Using Financial Ombudsman

[Nash_69]

Has anyone used the Financial Ombudsman Service to try and claim their bank charges?

I've read on some sites that they have quite a high success rate but not seen any mention of them being used on any forums

Any information anyone has on them would be much appreciated

	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.

[bottomburp]

deleted

[GuidoT]

There is a good reason why the banks say resolve your complaint through the ombudsman.

It is far more effective to claim through the courts, if you have charges to claim back, this is good place to start:
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...se-read-these/

	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]

we used this gentleman starting Aug last year. He is totally overwelmed with work so he takes months. Then I'm afraid he comes up with sujections form the bank on what the money claimedcould be. Went from £75 to 31150 to £1300 and he thought it may be a good offer. Claiming £2600. WEe thanked him for his not to good efforts and are in court 8th May.

[but6le]

we dumped them after months of wasted time.WE are in court next month