This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

When Abbey reject a direct debit, they apply the direct debit to your account (whether you have the funds or not) which takes you over the overdraft limit. THEN they bounce it. This means that as well as charging you £35 for rejecting the direct debit you get charged an additional £20 for going over the overdraft limit, despite the fact that they don't even pay the direct debit. This essentially means that for every rejected direct debit due to insufficient funds you are charged £35 minimum to a maximum of £55. Are they seriously trying to tell us that it costs them £55 for an automatic computer script??

I too would be interested in the answer to this post. I have also posted on the Abbey forum but am in Scotland. It seems as though from what I have read so far that it may be better to take them to court in their 'own patch' as it were. I think people have had success using both methods?

I wrote my letter before action today and will be sending byrecorded, signed for delivery tomorrow. I sent a request for a refund of £1642 on 28th April and they have responded with a standard (give us 4 weeks to investigate etc etc) letter and a handy leaflet which tells me all about their complaints investigation - funny, my initial request specifically asked them NOT to respond with a standard letter or leaflet. So today I have written the letter before action as I don't feel they have responded positively (and have only just made the 14 day mark anyway). I will keep you posted but am definately going to take this all the way and will raise 4 separate claims via small claims court (in Scotland) if required. MOD NOTE: THREADS MERGED - PLEASE CAN YOU KEEP TO ONE THREAD

I raked through all my paperwork and actually managed to find all the statements I needed so the DPA request was actually unnecessary (although I have reported Abbey to the IC as they failed to meet the 40 day target anyway). I have now totted up all the charges and they come to £1672 which is actually less than I thought but still a fairly substantial figure for 2-3 years of banking, and one particularly bad period. I sent the template letter on 28 April by recorded (signed for) delivery and am now waiting with baited breath for the next installment. I am figuring based on other peoples experiences that I probably won't get any joy with this first request but am full prepared to take the action to court should this become necessary - if that happens I will post either in the Scotland section or the Litigation section. It seems from the Litigation section that a number of people have actually got their charges back from Abbey. I would like to extend a huge thanks to those people for giving me the inspiration to keep going with this. I obviously want the money back, but ultimately I hope we win the war and not just all these little battles. #Good luck everyone else who's fighting!

I received a letter from the Abbey stating that some of the information I would have to pay extra for as it was on microfiche - I think I have enough anyway to proceed with the claim. They replied outwith the 40 day limit and therefore I have lodged a formal complaint with the Commision. I am still waiting on the information they said was 'being sent under separate cover'...but have recently come across all my old bank statements. Tonight I am going to tot up all the charges and write with a claim. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the info - it's always useful to know there are others in the same boat - I take it you never got any joy from the initial request for your charges to be refunded and that is why you are proceeding with the court case. Does this mean you would have to travel to London if there is a hearing?

I have recently sent off the standard letter asking for a copy of all charges from the last 5 years (essentially from when I opened the account). Like a lot of other users on this forum my bank charges started to escalate as a result of a few bad months which has spiralled out of control, mainly because the charges come off 2 days before my salary date and have been in the region of £200 - £300 per month for some months now. I would have been able to get myself out of the situation fairly easily had it not been for the excessive charges. I called the Indian call centre and did something I almost never do with call centres - lost my temper. That was a few months ago and the woman just could not understand the whole 'vicious circle' situation. I asked her what she would do in a situation where she had to come up with an extra £300 to cover charges when there was nowhere the mone could come from and her answer - she wouldn't occur the charges in the first place. Very helpful. I will keep you posted. I am in Scotland so the situation differs slightly from a court point of view and I will definately be claiming more than £750 so we'll see what happens but I am prepared to take this all the way as I am sick to the back teeth of these people taking my hard earned cash from me and making my already bad situation a million times worse. G