Enough Is Enough - Settled In Full!

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 14:07

Hi all. Came across this brilliant site this week and took action to recoup all the bank charges straigtaway. My husband and I have two seperate bank accounts with Halifax and have incurred a total of £2500.00 in bank charges since September 2005! Like everyone else, I don't mind paying SOME charges - we know we are in the wrong - but not these exessive charges! Bottomline - we will not be in this situation if it wasn't for the Halifax and their charges! We do not live exessively, and count a visit to the garden centre for 'n few plants as a treat! We have two young children, and this month I am faced with having to survive on £200 from today to the end of the month. I work 20 miles from home and petrol is costing me £30.00 a week! Were does it all end? Well, enough is enough. I have sent my Data Protection Act request on Tuesday, and await a response from them. I am also proceeding to recoup charges from GE Money, Warrior Direct and Royal Bank of Scotland Visa.

The funny thing is that we would life quite comfortably if it wasn't for the charges upon charges upon charges which causes a snowball effect and leaves you in debt!

Thank you for all the good advise, which I will follow ....

Keep you posted.

MC

dave · 11th May 2006, 14:15

Yeah - very funny isn't it?

Not.

Bank have pushed far too hard - if they had kept them even 5-10 quid less, then they wouldn't have this revolt on their hands and they could probably have carried on fleecing people for years.

More fool them.

Welcome to the forum - keep us posted and good luck (you won't need it).

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 14:26

I am so outraged about all of this! In the space of two days a total of £273 has been debitted from my husband's account in charges! I have opened a new account with Barclays. Just got off the phone to my husband who is at home for lunch - despite being £500.00 overdrawn Halifax has sent me a new chequebook!!!!! - Being cut up - methinks!

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 14:28

Standard letter received from Halifax in response to my Prelim letter. Quite a good turnaround - I sent it on 9.05.06! Well, we all know what comes next ...

deemacperth · 11th May 2006, 15:44

On a lighter note, your title reminded me of a Barbra Streisand song.

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 15:51

Deffo - "I can't go on .....

Spiceskull · 11th May 2006, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by deemacperth

On a lighter note, your title reminded me of a Barbra Streisand song.

***cough cough*** Barbara Streisand AND Donna Summer (THE original Disco Queen)

deemacperth · 11th May 2006, 16:17

I stand corrected. I am only 29 after all.

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 16:26

Did not even know that one myself!

Well, I tell you this much - I don't feel like a disco queen at all - more like a low life - in debt - stressed - depressed member of the community! I just telephoned Barclays to find out what the progress is in on my bank account - was informed that my request was declined!!!! All I want is a bogstandard account - no chequebook, no overdraft - nothing! Explained that a letter coming out today will explain why. Well, can't wait for that - I need to get things in order so that our salaries will not be affected. Went online to open a Step account with NatWest - I can see that most people are taking that option. NatWest account agreed in principle - will see what is in post tomorrow ....

Our credit score is probably non-existant at this stage!

kaysamoly · 11th May 2006, 16:48

Dont mind me suggesting try NatWest step account, you can apply on line we had no problem getting one despite having bad credit rating and also there is an account the nationwide have which does not involve a credit search.

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 16:58

Thanks for the advice - yes, I have been to NatWest and it seems as if we would be ok with them.

Quick question - can someone list all the banks HBOS owns?

kaysamoly · 11th May 2006, 17:21

i know they own nat west but but we had no problem..

Mariana · 11th May 2006, 17:41

Yes, I knew they own quite a large majority of the banks now. I am one step away from keeping MY money in the cookie jar! My mum always says: "Go back to basics." - Makes me wonder sometimes ....

storm79 · 11th May 2006, 18:13

Just for info, HBOS don't own NatWest.

The parts of the group that you're interested in are:

-Halifax
-Bank of Scotland
-Birmingham Midshires
-Clerical Medical
-Intelligent Finance
-Sainsbury's Bank
-St Jame's Place Bank

kaysamoly · 11th May 2006, 19:00

Sorry for misimforming you nat west is part of the RBS group.

Mariana · 12th May 2006, 11:10

Update - after emailing AmandaBasen@halifax.co.uk (got it from Edinburghkev's thread) - with no acknowledgment, I sent a further email requesting an acknowledgment of my email. Which was replied to almost instantly advising me:" I confirm reciept of your message and confirm your request will be actioned in dure course."

Mariana · 12th May 2006, 12:19

In reply to the Standard letter received from Halifax yesterday, in which they notify me that my request will be dealt with within 4 weeks, I wrote to them as follows:-

Thank you for your letter of 10th May 2006. I note your comments about dealing with my request within 4 weeks.

However, I would draw your attention to my letter where I requested that you reply within 14 days. If I do not hear from you by then, I will initiate legal proceedings against Halifax plc to recoup these unlawful charges.

Please further note that I have also requested a breakdown of all charges from you via email, which have been incurred on both my accounts for the last 6 years. Whilst I await hearing from you in this respect, I will in the interim continue to proceed with my request that all charges made since September 2005 be returned to me.

I take this opportunity to remind Halifax plc that the fees which they have been applying to my accounts in relation to direct debit refusals, exceeding overdraft limits and so forth are unlawful at Common Law, Statute and recent Consumer regulations.

I look forward to hearing from you as a matter of urgency.

Yours sincerely

Am I on the right track?

roselyn · 12th May 2006, 23:23

Like yourself, I feel now that enough is enough. I have been going through a lengthy divorce, suffered badly at the hands of several banks, mainly the Halifax, and am being harrassed 2/3 times a day, most days including weekends and bank holidays when they say they can't wait the few weeks until I get my settlement and want an immediate payment.

I too have no money, DD haven't been paid, including our mortgage, but we have again been charged excessive fees from the banks and also now from our other lenders, car insurance, mortgage etc., you know the score.

I am so angry now that I am going to have to do something about it. I am so stressed that I burst into tears at the mere mention of finances and the CAB previously advised me to go bankrupt saying it would only stay on my records for 12 months, I don't think so, do you.

Any advice greatly appreciated and great to know we're not on our own.

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