Hello folks, I'm presently battling with Blackhorse claim back the PPI on a loan I took with them when they were (or before they took over) Chartered Trust. I've followed the normal process and they have not admitted that the policy was mis-sold. Unfortunately they weren't regulated by the FOS at the time so they can't help. I've approached the FLA, but are not hopeful they will be able to help either . So it looks like I'll be going though the small claims courts. I was wondering if anyone had successfully reclaimed their PPI premiums from Blackhorse and if they have any advice they could offer. I'm having difficulty identifying any successful cases though the forum search function. Thanks

I have been allocated a track and given a court date. I have also contacted the court and asked if I need to pay an allocation fee and I have been told I do. Anyway I was just about to send of a cheque when the OFT announcement about the test case was released. I’m expecting a letter anyday from the court informing me that my case has been stayed. I’d like to hold off paying the allocation fee, but how late can I leave making the payment? My court date is the 28th of September 2007. BTW my wife had an offer for approximately 95% which arrived just before we filed a claim. We accepted before the OFT test case announcement, but the money is yet to be paid in to here account. I’ve read on one of the threads that the OFT has told the banks that they have to honour any outstanding settlements. Is this true and does anyone know where can I find this instruction. Once the money is safely in the bank, I’ll post a *** WON *** thread, to chivvy everyone up! Thanks, Cash_Back

HSBC have made my wife a settlement offer and we'd like to accept it. Interestingly we we're just about to file a claim with MCOL as the LBA 14 day deadline had expired. Then on Saturday a "full and final" offer was made for 90% of the amount being claimed. I still have a claim that is being pursued through the courts, and it would be nice not to have the hassle of dealing with another one. I appreciate that I ought to file a claim and go for the 8% as well, but this is money we’d had written off so any serious offer is a bonus. There doesn’t appear to be any confidentiality clause, although there is a form to sign. Can anyone recommend how we should word our response and what are the repercussions of just signing the form and sending only that back? In my case I have been allocated to the small claims track and have a hearing scheduled for the 28th of September. The first nudge letter has been sent. Thanks Cash_back (note signature below needs updating!)

I know it’s a bit late in the day, but why don't you use the Royal Mail's Recorded Delivery Service instead of Special Delivery. It's not guaranteed next day or anything but it’s much cheaper. Well done BTW.

Thanks Freakyleaky, Will contact the bank and get them to stop applying the latest charge, and refund those where they have already been applied. I fear that they'll just say no, but it is got to be worth a try. Cheers, Nick D Mymoney

Since I began the process of claiming back charges, the bank have continued to apply them to my account. I'd like to know what would be the best way of dealing with this. Do I speak or write to the bank and ask them to stop doing this. I've already spoken to them by telephone but the chap I spoke to said, and I quote, "it'll be added to the settlement offer", I guess he could be just palming me off. Do I revise my claim and send a revised schedule of charges to HSBC, DG and the court? Or when (not if) I get an offer from DG I ensure that the additional charges are added before I accept the offer? BTW my case is currently being transferred to my local court. Any help and advice would be gratefully appreciated.

I've just spoken to the MCOL helpdesk and true to form they have recieved a last minute defence from the HSBC/DG. Apparently MCOL allow 5 days from the service of the claim to allow postal corespondance to pass between the MCOL and the defendant. So the deadline is actually tomorrow (28 + 5 days). Will start preparing nudge letters. Nick

Greeting fellow claimants, The 28 days are up for HSBC/DG, well if I’ve worked it out correctly they are. Can some one confirm that my understanding of the situation is correct? I originally file my claim with MCOL on the 10/05/07, and I received an acknowledgement where DG had stated they we’re to defend my claim on the 11/05/07. If I start counting the 28 days from the 12/06/07 this means that the 28 day expired on Friday, 08/06/07. There has been no correspondence from HSBC/DG since I received the acknowledgement, can I now request a default judgment via MCOL, or should I wait a few more days? I counted calendar day not working days and I have assumed that this is correct. The MCOL site specifies only 28 days, and doesn’t state if they are working or calendar. Is there anything else I can do, to ensure my claim is successful? Do I need to start preparing nudge letters? Thanks in anticipation, Nick D Mymoney

I'm digging around in the attic to see if I've kept my old T&C from 1995. A quick question: If the T & C are amended during the life of an account, are these changes also applicable to the operation of the account. For example do the T & C say somewhere that they are "subject to change without notice". In which case would one need to include every revision in any legal documentation supporting a claim? Nick D Mymoney

Wow that was quick, well done. What the secret to getting an offer so quickly? Nick D Mymoney AKA the original Cash_back

FreakyLeaky and Pinkdutchess, Many thanks for the support. Isn't this forum great, it make one feel all warm inside. Nick D'Mymoney

Good luck. Take them to the cleaners!

The story so far.... Not heard a peep out of Da HSBC since receiving a letter from Mr. Mark A Loker requesting I send my schedule of charges again. So in due course a LBA was winging its way to dearest Colin. There then followed 14 days of stony silence, imagine tumble weed drifting through dusty and deserted HSBC offices. The 14 day deadline came and went, again sweet nothings from that purveyor of quality banking services. So I've filled my claim with MCOL and we'll see what happens from here on in. Well, they've had their chance, now I want my 8%! On a serious note I appreciate that the MCOL isn’t the favoured route, but it works for me as I can track my claim (from anywhere) online. Being an electronic system I would hope is take less time to procress and there is less opportunity for documents to go astray (wishful thinking). Also it would be unjust for one system to be prejudice as both routes should provide the user with equal access to the legal system. Also I still haven’t received any statements for my wife’s account, so I’ve penned (keyboarded?) a letter to chivvy them along. Regards, Nick D Mymoney

I have been the victim of fraudulent Switch/Maestro card transactions. In each case I have contacted the bank via telephone and stated that the transactions were unauthorised, they are normally made under circumstances that don't require a signature or your pin number, i.e. via the internet or telephone. The bank then send you a declaration that you sign to say that you didn't authorise the transaction a week or so later. They then pay the money back into your account sometime after that. It can take up to a month in all, as banks always seem to drag their heels a bit when they have to give money back. I think you should get a reference number for the investigation, worth asking for it if they haven't given you one. Assuming you weren't in Italy when the transactions were made then it should be straight forward for you to get your money back. Check with the bank to see if a signature or pin was used. If none was this is further evidence to support your case. I believe the banks have some obligation to deal with fraudulent card use and you should have some protection if it occurs. I can't remember the details. You may also want to report the incident to the Police. It is highly unlikely that the fraud and your claim are related, purely a coincidence. Stay stalwart and continue with you claim to recover the unlawful bank charges. Follow the advice and guidance on this site carefully and you should be succesful. Nick

Wotcha Pete, We'll I hope your prediction transpires. We live in hope… BTW are you basing your statement on precedent? I appreciate that HSBC don’t appear to follow a set procedure and therefore there are no guarantees that I will see an early and successful resolution to my claim, however I have the conviction to see this through to the end (thanks to CAG). Yours, with fingers crossed, Nick D Mymoney

Latest update.... I received the standard "I’m looking in to your request, yada, yada..." letter from our man Colin. In some respects I'm encouraged by this, as I know from reading threads on the forum that some people don't even get one of these. A day or so later I received a letter from a Mark A Loker requesting a copy of the schedule of charges. Oddly enough it was dated with the same date as the letter from Colin. Obviously I sent this document with my preliminary letter, so I'm not sure what happened to it as it passed between Colin and Mark A, maybe they're so swamped with refund requests that the document management and filing system has collapsed under the strain! Anyway I thought they’re not going to catch me out like that and duly sent a second copy off, recorded post of course. I wondered that there must be more than one Mark Loker working for HSBC, as this one feels the need to include his middle initial to avoid confusion, or maybe he just full of his own self importance. So I’ve just finished my LBA and that’ll be sent off today, and we’ll see where we go from there. Yet to receive the avalanche of statements through the letterbox for my wife’s account, but it’s only been two weeks and they’ve got 40 days to comply. I’ll post more news as thing develop. Nick D Mymoney

According to the Royal Mail website they've received the PAR letter for my account and DPA for my wife’s account today. Therefore I'll be counting today is day one of 14 for my claim, and day one of 40 for retrieving my wife’s statements. Keep you all posted on progress. Nick

Pete, Many thanks for posting a response. I have spent most of the day reading through the information on the site and trying to absorb it, not easy. Although I must say the support offered by the forum is inspiring. I have had an 'interest free overdraft' for the duration of the period I'm claiming for, hence my perception that calculating the interest would be tricky. Although the bank has fleeced me with a charge every time I’ve exceeded my OD limit the interest is small, nominally a couple of pounds each time. I think I’ll try offering an the interest waiver as an olive branch. I don’t think it’ll do any harm and I would like an expeditious resolution if possible. I’ve ordered a Lawpack small claims kit (just in case), read all the relavent guidance information, prepared my preliminary letter (with charges spreadsheet), girded my loins and are ready to fight the good fight. I’ll keep the forum posted with my progress. Wish me luck. Cheers, Nick

Greeting fellow claimants, After reading and article in the Indy and perusing Martin Lewis’ website I have decided it pay back time, literally. Bank charges have been escalating sharply recently and I’ve had enough. I’ve got all my statements down loaded from my account and calculated that they’ve charged me over £1200 in the last 6 years, and that’s not including interest. I’m going to claim for my wife’s account too. I’m new to this and have a couple of questions: 1) Is the schedule for the bank corresponding measured in working days or just days? 2) Why can you only claim back for charges form the last six years? 3) I haven’t calculated the overdraft interest as it sound quite complicated to do. I was going to mention in my preliminary letter that I’d waive the interest as an act of goodwill on my behalf. Do you think this is a good idea, or will the bank see it as a sign of weakness? 4) Is there any history of HSBC closing account in retaliation, as this is a concern? 5) Due to increased media exposure of bank charges and raised awareness of the possibility of claiming back said unlawful charges, are the bank hardening their resolve and making it more difficult to recuperate your money? Thanks for the site; it is both informative and supportive. Keep up the good work. Nick