thanks!!! pretty ok at computers but couldnt find anything about startin a new thread!!! aye i was away on hols 2 - just back at the weekend to letter from FOS saying they were getting on the case so was happy enough then got filled in about the test case. have read a few bits and pieces and would agree that the banks cut a deal. I always hoped to be on my hols this year spending first trusts money then i thought feck it maybe next year but god knows when now. im an impatient bein i dont like the idea of waiting years!!

hi bigdess 1.how do i start a new thread - u sound like ur really gettin sick of us in urs but i havent a clue how to start a new 1 !!!! 2.not sure whether this news today is good or bad - yes theyre gonna sort it out once and for all but how long is it gonna take - looks like not only did i not have it to spend on this years hol but it might be a few years away!!!! 3.great timing for bally35 - the whole amount wow.Pity about urs - given the timing of todays announcement i think id been tempted to take the 1500 and run now.

hi everybody got my stuff ready for ombudsman! gonna post it today! its a bit brief - i took advice from you all re:them getting info from first trust anyway so i have put in their completed form with copy of final response and a copy of the bank statements showing the massive increase in penalty charges from 2001 to 2005 when we left our ''helpful, friendly'' dpk first trust!!! i was up front and said i couldnt get copy of schedule of charges from computer and asked if it was ok to send it anyway - hope it'll be ok with them........watch this space!!!!

hi folks still havent posted my form to ombudsman - still a bit worried about not putting in the schedule of charges?? what do you all think? should i just put it in anyway and let them get it from the bank? well done bigdess that sounds really encouraging - hope im as lucky!!!! when did you put your form into them????

no way - not starting from scratch - i'll find it somewhere or go back and build it up again - i'll be able to do my own spreadsheet based on what i sent - see i may not be organised but i ll be able to get round it somehow!!! ps bigwisedess thanks for the support!!!!!!!

excellent who or what? excellent that i lost my schedule or excellent what i put in my form?

cant believe it but ive a problem!! i cant find a copy of my schedule of charges and interest etc to include in my application to the FOS!!! i thought id saved it on computer or printed it out but that would be too sensible - i have everything else- any advice?? i either need to recalculate it all up to today etc or try and go back to get it to match the figure i asked first trust for originally and to be honest im gettin sick of it all - thats why im happy to let the FOS fight on my behalf!!!

also bally 35 i'm not sure giving them a call will help - i called today to tell them of my intention to go to FOS but she didnt even want to take my name - didnt give a ........fiddlers!!!

ok folks - got the form filled in - this is what i've put into the 'any other details' section - let me know what you think. i didnt want to go on too much cos i think they get the point but if you think i should include anything else let me know. i filled the rest of it in according to the advice in moneysavingexperts template - all pretty standard stuff so not putting it on here. here goes: 'I do not believe that I have been treated fairly by the First Trust Bank. At a time when I was experiencing financial difficulties I felt that they were being helpful, however, I now feel that rather than imposing a charge proportionate to their costs, they were merely allowing a situation to escalate in order to charge extravagant penalty fees. Indeed First Trust Bank, prior to 29/05/2007 referred to such fees as "penalty Fees". I do not understand how the bank can justify charges at the high rate I was charged. First Trust have simply rejected my complaint quoting their terms and conditions. They have made no attempt to respond to my claim that their charges did not reflect the true cost to them. For example, I enclose a copy of a bank statement (dated 03/02/2000) showing a referral fee £4.50 and another (dated 19/01/2001) where the referral fee had increased to £9.00 I fail to understand how the cost to them could double in less than 1 year. When we finally moved our account in 2005 the referral fee had increased to £14 - that is an increase of 311% in 5 years.

i am going to fill in form and post it this week so i'll be a few weeks behind you lot .... so i'll be watching this space. did u put lots of background stuff like in a court bundle or just the form with fees and charges etc?

hi bigdess still waitin to hear how they responded to ya??? maybe they gave u the lot and uve flown out to some foreign clim to spend it eh!!! also i saw ur friend from the ft out walkin the other day - mr t!!!!

sorry bally35 - don't have a fax plus all the charges im claiming for are referral charges so probably cant go on about penalty fees - or is that what they refer to them as in t & c? Also had a good search in house to see if i could find old copy of t & c (havent finished searching yet!!) But guess what i found? a bank statement from feb 2000 when referral charge was £4.50 !! by Feb 2001 it was £9 - by 2005 it was £14 - thats an increase of 311% in 5 years!!!!!! Lets see them try to justify that eh !!!!Im gonna enclose copies !!!!

great thanks i'll sot onto moneysavingexrt and they now give a template for filling in the FOS form which is great but i will definitely put that last line in!! good advice - thanks. i got terms and conditions on this thread the other day - do you think i can quote from them or do i need an original leaflet - sorry if i asked this before - its monday!!!

aye bally35 - not from ballymena heh??!!!! I hear ya!! and im not related to duke either!! LOL!!! anyhows back to the oul FT - i sent my initial letters to them based on templates from moneysavingexpert.com now i don't know what to write to FOS. I am very conscious that i could trip myself up in the lingo ie referral charge v fee v penalty etc. any advice on the wording of the letter to the FOS?

ok - not giving up on this one - (tho i really think i need to get up of my ass and get some work done - this is all keeping me back so much!!!)anyway im just off phone to general consumer council and have decided that is the route to go - might take a bit longer but with the court system so bunged maybe not. guy on phone really helpful - he said that the FOS route is proving very successful because the banks will not provide any info to them and we basically win by default!!! WISH ME LUCK!!! Keep me posted how u all get on!

that is pretty quick!! not sure what to write to ombudsman tho - i went to them a couple of years ago re my endowment and lost !!! so would like to make sure im getting it right. feelin really peeved with them all. but would still rather avoid court- as u say they probably know that. i was gonna call them later and inform them of my intentions and quote the penalty fee thingy but as im not up to speed with the proper lingo im afraid to mess it all up!!

HI BIGDESS i'm dyin to hear how u got on? any word yet? i called FT on tues and they said letter would be sent out that day. well i got it this morning - surprise surprise - A BIG FAT NO - great! just need to work out what to do now. ombudsman v court? any advice folks? ombudsman is slow but saves me going down court route where i dont have a baldy wat im at? hope your letter brought better news than mine!!! PS i'm a ex dpk customer too - good to hear they treat ALL their customers equally - BADLY !!!

well folks the BIG letter arrived today - surprise surprise - A BIG FAT NO GREAT!! Not surprised but there was always a wee hope that i'd be on lying on holiday this year knowing that First Trust had supplied my spending money but hey what the hell. just need to work out where to go next - court or ombudsman? wats the latest advice do you think? ombudsmans a bit slow but saves me going to court where i dont have BALDY wat i'll be doin!!

thanks iwillgetyoubackfirsttrust and bally35!! copied them out. would i need a printed leaflet do you think or can i just use info uve sent? i will let u know 2moro if i get my letter - no doubt i will be cos as everybody says .....theyre a shower .......!!

hi folks been reading all the comments on Dont Trust (I really like that one!!!) i mean first trust!! Theyve now had the full 8 weeks to decide (well its up tomorrow) so i phoned on Tues to see wat craic was. Girl on phone was pretty pleasant and said final response was being issued that day and I should have it either wed or thurs. really peeved cos its still not here in this mornings post. am sure its gonna be a refusal but i asked girl if there was any point in me phoning after i get it if it is a refusal to pay up. she said yes u should call and let us know IF you re not happy. I'd be really keen to have a copy of those terms and conitions where they call it penalties. Anybody know where i could get my hands on a copy?? i am winging my way thru this all completely but maybe if i quote the t & C it might let them 'think' i've done my homework!!!!

thanks a lot - will read up over the next week or so cos i think im gonna have to go the whole way with these ins!!

i'm waiting to hear from f.t. - got standard letter saying ANOTHER 4 weeks so i sent them letter saying i felt another two weeks was plenty i.e. 6 weeks from original. That two weeks is up tomorrow - now have to decide what to do. feelin a bit worried after reading all these posts.seems obvious now that they'll refuse to pay up easily. hate the thought of having to go to court over it - small town - would die if local papers made big deal. does anyone know how system works? i've been dealing with L.Whitsitt in Blefast HQ so thinkin maybe its done through belfast courts etc.or does it go thru one local to me. also i havent a clue what to say or use as evidence etc etc. really dont want to give up as i've heard of a cuple of people who've won over past couple of months but it takes GUTS to go thru with it!!!

hi there just registered with forum tonight - first time so havent a notion what im at but hey im having a look around and am keen to hear from anyone claiming fees back from banks in northern ireland - especially the first trust. i have issued the letters requesting they refund me bank charges and interest totalling 1500. Still awaiting a response!!