I initially applied online for the statements and got a letter saying its £5.00 for a single statement and £10 for multiple ones. So no difference in the costs between this and a DPA request EXCEPT that they have 40 days under the DPA and they can take ANY timescale they want to supply you with duplicate statements. Use the DPA otherwise your potential claim could take months and months with no way of speeding up the process

My understanding is exactly the same as yours: 1) The info was NOT personal and therefore was relevant to the case of the Company 2) The 40 days starts ticking from when they actually receive the request This link I think clarifies it (Section 7 part 10) http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1998/80029--b.htm#7

I've done both. Interestingly enough I recieved a reply within 3 days from Sheena Small confirming they had recieved my web request and can I send them £10 for multiple statements £5 for a single.Have not replied to this but sent a DPA instead As of yet (5th May) not even an acknowledgement for the DPA request.I sent it recorded delivey and have electronic proof of receipt etc..from Royal Mail. Looks like they are delaying as much as they can the DPA's as I think they realise these are the one's where further action will take place. Can't wait to fill in all those numbers on the spreadsheet!!

Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement...it indeed is daunting without support. The more I look into this the more it becomes apparent that ALL the banks are the same. A quick look at some of the comparisons on charges between the banks show that the level of penalty charges are almost uniform throughout the industry. Also reading numerous threads they all seem to act in exactly the same way.I can see that there is no bank that is better or worse in the way it acts....only on how it deals with our claims !! Does this not smack of a cosy Cartel arrangement? I can't believe that because of the diversity in size , organisational breakdown and all the other variables between all of the banks that the charges in any shape or form reflect the TRUE costs to them of administering the return of cheques,DD bounces etc....and yet charges do get refunded at a stroke when it suits them but only as a "goodwill gesture". This leads me to suspect that there actually is hardly ANY cost to them at all but purely excessive profiteering on their part. I can understand that the charges are set at the level to deter people from badly managing their accounts but then to show no real concern of how their charges escalate the problem and then do nothing about it is frankly disgraceful. I for one would quite happily pay the true costs but not one bank has EVER detailed them anywhere as far as I know and if they are not prepared to do so then then I have no sympathy for them. Along with many others I thought long and hard about taking action considering that it was my fault. However had the charges not been so punitive and the bank more understanding then the problem and probably this group would not have existed in the first place. Through their own actions they have created this action group and they are now reaping the reward for that which they have sown (to paraphrase:)). So to everyone here ,best of luck with your claims ,thanks for all the support and I'll keep you posted on what happens.

I came across this group via Red Issue (a Man Utd forum) by accident and I'm so glad that I did. I think that like the vast majority of us here we accepted all the charges because we felt that we were "to blame" in some way or another and I suppose I am. Before this group I'd noticed that sometimes nearly half of what had been going into the account monthly had been taken in various charges and that it was becoming increasingly more difficult to pay the bills AND their charges. I contacted them a few times regarding this but got the usual answer...you need to control your money , the charges are fair and non refundable etc..... Everything was brought to a head when they suddenly withdrew the O/D facility WIYHOUT NOTICE. I telephoned them to query this and was told there was a problem on the 1st of May and a number of accounts lost their O/D in error. All would be fine they said the O/D would be reinstated and all charges would be refunded as a goodwill gesture(ha!!). I checked overnight only to find this had not happened and this time was told that the account is now referred to Debt Management.Absolutely NO record of the previous days conversation was on the system (very conveniently) Apparently the O/D would never have been renewed since Nov last year had I applied. Why didn't they inform me of this earlier ? I have to return the Electron Cards and cheque books to a local branch where they will then allow me £200 "overcash" and reinstate the O/D to be paid back over 12 months. Why do they need to cause this embarassment ? Can't they just cancel the cards? The cheque book is almost useless without a guarantee card anyway. The lady said the these are the rules and must be strictly adhered to. There is NO leeway......these are THEIR rules and now I feel its time to start playing by mine with the help of this group. Interestingly enough when I questioned the charges I was referred to their Customer Complaints Dept but the lady did say that all the charges are fair because they are all assessed and entered MANUALLY and NOT computer generated (Is this their new defence for the level of charges?) (hahaha!!! can you IMAGINE the size of that team?)) If they had not applied these charges then: A) There would be NO O/D B) No mortgage (with the Abbey unfortunately) arrears either. At the moment I am angry and extremely worried at the same time but I have opened a STEP account with Nat West where all money will be paid into (at least I retain some better control.) The DPA letter is in the post (recorded) At last I feel that there is a way out from the rapacious greed that surrounds all financial institutions at the expense of ordinary people like ourselves. Will keep you all posted as to the progress. Again thanks for a great supportive site its good to feel you're not alone in all of this. Once the matter's settled I'll donate what I can to help the cause.