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I'm at the stage where I can now start another new claim, this time against Barclaycard.
Its a bit daunting as i've not yet had to go to court (one of my ltsb ones is at that stage, but I can't afford to proceed as yet). Anyway, I may as well commence this claim - one step at a time!
I guess i'm quite lucky as I received all my statements very quickly, and i'm not missing any.
Some questions:
1. A couple of threads have mentioned an advanced spreadsheet - is there a template for this somewhere?
2. How do I work out interest they have charged me on penalties?
3. Can we claim back the more recent #12.00 charges, or only the #20.00 ones?
I have now prepared my schedule of charges + contractual interest + interest applied by BC on the charges + contractual interest on that interest (sounds confusing, but hopefully i've got it sussed).
The contractual interest I am claiming is the difference between BC's interest on purchases 24.9% and interest on cash advances 27.9% = 26.4%. This means that the total amount of charges claimed is 968.00 but the total value of my claim including contractual interest is 2,059.93 as at 21/7/07 :o
Hi guys - here is my draft prelim. If nobody has any comments beforehand, i'm going to post tomorrow lunchtime.
I consider that the regime of charges which you have applied to my credit card account is unlawful at common law, statute, and recent consumer regulations. I am therefore writing to request a refund in respect of said charges.
I further consider that your repeated representations that your charges are fair and reasonable are deceptive and that they have deceived me into agreeing to pay them. Your concealment of the true nature of your charges has prevented me from asserting my right until now.
I calculate that you have applied £968.00 in levies which I ask that you return to me.
I also claim interest at 26.4% which is the difference between the interest rate you have charged me on my purchases (24.9%) and the interest rate you have charged me for cash advances (27.9%). I believe I am entitled to this interest rate on the principal of mutuality and reciprocity. At today’s date, interest at 26.4% on ₤968.00 amounts to ₤644.13.
Further, I have calculated that the amount of interest you have applied to my account in respect of the unlawful charges amounts to ₤317.01. I have arrived at this figure by taking into consideration how much interest you have applied to my account on months where unlawful charges were applied, and calculating proportionately how much of that interest was in respect of said charges. Since this interest was applied to my account in respect of unlawful charges, I consider this amount to have been taken unlawfully and therefore also require this figure to be refunded to me. I also claim interest at 26.4% on the unlawful interest you have applied to my account, which amounts to ₤130.79.
Finally, I also claim ₤10.00 in respect of the fee I paid for my Subject access request, which would not have been necessary if you had run my account in a lawful manner.
The total amount I am claiming at today’s date is ₤2,069.93.
I attach a schedule which clearly sets out the figures I have described above.
I hope that you will enter into a sincere dialogue with me about this matter rather than merely responding with standard letters and leaflets. If you do not respond positively within 14 days, I will take further action in respect of my claim.
I look forward to receiving a cheque from you in the sum of ₤2,069.93.
Letter dated 25 July from Barclaycard stating that they are reducing my credit limit from 2,000.00 to 1,740.00 with immediate effect and stopping me from being able to withdraw cash for a minimum of 6 months.
Curiouser...
My outstanding balance has been reduced by about 300 quid to 1,649.68 (just under the new credit limit).
OK I now have a letter from them which explains where the credit has come from. As a gesture of goodwill they have credited my account with 334.00 which is the difference between the charges incurred and the current 12.00 fee.
I am going to write and say I accept that sum as partial fulfilment of my claim but not full & final settlement - and then I guess its just a waiting game to see what happens in court with the test case??
Sent rejection letter.... the one which says I accept their partial settlement offer on the clear understanding that I will pursue them for recovery of the remainder of my claim. If they do not accept my terms, they are authorised to remove the sum they have credited to my account.
Will prepare an lba tomorrow ready to go on Monday.
The total value of my claim at today's date is £2,084.80. I attach a schedule which clearly sets out the figures I have described above.
I note that on 24 July 2007 you credited my account with £344.00 with the description 'late charges refund'. As you know, I have authorised you to remove this sum from my account if you do not accept the terms of my acceptance of this amount, as outlined in my letter dated 31 July 2007. Whilst the 'late charges refund' remains in my account, the value of my claim is reduced by £334. Therefore, at today's date, the value of my claim taking into account the 'late charges refund' is £1,750.80.
hi, im in same boat as you. i added all my charges up from my b/card statements and requested £535. had not recieved reply but out of curiosity i looked on my online account and found they had refunded to my card £192. at the side it said refund for late payment charges. they still owe me the other £343. i want the rest.
should i ask for intrest on top now being as they have not given me full refund and tryin to fob me of with a less amount? and do you now what letter i have to use to say thanks for partial payment but still want rest. i have got own thread but no ones replied. thanks
No worries! I'll try to help.... but hopefully somebody else will come along soon and help you out a bit more!
They will probably write soon and say that they are prepared to pay you X amount (this will be the amount already paid in your account). If it was me, I would write back and say that I do not accept this offer, and therefore authorise them to remove this sum from the account. Then in that letter, state that I am also claiming interest. Enclose a schedule setting out all the charges and the interest (there are some template schedules in the templates section for this).
This will, in effect, still be the 'preliminary' stage of the claim since you are now claiming something different.
I can't think of any potential problems with doing it this way. But to be safe, you could just reject their offer and state that you are withdrawing your claim. Then start again with a separate 'prelim' including interest.....
Hopefully somebody wiser will clarify and give some more certain advice!
Ok, I found this on an old post courtesy of UK Aviator:
Claimant has account (A/C No-sort code) with Defendant from (Date a/copened) conducted on their standard terms and conditions. Claimant is claiming the return of (£0.00 = amount of charges claimed) taken by Defendant in charges over (X) years. The Defendant's charges are a disproportionate penalty and therefore unenforceable as they are contrary to common law. They are also invalid under the Unfair ContractsTerms Act 1977 s.4 and under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.Para.8 and sch.2.1.e.
In the event that the charges are not a penalty they are unreasonable within the meaning of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 s.15. Defendant has declined justification of charges despite repeated requests. Claimant claims interest under Sec.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at a rate of 8% a year from (Date of 1stcharge) to (Date of filing claim) of (£0.00 =The interest in the 8% spreadsheetcalculation) and also interest at same rate up to the date of judgment or earlier payment at a daily rate of (£0.00p = Amount of charges claimed x 0.00022).Amount of charges is before the court fee and 8% if your claiming that.