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I've been following this site for a while considering my options. I have most of my statements from BOS for my joint account stored online on their online banking website. So today I printed all the statements I had and totalled up charges of £682 in about 11 months.
I've written a preliminary letter to my branch asking for these charges to be refunded and sent it recorded delivery today.
I also have my own personal account, for which i plan to request statements for the last 5 years as i am certain this will be a four figure sum. However I thought it would be a wise move to open another account with a different bank first before I further any action on this account.
I'm probably just like everyone else here and have become frustrated at my bank's aggresive charging policy and have just had enough. Since the merger with Halifax I have found BOS very unreasonable and impossible to deal with.
No decent response from BOS from preliminary letter other than usual standard letter saying my complaint has been sent to customer services etc etc....
I have received a reply from BOS. This claim was for my joint account and I also sent a DPA request letter in relation to my personal account (clocks v BOS#2).
I received a reply 20/5/06 from BOS. They have combined my two request (lba and DPA requests) and replied on behalf of both of them it seems.
They batter on about extra costs incurred blah blah blah. Then "Ultimately it is your responsibility to manage your account. However, as a gesture of goodwill I am prepared to refund £700 of charges in Full and final settlemwnt of your complaint. I must stress that future valid charges will stand and we reserve the right to close your account if you do not manage it correctly....."
They have also provided me with statements for my personal account as requested until May 2004 but have given me a list of charges since then. I've totalled them up and my claim is for £2086. If you add my claim for my joint account £818 then my total is £2904. That works out at 24% they are offering.
However, if the £700 offered is solely for my joint account (LBA issued asking for £800 approx) then I would be willing to accept it but I doubt it. I will phone them on Monday to find out.
I have gained some confidence now - I don't think they would have offered me £700 if they thought they were in the right?
Phoned bank today (Monday). I told them I would not be accepting their offer of £700. It was then upped to £1400. I have not accepted or refused this yet as it is a lot of money to me. Basically its approximately 50% of what I have been charged for both my accounts since 2002.
I'm edging towards the opinion of refusing and continuing my claim - especially after re-reading Candice's posts. I am prepared to go to court but it will take 2 small claims to only match the £1400 already offered.
I'm really in 2 minds here, so any advice or support would be appreciated.
You know its up to you, but I woudln't take it personally, £3000 is alot of dosh...however you are inscotland so you will be a bit longer in claiming
I received my updated offer of 1400 squid yesterday. After much thought decided that it wasn't enough.
I phoned BOS today and said in view of the total amount of charges (£3K) that I didn't feel the offer was enough and that I wanted the figure to be in my favour - that i wouldn't settle for less than £2K. That's about 2/3 of what i was owed.
I was quite surprised when the guy at BOS said ok.
So I will be accepting £2k out of a possible £3k claim. I do admire you guys who can go all the way in Scotland through the small claims court at £750 a time but I feel that I have to accept this offer. After all, £2k is 3 and a bit small claims. Plus I'm pratted and I need a fighting fund to go after my credit card companies now.
So thanks to all you guys here for the motivation and encouragement and I will be donating when they cough up the cash.
I received my updated offer of 1400 squid yesterday. After much thought decided that it wasn't enough.
I phoned BOS today and said in view of the total amount of charges (£3K) that I didn't feel the offer was enough and that I wanted the figure to be in my favour - that i wouldn't settle for less than £2K. That's about 2/3 of what i was owed.
I was quite surprised when the guy at BOS said ok.
So I will be accepting £2k out of a possible £3k claim. I do admire you guys who can go all the way in Scotland through the small claims court at £750 a time but I feel that I have to accept this offer. After all, £2k is 3 and a bit small claims. Plus I'm pratted and I need a fighting fund to go after my credit card companies now.
So thanks to all you guys here for the motivation and encouragement and I will be donating when they cough up the cash.
Wow. That's a new development for sure. They tend to stick to their 12.7$ + 25$ formula (i.e. offer low, then more). Mind, your offers seem different to the pattern seen previously anyway!
Bank of Scotland - £4000+ returned. Scottish resident, scottish accounts, but it's Halifax Bank of Scotland now, so took 'em to court in Halifax. One small claims, one defence filed, one refund of all charges + interest! Done and dusted.
Next - Capital One
Since my last post I have not yet received the improved offer yet by post. I phoned yesterday (Tues) and the lady said it would be sent out in a few days.
Seems they might be a little busy at the moment methinks!
clocks & BOS
I have found BOS very unreasonable and impossible to deal with.
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