I'm so glad i've found this thread. Thought I was ploughing a lone furrow against First Trust in Norn Iron. Now seems there are a few other people getting the same responses. Have to decide now whether we go to small claims / financial ombudsman or give up. We've claimed for referral fees, the quarterly penalty fees they charge when you go over overdraft (sometimes due to referral fees), and arrangement fees. Not sure about arrangement fees they are £25 or £30 but not sure what these are for. Anyway, if we go to small claims then do we try to argue the case that the fees are unjustified. What can we use for evidence (watchdog programs, reports etc)? What is the First Trust defence? Do they have to prove that a referral actually costs £14? Read here somewhere that the judge wouldn't ask them to do this. Does he just take their word? The letters we have sent have started Nov 2006 so we are claiming from Nov 2000. If we get a court date do we have to adjust the claims so that it is 6 years back from the date of the court appearence? (say court date is June 07 - does that mean we recalculate fees from June 01?). We are going to a solicitor on Mon so we need to prepare a case if we are going to court (it's free with the union). Also need to know that what I am claiming is valid. Should I keep the claim as it is and let the bank argue the different charges in court or should I remove some of them before I start (not sure what we can claim for). Also if the OFT say a figure of £12 is acceptable will the bank use this in court and we will only be awarded the difference of any fee - £12? Sorry for all the questions I am a novice so info gratefully received. Best of luck to everyone on their claims.

Hi, Apologies as I have only found this site. Was originally told about the bank charges by two guys in work that got theirs back after a few letters. Was referred to the Moneysavingexpert.com site so used their letters. The guys told me that all the fees going back 6 years were illegal and I should try to claim them back so I have gone through the statements and claimed for :- referral charges Quarterly fees arrangement fees? (didn't claim direct debit set ups or interest of overdraft). Can I claim these fees?? The total charges were about £2300 with interest at £570 (read on this site that i shouldn't have claimed this in the letters - someone needs to tell the guy on moneysavingexpert). The bank say all charges are above board so if I want to go further I have to go to small claims or financial ombudsman. Are the bank allowed to charge £12 for fees. What I mean is do I need to go back through my claim and work out the difference between £12 and what I was charged and only claim that or do I go to court and ask the bank to prove what it actual costs for a referral and query the penalty fees. Don't want to go to small claims if I am going to be easily beaten and the bank might use this against others. I am claiming against First Trust bank in Northern Ireland so was wondering if anyone had any experience of cases against this bank or in NI. Please help. I need to decide what to do and apologies if I have cocked up the claim process.