Financial Ombudsman - a recommendation

[Battleaxe]

Simon,

we agree with you. Long gone are the days when titles like these instill any confidence. Those of us who are 'old' campaigners realised these people are NEVER to be trusted and yes they will try to manipulate people, but sadly for them, it isn't going to happen, no matter what designation they use. For me ever to believe any of these institutions again, the letter would have to come from the Chairman of the Board of Directors and that will never happen.

[Struggling_Simon]

isn't a huge cop out on the part of FOS? i.e

We can investigate wrongdoing but not enforce anything, We can't investigate any wrongdoing if it is being enforced by other methods.

How much does this organisation get from the banks for doing absolutely nothing? Seeming enough to pay high-heid-yins 65K a year for 11 meetings.

	The Financial Ombudsman Service For the most part, don't bother. The Ombudsman is an industry arranged service which is under-resourced, takes too long, lacks clear transparency. You have no idea what evidence the FOS has received from the bank or how your complain has really been handled. The FOS is the preferred complaints route for the banking industry. The county court is to be preferred by consumers for its speed, openness, the quality of its awards and also because it will award 8% interest on top of any damages won by you. The Ombudsman should normally be used to solving little technical difficulties or customer service problems which you have expereinced with your bank.

[but6le]

having used the FOB we were so disapointed with their effort we decided to go alone, with help from a certain web site.
go for it alone its more fun with gain in sight.

[steppenwolfe]

My letter today to the financial ombudsman:
(cc The Guardian, & Here). I will keep people posted of the outcome

30 April 2007

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have recently written to the NatWest bank. On 11/04/2007 I wrote regarding my bank account with them (XXXXXXXX held at XXXXXXXXXX branch) and on 03/04/2007 regarding bank account XXXXXXXX held at XXXXXXXXX branch). Both these letters were final letter before action and gave notice that after 14 days had elapsed I reserved the right to institute proceedings without further notice for return of illegally taken bank charges in the past six years.

Having heard nothing from them, I telephoned Their customer relations department (0208 236 8007) on 20/04/2007 @15:30 and spoke with a chap called Alan. I asked if they would be meeting my claim. To which I was given no specific answer, only that their aim was to respond to all claims within 'the 56 day FSA guidelines' (not indicating whether the claim would be met in full at that time or not).

Surely, given that the reputation of these financial institutions is suffering badly due to their illegal activities being exposed (indeed I recently heard it subsinctly expressed by a friend of mine as 'banks in this country suck the sweat off a dead man's b*****ks'!). Isn't it about time that someone with a bit of authority suggested that they meet the 14 day deadline given in letters before action rather than meet some arbitry 56 day deadline. That way they might actually have a chance of not be seem as financial pariahs and restore their tattered, tawdry reputation instead of being repeatedly dragged through the courts by dissatisfied customers.

It would appear to any reasonable man that there is a distinct lack of common sense, control or regulatory authority over these financial institutions while the guidence that they are given is at odds with legal reality. I just thought I ought to point this out in the hope that you will actually do something about this situation.

Yours sincerely

	Small Claims kit by Lawpack Sue your bank as many times as you like with just one Small Claims kit by Lawpack. Follow this link to read the review. The kit contains everything you need: instruction manual, templates, examples, forms and a comprehensive CDRom. Applies to England and Wales

	Bank Charges You should have started your claim for your bank charges by now. Don't wait. You should send your bank a Subject Acess Request asking for all personal data they hold on you - not just statements. You should calculate all of your bank charges and related interest as far back as 1995. You should send your bank a demand for a refund giving them 7 days. You should commence your legal action adding 8% statutory interest. If you wait for the outcome of the test case, you may not be able to claim like this. you may not be able to claim interest. You may only be offered the difference between the charge and the OFT "fair charge". The repayment scheme will try to limit you to refinds from 2001 only. A repayment scheme will not deal with any bank charges related defaults on the credit register whereas in a court action you can ask for these to be removed and to be compensated for the damage caused to you and your family by them. You should also write to the bank and to the CRA and put all charges related credit entries in disupte and warn them that you will want them removed from the Register when the test case is over. Warn them also that you are likely to be seeking compensation for these wrongful data entries. Full and final settlement Have you previously accepted a partial repayment of your bank charges in full settlement? You will still be able to claim the rest of your money back after the Test case is decided. Get all your information back to 1995 and put in your claim now.

[Pliny the Penuriosus]

Please remember that the FO when requesting a bank to settle does not include interest owed. "Not within their remit".

	Are you letting your bank keep your money Are you giving away thousands of pounds?? Many people aren't claiming all of the money they are entitled to when they make their bank charges claims. You have been forced to pay unfair bank charges. Have you forgotten that your bank has charged you inteest on those charges? If you are overdrawn and the bank owes you charges - then your overdraft is made up of charges - money which you bank owes you. Yet you are paying interest to the bank - on your own money!!! Follow this link to see the discussions on this. You might even double th size of your claim.

[notlam]

Thanks for your suggestion, Lokiy2j.

So simple. Why didn't I think of that?

[Bookworm]

Now, folks, if you will check this chap's posts, you will see they are all in the same vein, so please don't feed him, if we all ignore him, he'll soon get bored. Now THAT's consumer power.

[dannyg888]

one thing really gets me with the bank charges
and thats customers who do not learn from their mistakes
]
see youre all expecting to get money back for being charged but you need to look at why you got charged in the first place. and the bottom line is you cant manage your finances but for some chases its understandable eg standing order/direct debit went out when it shouldnt have.

but back on to learning, if the bank charge was set at 10 pound everyone will be going overdrawn and wont give a dam but being set at 30 pounds youre meant to be learning from a mistake. its like getting a speeding ticket or parking on double yellas when you get that fine you wont do it again will ya and anyway i cant see the banks losing but if they do youll all have to start paying for your accounts which will upset many people and more than likely cost alot more than one or two charges

-danny-

	Fight a Motoring Ticket kit Follow this link to read the review of the "Fight a motoring ticket" kit by Lawpack. Everything you need to challenge your motoring ticket. Most motoring tickets go unchallenged. Most which are challenged are challenged successfully.

	The Direct Debit Guarantee • The Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that take part in the Direct Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and protected by your own Bank or Building Society. • If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, we will notify you three working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. • If an error is made by us or by your Bank or Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing your Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of your letter to us. This is a term of your banking contract and you can sue on it.

	Bank Charges You should have started your claim for your bank charges by now. Don't wait. You should send your bank a Subject Acess Request asking for all personal data they hold on you - not just statements. You should calculate all of your bank charges and related interest as far back as 1995. You should send your bank a demand for a refund giving them 7 days. You should commence your legal action adding 8% statutory interest. If you wait for the outcome of the test case, you may not be able to claim like this. you may not be able to claim interest. You may only be offered the difference between the charge and the OFT "fair charge". The repayment scheme will try to limit you to refinds from 2001 only. A repayment scheme will not deal with any bank charges related defaults on the credit register whereas in a court action you can ask for these to be removed and to be compensated for the damage caused to you and your family by them. You should also write to the bank and to the CRA and put all charges related credit entries in disupte and warn them that you will want them removed from the Register when the test case is over. Warn them also that you are likely to be seeking compensation for these wrongful data entries. Full and final settlement Have you previously accepted a partial repayment of your bank charges in full settlement? You will still be able to claim the rest of your money back after the Test case is decided. Get all your information back to 1995 and put in your claim now.

[phatram]

Originally Posted by dannyg888

one thing really gets me with the bank charges
and thats customers who do not learn from their mistakes
]
see youre all expecting to get money back for being charged but you need to look at why you got charged in the first place. and the bottom line is you cant manage your finances but for some chases its understandable eg standing order/direct debit went out when it shouldnt have.

but back on to learning, if the bank charge was set at 10 pound everyone will be going overdrawn and wont give a dam but being set at 30 pounds youre meant to be learning from a mistake. its like getting a speeding ticket or parking on double yellas when you get that fine you wont do it again will ya and anyway i cant see the banks losing but if they do youll all have to start paying for your accounts which will upset many people and more than likely cost alot more than one or two charges

-danny-

One thing that really gets me is how people in this country can leave school unable to spell or punctuate correctly !

	Fight a Motoring Ticket kit Follow this link to read the review of the "Fight a motoring ticket" kit by Lawpack. Everything you need to challenge your motoring ticket. Most motoring tickets go unchallenged. Most which are challenged are challenged successfully.

	The Direct Debit Guarantee • The Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that take part in the Direct Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and protected by your own Bank or Building Society. • If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change, we will notify you three working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. • If an error is made by us or by your Bank or Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing your Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of your letter to us. This is a term of your banking contract and you can sue on it.

	Bank Charges You should have started your claim for your bank charges by now. Don't wait. You should send your bank a Subject Acess Request asking for all personal data they hold on you - not just statements. You should calculate all of your bank charges and related interest as far back as 1995. You should send your bank a demand for a refund giving them 7 days. You should commence your legal action adding 8% statutory interest. If you wait for the outcome of the test case, you may not be able to claim like this. you may not be able to claim interest. You may only be offered the difference between the charge and the OFT "fair charge". The repayment scheme will try to limit you to refinds from 2001 only. A repayment scheme will not deal with any bank charges related defaults on the credit register whereas in a court action you can ask for these to be removed and to be compensated for the damage caused to you and your family by them. You should also write to the bank and to the CRA and put all charges related credit entries in disupte and warn them that you will want them removed from the Register when the test case is over. Warn them also that you are likely to be seeking compensation for these wrongful data entries. Full and final settlement Have you previously accepted a partial repayment of your bank charges in full settlement? You will still be able to claim the rest of your money back after the Test case is decided. Get all your information back to 1995 and put in your claim now.

[JonCris]

phatram Also will someone tell dannyg that banks can't 'punish' anyone please

Also danny seems to be another advocate of 'rob the poor to feed the rich'

Incidently only an idiot now thinks there is now or there has ever been such a thing as 'free' banking.........That myth was debunked ages ago

[slick132]

Danny is clearly Trolling, here and elsewhere on the site.

Just ignore

[JonCris]

slick I love trolls .................They are the only one's the Mods let us insult with impunity

[slick132]

JC,

Instead of insulting Trolls, take a peek at Danny's homepage on his user CP. He's Administartor of a site with..................26 members !

You'll be able to read about "How to Kiss", "Sex as a Student" and "Do u Smoke".

Bless, no wonder he has to get out sometimes.

[JonCris]

Oh my gawd noooo ..............I'm off to join up..........see you soon........after I pee him awrf

[JonCris]

Naw I'm back.....decided life's to short to go chasing trolls, I'll let him come to me.......anyway I already know how to smoke, kiss & have sex & not only with a students either

[slick132]

I was wondering earlier if Administrator Danny had taken the time to consider how unwise it might be to upset users on a serious (ish) forum which has 176,000+ users.

We could certainly help them increase the record max no. on forum at one time - current record 8 on one day !

In fact, I sure we could blow his server with one concerted effort.

[Beserker]

A DNS attack?, naughty slick