Hi All - Up Against A Brick Wall

[granvil]

Hi everyone, I'm in a situation that I'd never thought I'd find myself in and could do with some much needed friendly advice.

Ok - first part is - I'm a 53 year old single male currently unemployed due to sever sciatica (used to drive hgv's previously and earn quite a respectable income) To add insult to injury, I was also diagnosed as having sever type 2 diabetes last December. I live with my parner of six years in her housing association propery. Recently over a period of time our relationship has wained, up till yesterday when she formally served me with notice to quit her property by next month (could be the lyrics to a blues song !!! )

Second part - is that I've an active claim against my bank (NatWest) to recover all my charges that they have robbed me of over the last six years, amounting to £7300.00. I have followed all the proceedures as advised by "Moneysavingexpert.co m" to the letter, up and including an application to waive due to finacial hardship - to which their response was " you don't qualify" along with the expected "we have'nt done nothing wrong anyway" How can somebody who's only income is £150.00 per fortnight (incapacity benefit) not qualify???

Sooo, in summery - my relationship is up the Swanee, I'm broke, and have to move out by next month, all of which would not be half as frightening if the damn bank would just give me back my money - which I now no longer wish them to look after !!!!

Am I supposed to say all this here on the welcome page ??? I apologise in advance if not - very new to all this, anyway thanks for listening.

	Hardship By and large the "harship" provision in the FSA waiver is a myth which is intended to create a sense that the banking industry is sufficiently well-intentioned to act fairly towards its customers even though their right of access to the courts has been blocked. In fact there are very few guidelines as to procedure and very little definition of "hardship". One unfortunate spin off is that many people in difficulty get their hopes up and go to considerable lengths to plead hardship to their bank in order to get a refund or partial refund of their bank charges only to be refused. Neither the courts nor the FOS have the power to order a bank to make a charges refund on the basis of hardship. We hear of some people obtaining a partial refund quite easily. Others have obtained money by being very persistent - but mostly we hear that people are refused. Even benefits claimants do not automatically receive hardship refunds. By all means try to get a bank charges refund on the basis of hardship - but don't bank on it!

[yourbank]

I would send NatWest Bank another letter explaining the "new" change in circumstances. I am aware that LloydsTSB paid out part of a claim with a user of another forum on the basis that they were about to be repossessed, slightly different I know but worth at least pursuing.
And.....a Warm Welcome to CAG.

[granvil]

Thank you for your very kind welcome and for your advice too. You are right, i will send them another letter, as you say it can't hurt. Thanks again, much appreciated.