Your MP

[lufwa]

I emailed my MP the other day and got his response this morning. Very positive I think.

Thank you for your e-mail.

I have already signed the following Early Day Motion relating to the issue:
EDM 2227 DEFAULT BANKING CHARGES 22.05.2006

That this House notes with concern the exorbitant costs to customers of default charges applied to current and credit card accounts, which cause distress and alarm to consumers, and in particular to the financially vulnerable; welcomes the statement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that a default charge should only be used to recover certain limited administrative costs; recognises the work by Which? to challenge excessive bank charges; commends the thousands of consumers who have challenged these default charges with their providers, many using the free information made available from Which?; and calls on current account and credit card providers to respond positively to OFT's statement.

I will also write to Ministers about this.

Regards

Paul Truswell

[angeljen]

I received a reply from my MP, Mr Alan Meale, today.

He has forwarded my letter to 'Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP'.

'We' are awaiting Mr Brown's reply.

[elsinore]

Unfortunately angeljen I suspect our Gordon's got other things on his mind at the moment, like when he gets to rule the world (gnash, gnash)!!

Elsinore

[angeljen]

Everyone is stealing my thunder on CAG today...

My MP letter isn't gonna get read and I'm not going to win my case against Style.

[Steven1964]

No reply from Alisatir Darling, aprt from the usual auto reply. 19 days what a git.

[zootscoot]

Just had a response from Maria Miller.

OMG what planet is this woman on?

She states:

"Although these charges might be considered unfair, I think that the banks do need to make a charge .... I also believe that bank charges can act as an incentive for people to manage their finances responsibly, which is very important in the current climate of rising personal debt."

She is forwarding my correspondence to Alistair Darling and will write a reply again once she has received a response.

[JonCris]

Clearly an idiot who doesn't understand the concept of "unlawful" or that the banks charges simply exacerbate the situation. Most people don't mismanage their finances through choice, its circumstances. Stupid woman. Please tell me you didn't vote for her

[zootscoot]

Absolutely not!

Don't worry I'll be sending a reply putting her straight on a few things. Lol

[livity]

Originally Posted by JonCris

Here's a little tip refer to them by their 1st name Dear Fred, Tom etc. They meet & greet so many of us peasants they'll think they have already met you & respond accordingly Also don't forget to sign...........Best Regards Stan. June etc

Dear JonCris

That's a superb idea. Also, If you've got the time, it might be worth attending a surgery or two beforehand and discussing bank charges so you can say something like "thank you for taking the time to discuss unlawful bank charges with me at your surgery last month..."

One other MP-related tip - ask your MP to "raise the issue with the relevant minister". They're obliged to do so (if you ask), and it doubles (at least) the exposure of the issue.

Oops, another tip: if your MP's margin is small, mention that you consider this to be an issue that will affect the way you will vote in elections. For example, my MP (Labour) narrowly won against the Lib Dems. In my case I'd mention how impressed I've been with the Lib Dems attitude towards standing up to "big business" (a sore point with Labour MPs, particularly "old Labour", as they see themselves as the "vanguard of the popular struggle against big business"). Naturally you'll need to tailor this to your own situation.

[livity]

Originally Posted by zootscoot

Absolutely not!

Don't worry I'll be sending a reply putting her straight on a few things. Lol

BE ULTRA POLITE! But do advise her that you are unable to vote for someone who condones unlawful activities.

[lufwa]

oops

[lufwa]

The other day I received copies of letters sent to Ed Balls MP (Economic Secretary) and Ian McCartney MP (Minister of State) by my MP, Paul Truswell. Is he prompt, or what? Wonder if I'll hear anything from these other two though...

BANK CHARGES

As you will be aware, the Office of Fair Trading recently found the current level of charges applied by UK high street banks to be excessive and that a cap should be imposed. The OFT also ruled that penalty charges are illegal under the 1999 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.

You will also be aware that, despite these facts, banks continue to apply excessive charges and most customers do not question their legality. As someone who takes a very keen interest in consumer affairs issues and as a signatory of EDM 2227 this, the fact that banks are making around £3 billion a year from excessive illegal charges, concerns me deeply.

Please find enclosed an email I received from a constituent, who shares my aversion to these excessive charges. I would be very grateful if you could respond to the specific points she raises. I look forward to hearing from you.

[JonCris]

Well done! Mr Truswell

[kevb0444]

Hi all...in follow up to my last post...
My MP wrote to Ed Balls MP Economic Secretary to the Treasury, raising my concerns. This is the responce he got back....

Ed Balls MP
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guard Road
London
SW1A 2HQ

Tony Wright MP
20 Church plain
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR30 1NE

16/09/06

Dear Tony

Thank you for your letter of 1 August enclosing correspondence from your constituent XXXX about bank charges. I am replying as I have Ministerial responsibility for heis policy area.

I am sorry to hear XXXX’s concerns about bank charges.

The setting of charges and their application is a commercial decision for each individual bank. However, it is clearly important to customers and businesses are aware of the charges they face. The Banking Code sets standards of good banking practice for the banks and is the subject of independent review.

The banking Code requires that signatories give their customers details of any charges for the day-to-day running of their accounts when they open it, that they inform their customers personally if they increase any of these charges or introduce a new charge and sets notice periods before changes are made to terms and conditions. The signatories are also required to tell customers the charge for any other service or product before they provide that service or product, and at any time the customer asks.

With regard to the terms and conditions that set out these default charges, your constituent may be aware that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been investigating credit card default charges. As a result of this investigation, the OFT wrote to leading banks in 2005 and argued that the bank’s credit card default charges were excessive, challenging the fairness based on existing rules set out in the “Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999”. The OFT have recently issued a further statement, setting out their views. The OFT recognize that there is a read across from credit cards to other default charges in consumer contracts such as bank overdrafts and mortgages.

The OFT statement also contains immediate advice for consumers. It makes the position clear. In particular that while the OFT have set out their views that does not have the force of a court decision. Customers contemplating legal action need to take their own legal advice.

In addition, all banks in the UK are required to follow prescribed complaints procedures for their customers. Unsatisfied customers are able to make a formal complaint to the bank concerned.

Please pass on my thanks to XXXX for taking the trouble to make me aware of these concerns.

Yours sincerely

Ed Balls MP

Ok...not sure what to make of it....i'll leave it to you guys...

[zootscoot]

Looks like a severe case of sitting on the fence to me!

[elsinore]

He's reciting The Chums' Mantra.

Elsinore

[guinness]

Seems like he is talking a lot of balls !!!!!
Ed Balls that is