Not sure if I should go to small claims - Need advice

[Knucklehead]

Hi, Apologies as I have only found this site.
Was originally told about the bank charges by two guys in work that got theirs back after a few letters.
Was referred to the Moneysavingexpert.com site so used their letters.
The guys told me that all the fees going back 6 years were illegal and I should try to claim them back so I have gone through the statements and claimed for :-
referral charges
Quarterly fees
arrangement fees?
(didn't claim direct debit set ups or interest of overdraft).
Can I claim these fees??
The total charges were about £2300 with interest at £570 (read on this site that i shouldn't have claimed this in the letters - someone needs to tell the guy on moneysavingexpert).
The bank say all charges are above board so if I want to go further I have to go to small claims or financial ombudsman.
Are the bank allowed to charge £12 for fees. What I mean is do I need to go back through my claim and work out the difference between £12 and what I was charged and only claim that or do I go to court and ask the bank to prove what it actual costs for a referral and query the penalty fees.
Don't want to go to small claims if I am going to be easily beaten and the bank might use this against others.
I am claiming against First Trust bank in Northern Ireland so was wondering if anyone had any experience of cases against this bank or in NI.
Please help. I need to decide what to do and apologies if I have cocked up the claim process.

[dx100uk]

type in northern ireland & read a few threads
i would also carefully study the FAQ & the step by step instructions from the mainpage.you haven't done anything wrong that cannot be sortedno bank has actually gone to court so dont worry about that either.
The £12 is the Maximum suggested fee by the bank watchdog, that does not mean to say it is what the bank should adjust your refund too!
ANY fee is too high when they will not actually state how their fees are calculated, which is the point behind all claims.
[PS they are unlawful fees not illegal fees]

if you use the search facility type first trust bank
and see what others are doing.

you can claim back any thing which is a fee or charge, you cannot claim back anything labelled interest.
i would stat a new thread say 'knuclehead v first trust bank'
and see who posts to you everyone will help

lastly, welcome along!!

dx100uk

[steven4064]

Originally Posted by dx100uk

... you can claim back any thing which is a fee or charge, you cannot claim back anything labelled interest.

You can claim back that proportion of any interest that is attributable to charges. It may not be much, but it is your money

Steven

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