Reclaim Your Bank And Card Charges

[Shaun]

I'm guessing EDF.

Ultimatley I'd expect Bardclays to refund the charges and the money wrongly taken. Then personally I'd write a snotty letter asking EDF for the same money back and be up by £X. But then I'm like that - I think why shouldn't I be paid to sort out their problems?

[Pia]

Yeah i meant EDF, i'm going to ring them today because i'm not at all happy about the bank charge, i never authorised direct debits to be set up on my account apart from the first time round, when i cancel them surely they can't keep setting them up again!!

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Pia

Yeah i meant EDF, i'm going to ring them today because i'm not at all happy about the bank charge, i never authorised direct debits to be set up on my account apart from the first time round, when i cancel them surely they can't keep setting them up again!!

You are covered by the Direct Debit guarantee scheme. As such Barclays should refund your money (along with the charges) if it was taken in error.

[Pia]

Barclays did refund the money, but said i had to ask EDF for the £30, surely the bank should give me it and ask EDF for it themselves?

I shall ring the bank again first then, it's less of a headache than ringing EDF.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Pia

...surely the bank should give me it and ask EDF for it themselves?

EDF would laugh at them.

Barclays took it off you so Barclays should give it back to you, simple as that.

[bopdude]

My brother in law has just told me of something he saw on t.v. It goes along the lines of a cut off date in which to claim, i.e. if it's the 31st of March then no-one else can claim after that date, any truth in any of this ?

Thanks.

[Mr Angry]

No.

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

No.

Thanks for that Mr A

[Chimaera]

Well I got a reply from one of the Barclay's letters I sent - apologising for the fact I wasn't happy with their service and a nice leaflet outlining theit T's & C's, and a promise to be in contact again with the required information.
The other 2 letters I sent (to other Barclay's departments for other products) have so far been ignored. I await their reply with interest - I think I sent the letters about 10 days ago now.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

No.

.....but there is a worry (I'm not too sure it'll be an issue myself) that the OFT will rule that the £12 is reasonable and then banks will offer the difference between what you were charged and the £12.

When the OFT looked at it before they did include a disclaimer saying that they didn't necessarily think a court would find £12 to be the right figure so I can't see it becoming a major issue.

More over at www.moneysavingexpert.com

[Mr Angry]

The issue here is that the OFT are not the law.

Irrespective of what they, or anyone else, may say - fees which represent anything beyond the administrative costs incurred are considered a penalty and penalty fees are illegal under consumer contract law.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

The issue here is that the OFT are not the law.

Like I said I can't see it being an issue but it may be something the banks crab hold off and then try to use against people. It may make some drop out when they get a letter saying the OFT have looked at it and see £12 as reasonable but I can't see it stopping people who are determined.

[Chrysalis]

mr angry any idea why banks are picky about giving out debit cards? visa deltas which are cheque garuantees i can understand but not visa electron which isnt a form of credit at all.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Like I said I can't see it being an issue but it may be something the banks crab hold off and then try to use against people. It may make some drop out when they get a letter saying the OFT have looked at it and see £12 as reasonable but I can't see it stopping people who are determined.

I've read a few questions on the boards, so I thought I would lay out some notes on my best guess. The OFT opinion is due towards the end of March, but may fall back until the first few days in April.


FIRST THE IMPACT OF THE EXPECTED OFT ANNOUNCEMENT

I know many people are worried about the impact, and quite rightly so. Let me clarify a few things. I believe you are better to reclaim now, but by no means does this mean that you won't be able to claim after the OFT announcement.

What is likely to happen

1. New Bank Charges Dropped.

The OFT is likely to opine that it won't investigate bank charges over a certain amount - (probably £12 - £15). While it's not a ruling, this has probably been done after talks and compromises with the banks, so they will probably drop their charges to this level.

2. Banks will automatically give the difference bank on request.

From this point on, if you request a reclaim of six years charges, you are likely to automatically get back the difference between what you were charged and the new charges. E.g £35 - £15 per charge.

3. Getting ALL your money back WITHOUT going to court will be more difficult.

Because of the above situation, the banks are less likely to settle for the whole amount without more force, as they will argue that there is a settlement with the OFT.

My personal belief is the correct amount is the difference between what you were asked for and around fiver (ie £35 - £5) which is a rough compromise figure on what the charges do cost the banks.

Yet with the OFT backing, the banks are likely to stick it out for more on this, making you have to take them to the small claims court to get the full amount back.

SUMMARY SO FAR.

Just to summarise, this all means, after the OFT ruling you are MORE likely to get some money back without a fight, but LESS likely to get all your money back without a fight.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=391787,

[Chimaera]

Just as well I got my requests in then - so far two replies received the first one was non commital and said they will be writing again in due course - the second said that they will supply the requested info on receipt of a £10 payment!