New user.......heres my story

[caro]

Brilliant start - well done. I think I might just give them a ring. Make sure you keep going and get the rest as well though. Keep us posted.

[notsmilingnow]

Ok. Its a ln long story but i'll try to summise.

I've worked in banking, mainly mortgages for sometime. I'm 25 and over the past years have worked for Halifax, First Direct and GHL which is an company currently servicing and processing all mortgage applications and accounts for Barclays and Woolwich. I considered my self reasonably knowledgeable to choose a new bank account after not getting on with Barclays.

For some stupid reason i chose Smile and have for around 6 years been faced with charge after charge. My account currently stands at £-964.57 and i dont even have an overdraft

The reason i dont have an overdraft is because i was unemployed for a month several years ago. I missed a payment and rang asking for help. I asked for a £500 overdraft increase taking it to £1000 for 2 months. They kindly gave me that then after 1 month removed it resulting in large charges. After lots of arguing they agreed o give me back half the charges but removed my overdraft. I was now in a position to almost clear it. They removed my credit card facility and said i had to pay that back within 6 month and also suggested i take a new loan to consilidate the £100 or so pound i couldn't afford to pay on my current account. Desperate to have some money to live on i took that option.

I am now roughly £7k in debt to smile. I haven't used there account for over a year and untill last week didn't hve access to the internet so have a standing order for the loan plus £50 extra put in the smile account every month. So so many times have i had to ring because they have refused to change payment dates more than once in a year, i have again incurred charges. So i'm now up to 900 odd pounds overdrawn without knowing till last week, they are aware i did not have internet for almost a year and have not informed my by any other means. I have left messages for managers to ring me back which they never do.

Im shocked hence my user name notsmilingnow.

I've read some of the info listed on this site and it mentions that a daily interest charge is agreed and therfore not refundable. This month i have been charged £150 daily excess charge, £15 service charge and £11.49 interest. Plus as they have decided not to carry out the standing order within the account the credit card has not being paid and that itself has a £20 odd non payment fee plus interest of about £10.

Have i miss read the info on this site or can i start claiming these kind of fees?

An estimation so far but i reckon £2000 minimum just in daily excess charges plus a further £1000 in service charges and interest has been added to my account in the last 3 years. I understand you can go back through 6years?

Sorry for the long post folks i just felt i needed to get it off my chest and give some background info.

[Don Quioxte]

Hi welcome..

keep reading the various relevant threads and FAQs it really does help to settle things in your mind.

basically yes you can claim back a large portion of the fees and charges you refer to. Particularly the "daily excess charge" as this is just another unlawful charge that is punitive in nature.

Effectively smile have the right obviously to charge you interest applied on a monthly basis to your account - eg for the loan, or the amount you may be overdrawn - I see you refer to £11 interst.. this is not what you are claiming back. What you claim back are all the latepayment or missed payment charges, both on your current account and your credit card. it doesn't matter how they arose, they are unfair charges - this includes the daily excess charges.

So get your statements from the current account and credit card. highlight all the charges applied and calculate the total.. then crack on with sending your prelim letter (see the bank templates library) requesting full refund of said charges.

Good luck.. it is worth the effort my friend!

[notsmilingnow]

I'm quite well known at smile now and decided just to ring them first. I've got £720 back just by ringing. I mentioned this site and taking them to court. Lots more fees to claim from them yet. Brilliant site and thanks for the info Don.

I'll keep you all updated. Already printed 60 odd pages of my account.

Smiling a little

[sunseeker]

Keep at it mate,

Like a lot of us have said before...it's your money. Like the 'Don' says, take heart from the success the forum members have got and always keep that to mind when dealing with them. Add up your daily excess charges and service charges. Also, keep an eye out for 'commission' charges on your statement (these aren't detailed in the summary at the foot of the statement) as these refer to any 'bounced' cheques. Include these in your calculation when you get your statements through.

Happy hunting