I just wanted to say a couple of things here where everyone who will benefit from them the most will see them.

My Wife Mahala discovered this site in early May. We both joined and started looking around. We were amazed at some of the stories we were reading, and at the gargantuan struggles that people were putting up against the banks and just about everything else that moved. One of the first things we read was the FAQ; well, we TRIED to read the other stuff but didn't understand a word of most of it so read the FAQ and then read around...

So anyway, we both set out to following the process. I don't think we actually BELIEVED that we could get anything back... not for a while. We started to learn. REALLY learn, about some of the issues surrounding purchases, bank charges, credit cards, debt collection agencies... you name it, it's all here. And now, if you look at my tag-line, you'll see that First Direct paid me back £878.56p as a result of my sticking to my guns. Mahala will likely be receiving her first offer soon.

This site has enriched me, and I'm not talking about money. It's enriched me with knowledge of how to deal with large corporate entities who try to bully us. It's enriched me with a feeling that I actually do have power. I can change the way "it" works. It's enriched me by giving me a place to run to for help if the Blue Meanies come for me. It's also given me a fantastic opportunity to help other people - which I love doing.

I have made a small donation to help the site along; it's being run by people who have precious little money of their own and the massive uptake of this site has been costing them hand over fist. I want this site to stay here so I have given them some of what I got back. If you want to thank someone for this place, then thank Dave and Bankfodder, the owners. Also, the moderator team who are very small (only about 20 maximum and yes I'm guessing) against 30,000 users or more. These people devote hugely inordinate amounts of their time to this site, to YOU and your claim. My thanks, anyway, are heartfelt.

New people, start your engines; it's sometimes a rough ride, but you WILL be vindicated in the end.

Here's what you need to do......

1. Read the FAQ section in full.

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/68-faqs/

2. Post a quick hello in this section (Welcome to our forum) and introduce yourself. If nothing else, it will show you how to start a new thread and respond to other posts.

3. When you are ready, having read the FAQ section, post a new thread in the forum of the bank or credit card company you are taking on. It's probably best to title that thread;

"[user name] v [bank name]" - i.e. Smith v Halifax

4. Ask pertinent and thoughtful questions after you've read the FAQ's. And avoid making comments which implicate the banks in criminal activity; these would be seen as libellous. Words such as "thief" and "stolen" are examples of what NOT to say.

5. Yes, this stuff DOES apply to you. Yes, you CAN reclaim your charges, even if the account's closed, even if the charges were your own fault in your eyes, etc etc etc. (This is for when you ignore point 4).

6. To quote a well-known member here, "there is no number 6". Do your thing