HSBC (via DG Solicitors) settled in full on 15th September (£1707) - advised in a previous thread. Checked MCOL site today which now says HSBC have entered a defence and I can no longer "continue" my claim on-line. Not overly concerned, just wondered if there is anything I need to do (received, signed and sent back settled in full forms to court already).

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression no precedents can be set in the small claims court? Just an observation.

Happened to me too, they'll refund it as part of their "goodwill payment" they pay you when you receive a list of just the charges (not complete statements) - and you'll get this after a preliminary reply giving themselves 28 to respond to you.

No offence meant, but I think you'll find DG Solicitors DO have the original schedules available to them, as today I received my first response from them (1 week after the claim was 'acknowledged') and this was an offer of the full amount and included all the interest and the £120 MCOL fee too!! No breakdown of charges was requested, so they're either trusting me (yeah, right) or had the information there to check against - as I would think they do with everyones. Has to be incompetent administration or a stalling tactic!

All I got was the standard court form advising me of HSBC's intention to defend (this was received a couple of days after the status of my claim on the MCOL site changed to acknowledged). Then a week later (today) a letter arrived from DG Solicitors offering me the full amount of my claim + interest + court fees. I didn't receive anything asking me for a breakdown of my charges (blows the theory out the water about them not having these available or passed on from HSBC). Nor did I receive an actual defense from HSBC or the allocation questionnaire - which comes with another £100 fee. Maybe we'll just have to follow what happens with other cases coming to their conclusion now to see if this is the start of a new way of them handling claims.

Went through the preliminary and LBA stages (received a £980 offer on a £1200 claim after preliminary) ended up filing MCOL on August 25th. This was acknowledged 5th September. Today received a letter from DG Solicitors, knew from the Birmingham postage frank. Expected to find the standard letter requesting yet another breakdown of charges. I didn't. It was an immediate full offer for the whole claim + interest + the £120 MCOL fee (total £1707). No messing around this time! Are DG Solicitors now dealing with things more efficiently? I hope so! Anyway off to celebrate, the timing was perfect - as I received a higher than expected offer from MBNA too! Should have the amounts in my account within a week or so I hope - just in time for holidays. Will make donations soon as it's cleared. Thanks again!

01244 672628 Though I strongly suggest you only make "enquiries" at this point and follow up with an initial request in writing. I know that all correspondence is logged and referred to while making requests over the phone. You don't want to ruin your chances by not being taken seriously if you go in with guns blazing. Just an observation.

Yes it is as easy as that. I didn't know what compound interest meant either (though I knew it was an amount that would equal the value of the interest over the years on the charges as they were put on). Took around 30 minutes from call to MBNA to getting a second very efficient call back from Paul Miney to get my original claim of £1316 increased to an on the spot offer of £2400 (£620 of which was already credited to my account as goodwill). This will be with me in cheque form (no credit being applied against £1000 i still owe) within 5 days - I was even advised to do what I wanted with the money and only pay off the balance if i wanted.

Had an MCOL acknowledged by HSBC a week ago, so checking the post everymorning for the DG Solicitor's letter - claim comes to £1707 with interest. Still in shock at how easy MBNA were to come to an agreement! Shame that HSBC seem to prefer drawing out the process.

Spurred on by all the posts where people have been telephoning MBNA and receiving settlements there and then I thought I'd update everyone with my experience. Sent my LBA (didn't bother with a prelim) on the 2nd September, accepting their £620 goodwill as part payment against £1316 of charges, giving a deadline of 16th September for the full amount before going down the MCOL route. Nervously (though well hidden) rang the Advocate office this morning, asked for Mr. Stephen Bailey (who had signed my goodwill offer) and was put through by a nervous female representative to a very friendly person called Paul (I've seen his name mentioned on other posts). Advised I was chasing up my response to the LBA as the deadline was approaching, and wanted to avoid court action. Paul said he would get my details, work out the interest for me, and call me back within a couple of hours. Within 15 minutes I got a call back offering me another £500 - this offer was made in error as Paul was only offering interest on the £620 goodwill payment. Reminded him I wanted the full £1316 plus compound interest on the lot. He went away and phoned back within half an hour, offering a total of £1870!!! This is on top of the £620 already credited! As my outstanding balance was only £1000, Paul told me the full amount of £1870 would be issued by cheque within 5 working days! (I expected the account balance to be cleared and the remainder to be sent as a cheque) I didn't even have to ask for a cheque! He then said that regarding the remaining MBNA balance, I could do what I wanted with the money - I could choose whether to pay off the balance or not. So this has taken an initial claim of £1316 over the £2400 mark once the compound interest had been added. I must say that all the people I've dealt with at MBNA have been very friendly and efficient, and I have never had to complain (over and above my original complaint). To anyone that is waiting on a reply to their LBA deadline, my advise is to call them, it works!! I was so nervous when doing it, but didn't falter, and it was all settled within an hour! (Donation made as soon as cheque cleared!)

Entirely up to you if you want to explain, but I am genuinely curious as to why you are holding off your claim against HSBC until your current one is resolved. I completely understand there may be many issues I'm not aware of, but there is no harm in hitting everyone at once. That is what I am doing, and everything is running great in tandem, also lessens the chance of missing out should some great high court ruling hit these claims in the next few weeks.

You can reply to the letters accepting the amounts offered as part payment, but I don't think that it matters too much - either way, unless the amounts offered are accepted in full and final, you'll be proceeding to MCOL very soon. The letters that accompany them state that HSBC will take it you are not accepting the offer as full and final if they don't hear back anyway. I didn't reply to the offer letter i had (offered £980 for a £1200 claim) - on these grounds (HSBC taking it as a rejection if they don't hear) and now I'm days away from getting my full amount (£1707 now interest added). I cannot of course advise you what to do, i'm merely just saying what route I chose.

Thanks for the warning! I'd look into the matter urgently. I know little about banking codes of conduct, but did you ask how long ago the letter was sent, as I'm sure they have to give you a statutory notice period of the overdraft being recalled. Seems very unusual that the bank and credit card sides of things have got in colusions with each other!! I'd definitely chase things up further and get some straight answers!

Sorry, as I thought I clearly stated, I was only advising what I would do. I thought that's what forums were about, exchanging personal views and opinions - at no point did I instruct or say I knew for a fact what any outcome might be. Slinging comments like "Then let us all be very grateful that the choice to start this website was not left in your hands!" will only make people less likely to provide any "new" information they get their hands on!

Hi again Tobes, no not working for HSBC, actually got an MCOL against the same that was 'acknowledged' today for £1707. Was only advising what I would do if I was in that situation. You've got all your charges back and the default removed, and I understand that you're chasing compensation purely for the satisfaction than the monetary value. Fair enough. In that situation myself, I would feel that the recompense and the lifting of the default is compensation enough. I read the defense that HSBC have submitted and it also implies the charges on your account were enforcable and legal. What if through some (admittedly) luck of the Gods, the Judge decides in HSBC's favour over these charges - are you going to risk the fleeting moments of satisfaction 1p of compensation would give you against having to hand back all the cash you've just been given?? I believe a Judge recently threw out a claim in view of the fact of a nearing High Court ruling. And as I said unless you can prove any actual losses (not including subsequential losses, which I believe the bank aren't accountable for), then (again putting myself in your place) it's a risk that simply wouldn't be worth taking. Whatever you decide mate, all the best!!

Received my list of charges in the post yesterday, seems standard for MBNA to send just these which is fine by me - and total comes to over £1400. Got the usual letter, their offer to me being £620 (which they will be crediting to my account regardless). Do I now have to send the prelim letter or go straight onto the LBA - as they say this offer is their final response to the matter. Anyone received a higher offer after sending the prelim letter?

The charges applied when withdrawing cash while you have already exceeded your overdraft limit are the worst. How can a bank claim to have 'reviewed' your account and manually considered the transaction in the couple of seconds it takes for the money to be issued??!! And as for HSBC charging a £25 fee for a £10 cash withdrawal, this goes against their own T&C's where they state that they will not apply an amount in charges that is higher than the amount you have gone overdrawn by. Several times I have had to contact them to get the charges corrected, and every time they have admitted the charges were applied incorrectly.

Filing my Money Claim on Friday, for a little over £1600, just need to know what address do you use / quote for the defendant (HSBC)??

The interest spreadsheet downloads aren't working Ahwell, I'll give it another try in the morning!

Thanks for the information regarding the interest. I will attempt the spreadsheet now. I've decided that as the offer they sent me is good for 10 working days, I can take the time between now and when I can file my MCol deciding. Will probably get back regarding the interest as i'm no spreadsheet Wizard! Thanks again!

Hi, as title states, sent prelim letter asking for charges on 28th July. I followed this up with the LBA on the 11th August (last Friday) and have today received a reply to the prelim letter (the LBA obviously crossed in the post) offering me £980 to settle a £1273 claim. I've been giving this offer serious consideration (so their tactics are working so far!!) as something at the back of my mind is saying what if all this talk of test court cases or any sudden news of banks putting refunds on hold in light of new rulings occurs in the next couple of weeks? What does anyone think the likelihood of this is?? Yes, I know I'm probably being way too over cautious but that is only down to my financial situation at the moment. I'm due to file MCol a week on Friday (25th August). Am I best to sit tight and hope for the best? Also, one other thing, with the 8% interest added at the MCol stage, does this have to be calculated according to when charges were applied. Or do I simply just take the £1273 and add 8%?? Would appreciate any help, advise or reassurance!

Sent DPA request 28th July, checked my bank account online today to notice MBNA have cashed my DPA £10 fee (paid by cheque). I didn't think MBNA were charging for the information (or at least not up to now). Is there a chance some less intelligent member of staff has credited the £10 to my MBNA credit card account (despite it being clearly indicated the £10 was for the fee)? Another thing is i did not include any identification that I understand they have the right to ask for. If they have accepted and cashed my payment towards the information requested I would assume they can't now respond requesting the ID. I'm just getting restless due to the latest news filtering through about bank charge refund cases being frozen by courts, and would like things to keep moving at a quick pace.

You beat me to that one. Pick up one of those £15 motion detector and keypad kits. No installation required, and doesn't requiring permanent attaching to fixtures so can be removed without a trace. I bet the Landlord remembers your telephone number within a few seconds when they enter to one of those things going off.