Help needed with bank error!!!

[tezl]

hi,
banks wont do anything re hardship,they wouldnt p on you if you were on fire.thats why you should not have sympothy for them.
they might deal because they are in the wrong re address buisness and other issues.try p m to saint on full story for her take on it.
hardship would only come from fos, as in letter from them.
which from this site is rare,that is why i think you are quite lucky and should try ringing bank,be firm with them,dont hold back.
tez

[saintly_1]

This was posted recently
Has any members received a letter saying no to Financial Hardship *Important*

saint

[lizzy40]

I would just like to clarifly a couple of points?

The FOS have agreed to take on my case however they called me last week to up date me as there is a large back log.

I have also received today a last reponse letter from Barclays that my account doesn't qualify under hardship as its a business acount and it only applies to personal accounts if this is correct why has the FOS taken it on?

Any ideas?

[slick132]

Hi Lizzy,

Are you sure FOS knows yours is a business a/c.

It would be rotten for you to wait for FOS to review on hardship grounds and for them to THEN refuse to fully investigate because you have business a/c.

Sorry but I don't know if what bank has said is correct - I'll try and find out for you.

[slick132]

Got this from FOS site. Read FAQ 8 on page 3 - http://www.fos.org.uk/faq/bankcharge...quickguide.pdf

If you have a look around on that site, you may find more info to help.

[lizzy40]

Sorry I haven't replied sooner.

Firstly yes the fos know its a business account.

I have a direct line with the person at the FOS who is dealing with my case so I rang her and told her about the letter quoting what Barclays had said about Business accounts and that they do not come under hardship case. She said that the FOS don't share the same view and they have already contacted Barclays the previous week regarding my case and are now waiting a reply. I said I only have till the end of the month to accept there offer what should I do and she said just hold on there are lots of talks and movement regarding how things are going and I should hear soon. I know the FOS don't rush there self but I can't afford to lose out on the offer so I will give them until the Christmas break hopfully I would have heard by then.

I also read the Fos sheet regarding business accounts you left the link for. On reading that it sounds like the banks have the best of both worlds. It's not clear and it reads like the FOS can't help much until after the test case, but I'm proof that they are helping as a hardship case. I just hope the outcome is to my advantage....

I dont think the FOS have much weight when it comes to the banking industry so we will just have to wait and see....

[slick132]

Hi Lizzy,

I hope the FOS help sort this so you are happy.

Just my opinion once more (in case I haven't made my feelings clear! lol) but you'll lose out if you take the bank's offer.

You should only accept it if you HAVE TO - if you can hang on, you'll get full settlement through FOS or Court. You may wait a while longer but you'll get all your money back.

[lizzy40]

I'm doing my best to hang it out but my financial circumstance's my dictate to what I may have to do...

[slick132]

Sure, I understand that.

Hope you hear from FOS quickly then.

[lizzy40]

Just updating my thread.

No news from the Fos or bank.

The FOS have contacted my bank regarding my complaint the last letter I had from them was on the 13 DEC so not sure how long it will take the bank to respond to the FOS. I did speak with the FOS just before Christmas because I was worried my 3 month dead line was coming up to accept there offer but the FOS said as it was in there hands the offer will still be available if it does go past the dead line date so that was good news.

Also the FOS said try and hold on as long as I can as there was lots of activity going on with the FOS and banks regarding how the banks are treating small business and apparently the FOS don't think that small business acounts should be on hold due to the reasons of the court case as it shouldn't effect small business which we all know it shouldn't but the banks are getting away with it.

[jansus]

Hi

Glad to see at least the FOS are giving you some useful information and at least your case is being looked at.

Jan

[lizzy40]

No more news from FOS or bank.

Spoke again with FOS on Monday they said they are still waiting for the bank to get back to them.

I also wrote to bank in December 2007 they haven't responed to that either.

Does anyone have any new news of business accounts / hardship?

Its a long drawn out waiting game...

[slick132]

Hi Lizzy,

Nothing new to report, really.

Business a/c cases SHOULD be getting heard in court but judges still need some persuading. And hardship cases are like rocking-horse poo !

[lizzy40]

Love your terminology very funny....

It does seem to have gone really quite!

[lizzy40]

Quick up date:

Spoke with FOS today they have just had a batch of complaints back from barclays and mine is one of them. FOS said they will have to go through the paper work and see if what Barclays are going to offer is acceptable or relevant to my complaint, I should hear hopefully this week.

FOS said that banks have to look into Business cases as its not part of the OTF's court case whether it will become part of it remains to be seen.

I did push my case under the grounds of hardship but the FOS are now saying its harder to presue. I'm getting a little confused with the whole subject one minute you can do this the next you can't. It all doesn't make sense if the FOS are saying business accounts can still challenge the banks why are courts putting them on hold.

[slick132]

Originally Posted by lizzy40

It all doesn't make sense if the FOS are saying business accounts can still challenge the banks why are courts putting them on hold.

Good point Lizzy and one that we're working on to try and get these cases unStayed.

IMHO, the hardship line was never going to be easily accepted.

Hope you hear back from them soon.