Financial Ombudsman - a recommendation

[BankFodder]

The Financial Ombudsman is apparently so concerned about the level of complaints re bank charges and also the lack of public confidence in his office that maybe it is about time that he was made aware of the true scale of the problem.

I would recommend that everyone writes their own letter to the Financial Ombudsman to inform him

• that they are bringing a bank charges claim against their bank

• that they are not going through the Office of the Financial Ombudsman as they have no confidence in him.

• that although he is concerned because he is receiving 150 complaints per week, The Consumer Action Group is receiving 4,000 complaints per week. In which of our two organisations does he believe the greater public confidence reposes?

This will only need a short note. It doesn't need to be expressed well or cleverly. Just send the note.

I think that it will help to make a difference

	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.

	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.

[BankFodder]

Here's the address:-

The Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London E14 9SR

or email them at:-

complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

or

Walter-merricks@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

	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.

[Glenn UK]

E-mail sent, 151 this week now!!!

[phatram]

Email sent

[phatram]

Can this thread be moved to a more prominent position?

[kateandpete]

Done

[bill-k]

E-stiffie sent - with polite suggestions !!

[cadencealex]

Do they reply?

Am I entitled to complain about the bank taking every penny that goes into my account, (child benefit and child tax credit), and that I have tried and tried to get them to reduce charges/understand I can't work as I am 8 months pregnant with twins... and that I can't feed my child as they are taking all my money?

[phatram]

I would ask here, there is something you can do, but I can't find it.
Citizens Advice corporate website - Home

[cadencealex]

Originally Posted by phatram

I would ask here, there is something you can do, but I can't find it.
Citizens Advice corporate website - Home

Thanks

I've emailed them anyway!

My baby is well fed and happy, my husband works full time... but the child tax credit we get and the child benefit... goes into my account and we don't see a penny of it!!!

For all they care, after the conversations I have had with them about bank charges... we could be starving! Their answer? Get another loan madam...

	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.

[morgan054]

Add another one to the total

[Beserker]

Me to and one to the OFT.

[bill-k]

Got a reply to mine inviting a formal complaint. Replied to that saying I declined to do so at this point, but thanks for acknowledgement & invite.

That's apoint, Beserker, maybe we should all fire one off to the OFT at the same time - it's only a couple extra keystrokes after all.

[un1boy]

Stick me down!

[notlam]

Sending mine in a mo...

[davehaley]

Sent mine off just now.

[Spiceskull]

You're right - this is something I haven't done since Easter, so a second letter of complaint will be winging it's way shortly...

[kirsty22]

Another one sent!!!!

[phatram]

Cant we somehow get all members to email the FO?

[Battleaxe]

I have just emailed the FO with a rather strongly worded email