Thank you guys, I'll try the Co-op. I wonder if they can give me a basic current account with a bad credit record? I was naughty years ago, didn't pay my council tax for my old address, and they've managed to track me down, and seems like they've recently given me a default, threatening bankruptcy. Is this possible?

Does anyone out there know if there are any ethical banks out there that are truly interested in their customer welfare? A search on google brings up a few, amongst them the Co-Operative bank. But has anyone ever had to deal with them, and if so, are they any better than the abbeys, lloyds and barclays? Any input at all welcome. Jac x

Thank you all for the sound advice. I still need to read up on the details, and I'll reply individually soon. Work was soooo manic yesterday, didn't even check emails, let alone visit a forum. I'm working tonight, and free tomorrow, so will catch up then!! Apologies for delays, I value ALL your opinions!!

Hello peeps!! Wonder if someone can shed a little light on this question for me. My husband had to declare bankruptcy last year due to huge debts spiralling out of control. He's self employed, and as work was scarce, he couldn't pay on time on the credit cards and loan taken to pay off CCs but didn't. He had debts totalling £35, 000 (he was very naughty - by his own admission, accepting all these cards). On a typical month, he'd have to pay back £200 on the worst card, and if this didn't happen, the charges were HUGE! He's recently been discharged from the bankruptcy order (if that's the correct term), and as I discovered this site (via MSE) recently, I've been wondering if he can go back and claim unfair charges. Is it possible after being bankrupt, and not having paid back what one owed anyway to still succed, or am I just being greedy? Be as blunt as you need to be please!!! Jac x

Thanks Sophie-Jane! I'll be on the phone to them tomorrow. Eyes glazing over right now, and I've dinner with the in laws this evening. Better get some sleep! Jac x Ps: I hope your pending hospital admission isn't too serious. Wish you a quick recovery anyway. Take care of youself, and be back soon!!

Thanks once again for the prompt reply!! I've just been looking at the templates 2 & 3. I think at this time, I'll stick to the original one I've written, and then work out how much I can claim from what I've got and send a preliminary request for a refund based on those. It'll go a long way getting us sorted in the near future - assuming they act on it quickly (hoping, LOL!). I'd be mega mega confused if I was doing this alone..... thank you so so much again!! Jac x

Thanks Sophie-Jane!!! I just need to fish out the account details, which I might have got rid of over the years . I wonder if I can call them and ask? I'll give it a try - they can only say no, and if it's too difficult, I'll leave it . It'd only be like £200 ish, but that could buy a nice Christmas dinner........ Thanks again!! Jac x

Hi there Karne, Thanks for replying to my enquries on both this and Steve's thread. I just got so excited being on the forum, I could have asked a question on every thread . I see though that it could be very fragmented and cause difficulties for those trying to help, so thanks a mill for pointing that out. Well, I came back home, and there was my husband checking the bank balance online, only to find they've gone and taken a total of £160 - maybe more out today on charges. Thing is, once the cycle starts, it's difficult to get it broken unless there are cash injections into the account apart from the usual salaries etc. Anyway, I've decided to use the microfiche letter, and demandthese statements. It's been 57 days (including weekends, holidays) since they received my initial DPA letter. Here's the letter I'm planning to post this afternoon. Sorry this is soooo long , hope you don't mind too much? I don't remember exactly the date, month the acc. was opened, but they should be able to send from the beginning of my custom in 2001. Anyway, my letter was addressed to P O box 382 Prescot Street, London, and I received from Bradford. Shall I address this one to Bradford, London, or Milton Keynes, or just the 2 I've dealt with? So very sorry about the many questions. I'm reading the FAQs again for 3rd time in 24hrs, and things are getting eaier (a little), LOL!! Thanks for the links too!! Jac x Pam Speed Regulatory Compliance Abbey National plc Abbey House 201 Grafton Gate East Milton Keynes MK9 1AN 07/08/2006 Data Protection Act disclosure request Dear Pam Speed Account Number:323XXXX I am in receipt of your letter dated 19/06/2006, outlining that you could only provide me with printouts covering recent transactions on my account, because any earlier information has been archived onto microfiche. I also acknowledge receipt of the information you forwarded. My request was for a complete list of transactions and charges relating to my account since it was opened in 2001 – in short, a list of charges with dates and amounts – alternatively, a complete set of account statements for that period will be acceptable. This should be retrievable from your accounting systems, and easy for you to produce. I will accept a computer print out of these transactions. I am aware that you have been willing and able to provide other customers with a print-out of transaction information covering this period – and am ready to bring this to the attention of the Information Commissioner should it prove necessary. I would also draw your attention to Smith v Lloyds TSB Bank plc (2005) EWHC 246 (Ch). This letter has been sent by first class recorded delivery, and therefore should have reached you by 08/08/2006 – as you will be aware, as of this date you have just 14 days in which to comply with my request, as it has been 57 days since your receipt of my DPA letter, and the 40 day breach for DPA has been exceeded . As stated above, a complete set of account statements for the period in question will be acceptable; however, I expect this to be provided within the time period for DPA compliance. Should there be any further attempts to delay compliance, I will be left with no alternative but to commence a County Court action under section 7, and section 15(2) of the Data Protection Act 1998, and in due course, escalate this matter into an official complaint to the Information Commissioner and the FSA. Yours faithfully,

Hi Steve, I assume the 1st DPA is the one asking for list of charges / ststements? I sent mine weeks and weeks ago, received the micrifiche letter, followed by statements dating back mid 2004, and then nothing. I've since been waiting, but now realise I could wait forever. Oh, and they did cash the £10 cheque, so really they should send me what I requested? Where do I go from here? Sorry, I'm asking a million ???s, just a little concerned I should have acted sooner... Jac Please tell me what to do next? Shall I use the template re: microfiche and send another request, or what? I'm new to all this, and will get better, so apologies if I sound a little - well - dumb.

Thanks for reply and warm welcome crusher (nice name!!). It's taken me a while finding this, so off I go in search of Abbey. I've already posted on the thread -I think, so hopefully it gets easier. Thanks for tip! There's so much jargon and traps from banks, I'll read up on as much as I can in the next few weeks. Would be nice to get some of MY money back soon-ish as broke..... Thanks again for kind reply. Jac

Well, I hope I am. I'm finding my way around the site and forum boards whilst on night shift, but keep *getting lost*, LOL!! Anyway, assuming I'm in the right place...... I've sent off a letter to abbey asking for a full list of charges or bank statements dating back to 2001 (I've been with them since then). I got statements going back to August 2004, and a letter telling me about the microfiche cr*p. Anyway, glad I found this board, as this link { http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/abbey-bank/4031-abbey-microfiche-argument.html } advises I can get around their dodge / delay tactics. Has anyone successfully got a list of charges / statements dating back that far? The language used is also meant to intimidate, I believe, but I WON'T go soft and easy on them!!! I apologise for just launching in....... I'm Jac, a nurse on night shift, and hope to get charges back from Abbey, Barclaycard and possibly Barclays (this account has been closed since 2001. Is it possible?) Jac x

Finally, I find a way of actually posting on the forum!! Been around for a while, albeit not regularly, as I still manage to *get lost*, trying to find my way around the site!! Well, now I'm here, I hope to be a regular. I've sent of a letter to the bank(Abbey) asking for statements / list of charges made in the past 5 years, and still waiting. Well, I'll keep it short for now, and hope to get to know you all a little better!! Regards, Jac