when it could be more.

Very tricky for them. At least atm they`re only paying out to those who ask the questions.

I`m very much unsure how a bank stands in terms of closing people`s accounts legally. Technically they`re "offering" a service to customers, whether they can exact prejudice on any basis other than the fact u`r a criminal or a non citizen (spelling don`t look right), I dunno. They are in the `risk` game tho. God help them if they closed an account of a jewish-black-lesbian-welsh-disabled person >.<