Just read some comments from people and it has really answered my questions but I would still like to hear from people that are taking this route. Cathy

I asked my Northern Ireland bank for my statements which they sent me and they had gone through all my statements and sent me only the charges (nice of them or what!!!) but the charges go back as far as 1999. Does anyone know can I claim from then and just act stupid or is it only 6 years? Also because I'm in Belfast small claims only go as far as £2,000, and because I have already split my claim from another bank 3 times I dont want to ruin my chances and get the claim thrown out for abusing court process. Someone said that OFT was the road to take as I can claim the full amount, Soooo PLEASE does anyone have any information on this( perhaps have even used them to settle). Time is ticking on and I still havn't sent off my letter as I need to know how much I can really ask for. Hope someone can help. THANKS CATHY.

Hi there. Hope someone can help me here. I have done this before and have won. The problem is that I am claiming from a different bank and I cant remember one thing !!!!!!!! I have recieved my statements, now the claim is over the court limit so I will have to split my claim. So before I send my LBA do I ask the bank for the full amount or am I asking for what the court will allow ? Sorry if I havn't explained it very well, but I really hope someone can answer. Thanks Cathy.

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I've been on. So at the moment here's how things stand. I have already split my claim twice and I am in the process of submitting my 3rd claim. You would think that after me getting 2 sucessful claims that they would learn from this but Nooooooo they are still sending me letters. So when the letters stop I will be claiming for the 3rd time. (Thank goodness that you can just go straight to the court stage.) Hope everyone is getting on ok with their claims and keep in touch. This will diffently finish me with Halifax and then I will start with the Northern Bank and possibly my credit cards. Although I know someone who tried to claim back their credit card charges and they would only pay half the charges and they wouldn't budge on that. Has anyone else had problems with credit card charges?

Am I right in assuming that you can claim back on credit card companies as well as banks and also is it the exact same process??? :grin: Thanks Cathy. :-D

At long last Halifax paid up. They were a lot slower this time in paying up (nearly were at their deadline date). So thank you to everyone on this site for getting me through,THANKS..............but that's not me done yet!! I have split my claim twice already but can I do a third one straight away and go straight to the court papers, or is this abusing the court system and could they refuse to process the papers, as this is my 3rd claim?? Hope someone can answer my question. Thanks. When I finish this Halifax buisness I'm starting on my Credit cards. Good luck to everyone else claiming. STICK WITH IT IT'S WORTH IT IN THE END. Cathy.

What do Scrooge and Halifax have in common? They both like taking money from people!!! :D and like Scrooge they are starting to see sense and GIVE IT BACK!!! Well done to everyone that have been successful this year and Good Luck to those who will be getting their money back in the New Year. A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WISH to EVERYONE who helped me along the way, THANK YOU. HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. MAY THE MONEY KEEP ROLLING INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND OUT OF THE BANKS!!!!!!! HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. CATHY. XX. :)

Hi. I was claiming against the Halifax in Belfast. Think I will claim for the rest of my account now. You see in Northern Ireland the maxium you can claim for is £2,000 where as in England it's £5,000. So will fill in forms when all is completed unless you want me to do it now? Cant believe I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cant believe it we won our battle. There were no letters or communication after I sent out court forms. I just happened to be checking my account on line, and there it was in all it's glory, ALL MY MONEY BACK IN MY ACCOUNT. I still can't believe it. :-D :-D THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP ON GETTING ME THERE..... NOW I'M READY FOR ROUND 2!!!!!! Will be making a donation when it's all completed. I am so HAPPY, best news I've had in a long time!!!! Cathy.

Hi there one and all. Havn't been on in a while cause there's nothing really to say. Here's the update....... Wrote a letter of complaint to the courts about them giving ALL MY PERSONAL DETAILS TO A TOTAL STRANGER!!!! ( Still really pist about that one!!) So a letter later they apologised for the clerical error with sincere apologises and assured me they would work on my case. That was back on the 23rd November 06. So got fed up waiting and phoned again yesterday and low and behold they were just sending out the papers that evening (what a coincidence!!!) and if I hadn't received them by Saturday morning to phone first thing on Monday( it is now Friday and still nothing!!) And that Ladies and Gentlemen is where I am at at this moment of time. Will keep you posted. Still fighting and will do until I get every penny that is owed to me. Hang in there anyone who is flagging, if I can keep going so can anyone. I should know I started this fight back in August and still staying possitive(I think!!!). Cathy.

Yeah I know I still can't believe it happened to me. :shock: BUT ANYWAY......phoned this morning and not only could they not believe it happened but they had no knowledge of receiving my forms back ( doesn't this just give you sooo much faith in the court system!!!!) They couldn't apologise enough "This has never happened before" bla bla bla. Then I had to phone the bank and explain to them what had happened( the very bank I'm claiming against, HOW NICE WAS THAT FOR ME, TALK ABOUT EMBARRASING!!!!!) Might even have to cancel everything and reopen a new account,just for them to maybe close it for me anyway after all this is over!!!!! Then I have to put this all in writing and send it back to the courts where an investigation will be carried out. Can I sue the court along with Halifax!!!??? Will keep you posted Cathy.

:mad: I am absolutely furious. I have just received an e mail from someone telling me that he has opened a letter today from the courts. Not only with his information but also MINE. :mad: So now this guy now knows ALL MY BANK DETAILS, HOME DETAILS, AND HOW MUCH I'M CLAIMING FOR, EVERYTHING,(NOT HIS FAULT I KNOW). I can't believe that the courts could be sooooo stupid and dare I even say incompetent!!!! Nothing I can do now but phone first thing in the morning and give them what for!!!!!! This is just typical....does anything in life ever go smoothly? ( Now I've got that off my chest I'm calm now....I THINK!!!) WATCH THIS SPACE. CATHY.

Can you Answer this for me PLEASE. I was thinking of claiming for my charges that they've taken from me, but do I need to pay them for my statements and if so how much? I have a few cards and was going to try all of them as I think I have some charges on all the cards. Do you think that is being too greedy? Is it just the same SAR letter you would use for BANK CHARGES?? :? Many Thanks Cathy.

YOU ARE SOOOOOO RIGHT.(maybe it's a blonde thing!!!! but I like to think it's what you said we like to see the goodness in everyone.) YOU GO GIRL. Let's start this money rolling our way for a change. Nothing to do now for a couple of weeks but wait, read up and get ready for the next stage. GOOD LUCK STEPHANY, WILL BE IN TOUCH. CATHY

BLUECLOUD, That could be a great idea.... SEND MY SOLICITOR A PILE OF COW POO, SEEING HE LIKES TALKING IT SOO MUCH!!!!!!!! ONLY JOKING. :grin: NO REALLY I WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT OR NOT. NOW I KNOW HE WAS. MY SISTER EVEN SAID THAT SOUNDED FUNNY!! I am still very innocent with all this crap I'm told. He also told me not to split my claim, so I went out today and did the opposite he said and SENT OFF MY 1st CLAIM, (AT LONG LAST ;) . ) HE IS NOW OFFICIALLY BEEN STRUCK OFF MY PHONE LIST. (No Christmas Card for him this year!!!) FINGERS CROSSED EVERONE. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED. NOW KNOWN AS (CATHY THE GULLIBLE.) :lol:

Ok on my court paper, there's a section which says "Please describe in simple terms details of your claim:- also include the date the debt arose and if interest is claimed, the amount rate and period covered." I apologise for the stupidity but does this mean.... for details of my claim... do I write unlawful bank charges The date the debt arose... when they started the unfair charges. Interest claimed... 8% and date from start of charges to last day of my claim. This may simple to you but I am struggling here. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP ME. I'm hoping to send court papers away tomorrow first thing. THANKS CATHY.

Hi again. I spoke to my solicitor today and he can't work for me as his company has defended Halifax in the past so can't go against them now. Standard solicitor practice apparently. Nothing ever goes smoothly for me, typical!!!!! So I too have decided to split the claim. Letters going off tomorrow. Good Luck. Will be in touch. Cathy.

Sorry Stephany forgot to say.... When you were doing your spreadsheet did it not automaticallly calculate your 8% for you when you highlighted the interest column. With your £5,000 + add the 8% on to it which will bring you well over the £6,000 mark. I think the Civil Bill is the way you have to go. It's too much money to split and you dont want to get rapped over the knuckles for wasting court time. ( Well sorry... I couldn't but if you feel "bugger it" then you go for it and you never know things could work out very very well. BUT ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT TO DO. IT'S YOUR CHOICE MAYBE ASK FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHAT THEY THINK AND OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS YOUR FRIENDS HERE. Keep in Touch. Cathy.

Stephany. Cathy here....... I am where you are now. Now this is what I know. Spoke to my solicitor he has given me some input of the court system. 1. He thought that splitting the cost in court, would be a misuse of court proceedure and the judge might not take too kindly to going through court hearings twice.(although it's a risk you have to take if you want to chance it.) 2. Going across the water to England to a court there but then again he felt that because this was an issue in Belfast that he thought that maybe court proceedings should go ahead here not England. 3. So this only leaves me with option 3. Which is the Civil Bill. Now this will cost a few hundred pounds in court fees (compared to £62 in small claims)not to mention solicitors fees. I feel I have no other choice but to take this road and now I have to win this or I have to pay alot of money. A chance to take but I would rather do that than possibly lose the 2nd claim by a judge not allowing me to go ahead. Will be speaking to solicitor tomorrow and hopefully will have more info for you then if you want it. Cathy.

Stephany. Are you sure the court charges are £140. I thought they were several hundred pounds. I am at the same stage as you from NI but my head is spinning. I have read so many messages and questions and answers I have BRAIN OVERLOAD!!!Every time I decide what route to take I read up on this site and certain things change my mind. I was going to go the Civil Bill way but all that money(£700) put me off as I just don't have it. Then I was going to split my claim but I'm nervous incase the courts say no more claiming and put a stop to it. Then the option came up for claiming in England and I'm waiting to hear if I can use that option from a friend. But after reading your message about civil bill I'm back to maybe using this option as it would be easier keeping everything at home!!! But is it cheaper for you as you are on benefits or is this what everyone will be charged. Ahhhhhhhh DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I REALLY CAN'T THINK ANYMORE. MAYBE I SHOULD CHANGE MY HAIR COLOUR FROM BLONDE TO ANY OTHER COLOUR...... THEN MAYBE I WOULD BE ABLE TO THINK CLEARER. I FEEL AS THOUGH MY BRAIN IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE!!!!!! HELP PLEASE. :eek: CATHY.

Thanks,but is that all they have to do,open mail and let me know what it says. Is that it?

Please can someone Answer a question for me? If I use a friend's address in London to serve the court papers, what will that person be expected to do? Is it just using their adddress and nothing else, or will they be more involved in the process and know all my buisness? I'm just looking at every option before I decide what to do and ask a favour of a friend!!! Certainly the "going for the whole amount" is very appealing instead of spliting it. Thanks Cathy.

If I give my friends address in London what will they be expected to do? And how do I start the actual claim off and running.

I am from Northern Ireland so if I use the bank's Head Office in England and use a family/friend's address,do you take the risk that if they say "see you in court" you have to tavell to the english court ? Cathy

Hi Stephany. Im here in NI too and Im just waiting for the court papers. Like you I am over the £2,000 mark so I am spliting it. The girl at the court said I couldn't do that but everyone here seems to know a whole lot more than they do so I 'm not listening to her and going ahead. I would break your claim up to nearest figure of £2,000 on your spread sheet then add the 8% of what youre claiming for. As long as your claim is under £2,000 it doesnt matter if the interest makes you go over the £2,000 mark. (hope thats clear as mud!!) and if you have to do that 3 times then it's better being safe than sorry. But as Bluecloud says wait until that money is in your hands before you file another claim. Hey Im blonde as well !!!!!!!!! so dont worry there's no-one on this site as clueless as me, just ask anyone especially Bluecloud. Bluecloud has helped me out sooooo many times it's embarrassing. But I am getting there thank god. Now Im the last person you would want to come to help you out with questions but I will try if I can. And if all else fails we can cry together. All for 1 and 1 for all!!!!! Here if you need me. There's lots of good people out here that can help, so you are never alone when doing this. So chin up, keep going and think of all that lovely money rolling into your account and out of the banks vault. HA HA HA HA Cathy :grin: