Just donated £100 (5%). 5% seems to be what people are donating. Hope this is ok. Will keep an eye on RBS threads and give advice if I can. Thanks, Andy

--

Are you asking whether to include referral charges? If so then definitely include them. The charges on my statements were either: UNPAID DD CHARGE MAINTENANCE CHARGE or REFERRAL CHARGE Most of them were for £20, £30, £40, £60. It soon adds up when you get going. I would just write them all down with the date of the charge first and then enter them in the spreadsheet that you can download from here. The 8% APR column will increase each time you open the spreadsheet (ie. using todays date on you computer so if it's different than last time don't be surprised). Each time you send a letter just ask for the amount plus interest in your spreadsheet on that date. Also add on any other costs like court costs or recorded delivery. Use guaranteed next day as you can claim this back from the bank anyway. I would also add a bit for the time you spend (eg. £xx per hour) but don't itemise it just include it as additional costs. If you look at my thread (RBS & going to court) there are some examples of the letters I've sent. Here's my first one: [Your Address] Date: 27/05/06 Royal Bank Of Scotland {Branch address} Request for repayment of charges Dear Sir/Madam, ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXXXX My request I am writing to ask you to refund to me the charges which you have levied from my accounts over the last 6 years. I now understand that the regime of fees which you have been applying to my accounts in relation to direct debit refusals, exceeding overdraft limits and so forth are unlawful at Common Law, Statute and recent Consumer regulations. Your responsibilites I would draw your attention to the terms of the contract which you agreed to at the time that I opened my accounts. It is an implied term of that contract that you would conduct yourselves lawfully and in a manner which complies with UK law. I am frankly shocked that you have operated my accounts in this way as I had always reposed confidence in your integrity and expertise as my fiduciary. What I require I calculate that you have taken £XXXX in charges from the above accounts plus overdraft interest. My targets to resolve this matter I hope that you will enter into a sincere dialogue with me about this matter and I am writing this letter to you on the assumption that you will prefer to do this than merely respond with standard letters and leaflets. I will give you 14 days to reply to me accepting unconditionally my request in principle and letting me know a date by which I will receive payment. If you do not respond or you do not respond positively within this time period, I shall send you a letter before action giving you a further 14 days in which to reflect. I believe that these targets are more than sufficient for a large company such as yours with dedicated staff and departments. After that will be no further communication from me and I shall issue a claim at the expiry of the second deadline. Your’s faithfully, [Your Name] **good luck. It may take a few months but it will be wort it!** Andy

Great news - another winner!!! I received a cheque this morning - the day after the court hearing date for the full amount. I had a stressful morning on Thursday the day before the hearing was due at 12PM on the 13th October (Friday!). I had been tracking my first class recoreded delivery letter to Cobbett's with Royal Mail and they said it still hadn't been delivered. I decided to phone Cobbett's just so I could explain that I had sent a reply in case it went to Court. As it turned out this was a great excuse (and time) to phone them (I didn't really want to phone them just to negotiate). Incidentally, I was in my car at work and I didn't have any details with me or a pen and I was trying to remember phone numbers that my wife was giving me over the phone while my battery was running out. I finally got through to the correct department and they said they were about to write to me offering me the full amount. They said they would be writing/faxing the court to ask that the hearing be vacated. They asked me to do the same. I agreed and soon after the battery ran out on my phone. Once I had found someone with a phone charger and got a pen I phoned the court and they said I could hand deliver the letter that evening and I should mark the hearing date and time clearly on the outside of the envelope. I now have a notice of discontinuance form from Cobbett's that I need to send off. In their letter it states that I should not disclose details of the payment to any third party. Should I sent a letter stating that I don't agree to this? I think I've seen letters with things crossed out, etc. I will check what other people have done. Thanks to the Consumer Action Group and everyone who has given advice and moral support. Not forgetting Martin Lewis's fantastic website that pointed me in the right direction. I will be sending my donation soon.

I don't think it makes that much difference where you send it. If you send it to your branch they will still get it. I've had no problem doing this.

Just take them to court using the moneyclaim website! I wouldn't mess about with their customer complaints dept. They are just trying to delay and fob you off. Send them a letter before action (LBA) if you haven't already and follow this up with the court action. This will set the timesacles for your claim as they have to respond within 14 days etc. You will probably get the same standard letters from them and then their Solicitors after the court action has started. Accept any lower offers only as part settlement and wait until they offer you the full amount. They do not want to go to court! Look at some of the other **settled in full** threads in the Royal Bank of Scotland forum on this site. I would send the letters recorded delivery so they can't say they haven't received them. I've had endless messing around with this so far - including a letter saying they haven't received a special delivery letter two weeks after I sent it.

Thanks for the advice. Sent the letter recorded first class today. Have got all the information about going to court and read through it so I understand the arguments. Will have to prepare some details to take to court with me. I would welcome the opportunity to negotiate with them so I may phone them after I've checked receipt of my letter with Royal Mail. Obviously I won't accept less than the full amount.

Am I surprised? No. I just find Cobbetts tactics unbelievable. I have just received a letter 7 days before the Court date asking for a response to their last letter that offered me £1,100. I now have a further 7 days to reply. This is their letter: _______________________________________ We refer to our letter of 18 September 2006, a copy of which is attached, and note that we have not yet heard from you. We should be grateful for your response and we look forward to hearing from you within the next 7 days. _______________________________________ I sent my response by Royal Mail guaranteed next day before 1pm delivery to arrive on 26th September. I have checked on the Royal Mail website and got an electronic receipt showing the signature and stating that the letter was delivered before the guaranteed time. I have now sent a follow up response (recorded delivery) as follows: ________________________________________ Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your letter dated 5th October 2006. Please find enclosed a copy of my original letter dated 23rd September 2006. This was sent as a Royal Mail gauranteed next day delivery before 1pm on 26th September 2006. I have enclosed the electronic proof of delivery for the letter showing a signature and name. I respectfully decline your offer of settlement and request that you refund to me all charges that have been taken from my account now totaling £1912.27. I also request that you refund to me additional costs incurred in pursuing this claim now totalling £228.20. The amount of my claim now stands at £2140.47. I will accept the sum offered only as part settlement and on the clear understanding that I will pursue recovery of the remainder in the County Court if necessary. I trust this clarifies my position. Yours faithfully,

I had a letter returned because I got the address slightly wrong. This was because the moneyclaim automatic address system came up with the RBS next door to my bank that only dealt with commercial customers. They can't keep ignoring you forever. I would still be patient though, I wouldn't have expected them to have replied yet anyway. Why not phone them up to see if they have it - it may prompt them to reply to you.

You could open an Alliance & Leicester account. See moneysavingexpert.com\Loans & Banking. I've just opened one ready to transfer my 'lump sum' from RBS when I get it! Just before taking court action against RBS my 'OH' and I transferred all our direct debits & standing orders to a joint account we already had (coincidentally with First Direct). I now just use the RBS account for any additional spending I have, but as soon as my A&L account is up and running I'll use that and take advantage of the free overdraft etc if I stray into the red for a few days. I would make sure you have a different account set up just in case! I'm sure I've seen some information on the site about parachute accounts - try searching for this. Also look at the First Direct forum to see what their tactics are expected to be from other peoples experiences. Not sure if you can stop them closing your account. I'm sure you can claim for any money they still owe you even after they close it though.

That makes me feel a lot better. I'll register for this soon. Has anyone been to Court yet? It looks like most of the people have settled out of Court! Thanks.

Cheers Clint, I sent this letter to Cobbett's today! (based on template letter 'Rejection of settlement offer'). I think it's short and sweet and to the point. I'll let everyone know what their response is soon hopefully. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Address] [Date] Response to settlement offer Ref: [Their reference number] Claim No: [Claim referenece number] Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your letter dated xx/xx/xxxx. I respectfully decline your offer of settlement and request that you refund to me all charges that have been taken from my account now totaling £xxxx.xx [This amount is the charges + 8% APR to date from the spreadsheet]. I will accept the sum offered only as part settlement and on the clear understanding that I will pursue recovery of the remainder in the County Court if necessary. I trust this clarifies my position. Your’s faithfully, [signature] [Print Name]

I have claimed for £1,870 (including interest) from RBS. I have a date of 13th October for the court hearing. I have received a letter from their Solicitor offerring to settle for £1100. I am supposed to let them know if I will accept this by Tuesday 26th September. Should I accept their offer, negotiate for more or just go ahead with the court case? I would be grateful if anyone can help with this as this is the first time I've posted anything and I'm not really sure how to use all of the site properly! Thanks.