I'm with RBS and have a 600 quid overdraft facility (I'm only 18, and the lure was too much. How I regret it.)

Due to an addiction to internet shopping and eBay my overdraft has reached the sickening level of 1,138.33.

Due to me being unable to pay some requested PayPal payments I have amassed charges of some 36 GBP a go.

I have counted 521 GBP charges in a space of two days that seem unfairly excessive and most of which are due to unsuccessful PayPal payments.

I need help, what do I do next? I'm at my wits end, and I'm really frightened of what could come of this.

Thanks.

Hey suede. Fear not, this isn't the end of the world. The 521 quid will come in handy in reducing that overdraft and you will obviously need to aim to get it under the 600 quid mark in order to stop from getting any more charges.

I would imagine that there may be other charges further in the past that may increase this estimate so that might help but you will have to try and curb your ebay obsession at least for the time being in order to get back in the agreed overdraft

First things first, have a read of the step by step guide here...

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faqs-please-read-these/25457-guide-reclaiming-bank-charges.html

If you have your statements for all the months you have been charged, you won't need to do the first stage (SAR) but do check you have all your statements as otherwise you might be missing some charges off. Also bear in mind you might be able to get hold of your charges from online banking as they go back a fair way.

Once you have your statements, you could have a read through this...

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/royal-bank-scotland/42749-bit-help-you-rbos.html

...I wrote up to help people identify what they can claim back and what they can't.

You may also want to send your bank a letter to tell them that the account is in dispute, that will ensure that the bank doesn't refer your account to a debt collection agency or take any further action against you until your complaint has been resolved. I shall find a link to a relevant letter for you later (in work atm and all my links are at home).

Lastly, if you are in a position where your income is being swollowed up by your overdraft every month, you could consider opening another account with someone else, transferring your income into their for the time being allowing your other account to "rot" until you have successfully claimed your charges back. Be aware though, that you should be seeking a basic account (ie without a switch card) as it would only be a temporary measure and you don't want to be credit scored in your current predicament.

Cheers for the help, pal.

I've found another 30 quid in charges to bring the total claim to 551 GBP which will bring me within my overdraft limit and free from further charges from the scumbags.

Do you anticipate their being any charges from further back??

No problems with the advice, any more questions, fire away.

The links for the Spreadsheets under the step by step guide don't work for me...??

Help appreciated.

BTW, I'm trying to download the 'Scotland - Simple' spreadsheet.

Also, rather confused by something else:

On the Prelim letter it says the following, "I calculate that you have taken XXXXXX plus XXX which you have charged in overdraft interest for the sum which you have taken."

It's the interest bit I'm lost at. I have looked at my statement and it says I was charged 3.49 in interest. Is this what I put in the second space?

Kind of confused with the 8% interest that I have noticed in other threads. Should I claim this? I really want the charges back with as little hassle as possible, I'm really naive when it comes to banking and most of the terms fly straight over my head.

Really sorry for the persistently stupid and ignorant questions.

Use the one I link to in the RBS charges bit...

Bump

bump what?

Asked a question about the 8% interest but it's OK now, got it sorted. Sorry.

Oh yeah misesd that bit sorry. Only once you go to court yeah??