Hi, I am new to the retail section of CAG and I wondered if anyone could help/advise me as I have a problem with B+Q. In April we visited our local store and bought a set of garden furniture. They had 4 of the 5 items in stock and said that they would call us later that week to collect it once it was all in stock. We agreed to this as it meant only one trip with the roof rack. I rang two weeks later to be told that they were still waiting for the missing item and that they would call me on 14 May. I didn't receive the call and considering the weather we were not in an urgent need for the furniture, however I chased them last week, 20th June to be told that they had none of this furnture in stock and there was a problem with the supplier. I questioned what had happened to the stock items that we had paid for already and it would seem that they have been sold. I want to write a letter, I want more than a refund, they have had £600 of ours since April and I feel we have been messed around. We have even built a patio area that was based around the furniture that we were expecting from B+Q. We have received no apology or conclussion to the problem as yet. I would be grateful of any advice/words to use in a letter to B+Q. Many thanks. Yode

Hi I wondered whether someone could advise me on my rights. Enterprise are digging up the road outside my house and are denying me access to my drive. This is causing the following problems: 1. I have to get my children out of the car on a busy and fast road and walk them 200 yards to get to my house. I know this may not seem unreasonable but they are aged 3 and 4 and with bags, the dog, coats and currently umberellas it is a bit of a nightmare. 2. I am currently employing a firm of contractors to build an extension to my house at the rear. They are unable to take deliveries and generally get on with their work as they also have to park 200 yards away and cannot get lorries any nearer without the road becomming blocked. I have asked why we are the only house on the street without a metal plate into the driveway and have been told it is because we have a skip. We were never asked to move the skip by Enterprise or informed of the inconvenience. We did receive a leaflet informing us of water supply problems. What do you think? are they legally allowed to do this? and thanks very much for reading if you got this far. Yode

Boy o boy, Natwest have not only paid up for my credit card charges today but finally made me an offer for the BIG ONE! Postie just delivered it. The offer for my current account (almost £3k) does not include interest or court fee (£900 = £150) but I am tempted to take it! I read that once you had filled with court their offer is automatically withdrawn - is that true? My 14 days are up on Monday - do you think they will defend or even acknowledge?

Thanks! No form to sign as I have had with other banks - a straight forward cheque and explanation that it is not commercially viable for RBS to go to court. I think as it was for less than £500 they are not bothering to go all the way. I have also noticed other mistakes in their letter: They have given me the wrong gender and they have not realised that I clossed this account 4 years ago! Talk about lack of attention to detail! Yode

Hi Claim: £330 Interest:£120 Court fee: £50 Paid: £500 Today I received a cheque from RBS in respect of my claim for an old natwest credit card. Amazingly they have paid up in full with interest and court costs but they have made the cheque out to my middle name and spelt it wrong to boot! Think I will try to cash it anyway! if they say no...suppose I will have to request another! In the meantime I am not stopping mcol till cash is in bank! Thanks to everyone for advice, just the big one to go now! Yode

Hi quest1 I tried claiming without interest from NWB and started it all 26 April 2007, still have had no reply and so have had no alternative but court - am still waiting for a reply.....you do hear of people getting through the loopholes early on but I think it is very very rare. Welcome and good luck but it is not going to be a fast track...be patient because everyone keeps getting paid in the end!!

Hi Choco I have been reading your thread and just wondered whether you had received a letter from Cobblers saying that they were going to defend or just the acknowledgement with the defend all claim ticked in the box? I am waiting...they ticked the defend all claim box but I have heard nothing since. Thanks

Maybe I have missed the point. Please enlighten me as I am fairly new to all of this. Just to clarify my understanding (which may completely miss your point), the banks are currently allowed to take 'fees' for different 'services' of up to £150 from a persons account. The point is to reduce this to what it actually costs the bank - say £2.50? If the current charges are irrecoverable in their entirety then why are the banks paying up? Like I said, I am open to new information.

Here's a petition, please sign it! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bankcharges/B03myqASAcaYCt9f8gBEgDX

Here's an online petition to the government to cap bank charges! Maybe encouraging people to sign it is a start!? To be honest I think it is a good thing for the govenment to be backing (whether they will or not is another matter) as it will hopefully encourage people to manage their money better and also thanks to CAG and MSE people are becomming more empowered to fight back and hopefully reduce the average national debt (caused largely to the individual by the banks). Petition to: Pass a Law on Unfair Bank Charges.

Just brilliant, brilliant. Glad you got your money, wish they would cough up over here!

You know much more than me about CI, and I don't think I can be bothered claiming it now that they have offered me the full amount I asked for. I do see your point ablout something to gain tho.... Yode

Hi Jordy Welcome to the world v Natwest forum. Let's hope they don't acknowledge before June 21st/22nd then you get an automatic win! Good luck. Yode

Ok, I think I have a problem. I filled mcol June 11th 2007 for my largest natwest claim. What I forgot was that in my frustration, I had that morning wizzed a last email to natwest saying that since I had no response I was giving them one more week....well obviously I didn't. So today June 18th, they replied to my email with: "Thank you for your further email. I confirm that a reply to your claim for a refund of charges was sent to you on 14 June, and you should receive this shortly. I hope you will wait to receive this. However, if you wish to raise court action, once the Bank receives details from the court, we will withdraw your claim from our records and proceed with your proposed action." Now they have not yet acknowledged my claim but I feel absolutely sure that they will tomorrow - since I have not received their offer sent June 14th - I believe they have possibly only sent it today. M questions are: 1. Have I cocked it up with the email giving one more week (although I had given them plenty of warning and 7 weeks) and filling mcol before this time was up? I did also call them that day and spoke to useless person if you remember who told me I was looking at mid July for a response due to back log. 2. What the hell are they playing at? Anyone help? I am feeling pretty silly at my own rashness.

Hi I sent the initial request to the following address: NatWest Customer Relations FREEPOST NAT12685 BOREHAMWOOD WD6 1BR Funnily enough they didn't ask for a cheque and they sent me a printed sheet of all charges within a few days. Good luck! BTW they have not yet offered full ammount and I have filled mcol.....waiting to see what they do next!

Read this yesterday on MSE from Martin MSE. "I've heard today from a rely source (not had time to check it out - but this is someone in the know). That a precedent setting case was decided by the high court today on claiming 'compound interest' on bank charges. This doesn't effect claiming statutory interest as the article states - and has limited baring. I will delete the following paragraph from the article: "While the calculator is based on ‘statutory interest’, some people do suggest trying to claim ‘contractual interest’, i.e. the interest rate the bank charges you for lending, which compounds the interest over time (see how interest rates work article). They argue that it applies as this agreement is reciprocal. It may be worth a shot, but you’re more likely to be awarded the statutory amount, hence the calculator and template letters all assume you’re claiming this." How can a court decide a precedent case? If you're wondering how there can be a precedent case and whether it impacts the whole of reclaiming - the answers no. The bank had already paid in full - the decision purely impacts the claiming of compound interest, not on the rights and wrongs as claiming as a whole" Not sure this helps but thought it may be useful for info. Yode

Hi I had the same response from Natwest - (reduced to £12 for each fee) so I filled mcol and am waiting for their defence. However, everyone here is right, they should pay it all back and yesterday I got a full offer including interest from Egg who tried the offer of £14 and I told them no and within 4 days got full offer. Natwest just seem to like wasting everyone's time including their own solicitors!

Congratulations! When did you start your claim (send 1st letter?) If it were me I would be happy with the offer, I guess you have to decide whether it is worth the hastle of putting your bundle together to get interest and court fee.

Hi I have just managed to claim back charges plus interest and it only took 4 weeks to a full offer! Egg are quick to respond to each letter (4 day turn round) so I suggest start your claim. i went for the list of all transactions although on reflection I should have done more research about CI. However, it is money that I never thought I would see again so I am really very pleased. Good luck with your claim. Yode

Boy I am glad they were easy to crack - am battling on with nastywest....can't see the end of that yet! but egg gives hope that they will all realise that if they don't want to spill the beans they are going to have to stop wasting court time. Thanks for your support - and information without which I would not have thought this possible!

So egg sent a letter offering to settle in full including interest today - how quick are they to pay? Blooming brilliant! I am so chuffed and it's all thanks to you guys here and the help I have found!

Another Smashed Egg - Offered To Settle In Full Today!! £550! See My Thread For Details But Egg Have Been Quick To Crack!!

Yes I will, did you ask your branch?

Hi and thanks all for advice. I have been reading other people's threads and am now beginning to worry as I do not have my original contract, terms and conditions etc. I think I opened the account in 1992. When I originally requested info from the bank I only asked for "...details of all default charges for unauthorised overdrafts and unpaid direct debits and standing orders that have been charged to my account in the last six years." and so I haven't done the SAR have I? is it too late, should I write now and ask or do I not need all my paperwork? Thanks again!

Hi I am in a similar situation as my egg account got clossed a couple of years ago and I got the statements through very quickly from my request, they then offered me £80 when I was asking for £500 (reduced charge to £16 from £20). So I have part accepted and am waiting for response to LBA. Good luck with yours. Yode