Fantastic news pj ,well done , hope mine goes the same way!!

Hi Michael, Have started a thread now thanks for the reply http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/yorkshire-bank-clydesdale-bank/26725-jules-yorkshire-bank.html?highlight=jules+vs

Woohoo. at long last.Well done Turt you deserve it.I would cash my cheque at the branch and ask them for it in £1 coins.Then walk out singing "zippedy doo da....zippedy hey" at the top of my voice.Spend it wisely,in fact sod it, treat yourself you`ve earned it.Thanks for the offer of help I might have to take you up on it. "They don`t like it up `em Mr Manwearing" Julian+Lisa

Hi Turt , been following your case for a while ,fantastic news ,hope mine goes the same way (but with a few less complications lol).Enjoy every penny of it you deserve it for all the aggro Julian and Lisa

Hi , The letter to MP found in library is quite useful,here is mine I have posted today to Ed Balls MP(he is Gordon Brown`s right hand man and has a campaign for poverty/economic resolves hope you find it appropriate Edward Balls MP, Normanton (TheyWorkForYou.com) Mr Ed Balls MP 54 High Street, Normanton, West Yorkshire. WF6 2AQ 25th August 2006 Dear Mr. Balls, I am writing to you to ask you to let me know what your views are on the serious problem of unlawful penalty charges which are levied against their customers by the UK High Street Banks. It is a well established rule of Common Law that contractual penalty charges which exceed the actual losses suffered, in this case by the banks when a customer exceeds limits or a direct debit or cheque are returned, are invalid and will not be enforced by the Court. A series of judicial decisions going back over 100 years shows this to be true. More recently, The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 has confirmed that a disproportionate penalty would be an example of an unfair term and that this would therefore be unenforceable at law. The Director General of the Office of Fair Trading announced in 2005 that any penalty charge which exceeded actual losses was disproportionate. Yet despite this, the Banks continue to apply these charges, and of course the vast majority of bank customers accept the banks’ authority that these excessive charges are valid and they pay up without a lot of fuss. It is not possible that the banks do not realize what they are doing? A survey reported this year by the BBC and others, concluded that one in five bank customers suffered from these charges in 2005. This is a large proportion of your loyal Normanton constituency. Most of these people have incurred penalty charges because they are in difficulty. Many of these people are vulnerable and already have difficult lives. It would be of great benefit to the good people of Normanton if someone of your position of Economic Secretary, HM Treasury (since 8 May 2006) could help their situation in any small way. The OFT, which is empowered to investigate, shows signs of being reluctant to do so. Many people have taken legal action against the banks. The banks almost never go to court. Fearing a formal judgment against them they bluff and threaten, but eventually settle before the day of the trial for fear of judgment and financial loss on a greater scale. Through the Internet sites at www.ConsumerActionGroup.co.uk and also at www.BankChargesHell.co.uk I am in touch with many people who are challenging the banks, some of whom have begun or successfully completed legal actions against their own banks. Their plights are being recognized and publicized more and more frequently by the media, leading to a greater awareness of the banks unlawful acts, resulting in a greater number of people taking court action against their banks. The Unlawful Penalty Charge racket is apparently worth £3 billion per year. It is not surprising that they are not anxious to give it up. I would be grateful if you would reply to me and let me know what your views about this are, and what steps you would be prepared to take to bring this scandal to an end. Can you think of any reason why, by their dominant position the UK, banks should hold themselves above the civil rule of law? Thank you for your valuable time and I continue to wish you every success within The Labour Party. Yours sincerely,

Hi everyone , I have been following the BAG since i saw Martin on "Tonight with Trevor McDonald".I am in the middle of claimng back my charges from Yorkshire Bank on two accounts(joint with my wife Lisa and my own account).This is my first thread so bear with me please. May I first start by saying a massive thank you to everyone who has Pm`d me etc. you have been fantastic help,also to everyone who has posted info/templates they have made the process easier to endure as I would have probably given up or got lost by now:? .Feel free to let me know if I am setting out info below wrong etc. Anyway a rough update on my progress so far Data Protection Act sent 05/06/06(both acc`s) Copy statements received 28/06/06(both acc`s) Refund of charges requested 03/07/06(both acc`s) £400 + deb.int joint acc,£1806.27 + deb.int own acc. Sod off letters received 18/07/06(both acc`s) LBA`s sent 29/07/06(both acc`s) Stalling letter received 07/08/06(P.Carolle Withers,Customer Relations Dept.) "Tier one"(sod off again)letter received 07/08/06(Branch Manager) £200 "without prejudice and threat of counter claim" offer received 15/08/06 for joint acc.(Neil McKirdy Cust.Relations Manager)(no response to own acc.) Thanks but no thanks ,see you in court letter sent 19/08/06 (joint acc.+ reminder they still have own acc.to deal with) "scare tactics/threat of counter claim and costs" letter sent 24/08/06(Neil McKirdy) Submitting N1 on 29/08/06 for £416.06+8%+costs(joint acc) Submitting N1 on 29/08/06 for £1657.46+8%+costs(own account) Sending tweaked letter to my MP Ed Balls Edward Balls MP, Normanton (TheyWorkForYou.com) I Pledge to donate when succesfull

thanks for that trundlecat , i have not submitted the online moneyclaim as i went down to the local county court today , they were very helpful and i came away wit about 6 N1 forms and every pamphlet i could carry (they kept giving me them by the time i`ve read them all i will have a law degree lol) N1 is completed (thanks for the help from jonni2bad too and bankfodder for the templates/hard copy) am submitting it with copies of summaries of charges etc friday AM . will keep everyone upto speed thanks again Julian and Lisa

Hi Trundlecat,Hi Maroonfox5...... I am in exactly the same situation one account in my name and one joint account.So far yb have offered me half of the 400 i am claiming for the joint account and sfa for my account.Have just completed an online moneyclaim for the joint account and was bout to submit it when i saw this post.Any help/advice would be appreciated(post double hijacked sorry:-| ) Julian + Lisa

Thanks for that rascal,here`s what i sent 19TH August 2006 URGENT ATTENTION NEEDED Dear Sir/Madam, ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXXXX I refer to your letter dated 15th August 2006, your ref XXXXXXXXX I am writing this final letter to accept your cheque of £200 as partial payment of my claim against charges levied on Account No.XXXXXXXX My intentions still stand as outlined previously and I intend to submit a moneyclaim through the courts within the next few days. I am disappointed your response has not been satisfactory and feel there is no alternative than to take this matter to court. If you wish to avoid court proceedings I suggest the matter is resolved before close of business on Wednesday 23rd August. May I remind you that in addition to the £400 I claim against this account , I will be seeking interest and costs when the matter goes to court. I am also waiting upon a satisfactory outcome on the same basis to my Account No.XXXXXXXX and court action will also be taken for this account at the same time. Furthermore, I shall submit a Consumer Credit Act 1974 complaint to the OFT upon the basis that you have failed to comply with the OFT's direction of 5 April 2006 and are therefore not a 'fit and proper person' to hold a consumer credit licence under the 1974 Act. If you do not understand what this means then seek advice from your legal department. Yours faithfully,

Hi All , an update of my progress so far .Issued 2 lba`s (joint account and my own account) Have now received a letter with a cheque for £200(half what i am due on joint account),nothing yet for my own account.Cheque will be returned to my branch along with a letter of refusal and reiteration of deadline before mcol .Will keep you posted as to outcome,Julian and Lisa

Hi everyone , what a fantastic site , thank you so much to Martin and everyone involved in the "Tonight with Trevor McDonald" program what an eye opener.I , like many other people assumed the banks were entitled to screw us over with extortionate charges (allbeit through our own financial messes) , however , thanks to everyone involved many people like me have a chance to get our finances back into shape , slowly but surely.I have approached my bank on the matter and so far they have provided me with copy statements with every transaction for both my own account and our joint account.They knew exactly why i requested them and have been extremely helpfull ( so far.........).Will keep you updated with my progress and hope you all have sucess in your aims.Julian:cool: