We were fortunate enough to receive £4600 from HSBC for bank charges but our account has now been closed, leaving us with an overdraft to repay of £650. Can they do this - they are now demanding immediate payment. Had our account remained open we would be well within our overdraft limit.

Thanks Lucy. Yes my son and his fiancee are pleased. It is a long time since they could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

DG solicitors acknolwledged our claim giving them 28 days. We then got a letter from DG asking for a breakdown of charges, which we sent.

A few days before their 28 days were up, we were sent a settlement for the full amount to which we accepted and the money was paid into one of the accounts shortly after

All we have left to answer is the MCOL, it says they've entered a defence and I can't do anything online to say the claim has been settled? How do I now inform the courts of this?

I'd just like to also say a BIG thanks to the CAG and all it's memebrs, without which, none of this would have been possible (our donation will be forthcoming very soon).

Thank you.

Thanks for the reply. We decided on the 11th Sept to send a letter accepting thier offer in partial payment and if the partial payment and the outstanding amount were not credited to the relevent accounts by the 18th Sept we would pursue a claim without further notice.

Had what appears to be the standard reply, blah blah ombudsman blah. So as you predicted we filed the MCOL yesterday.

We have just sent this in reply to thier email

Thank you for your prompt response to my email dated 14th August. I feel that this is an appropriate time to inform you that I have sent a request for repayment of charges along with a schedule of the unlawful charges levied upon this account over the last six years and my joint account over the last two years.

If you do not stop the impending charges of £125, these, along with any additional interest incurred in being overdrawn, will be added to the claim for unlawful charges.

Whilst I understand that the OFT report published on the 5th April 2006 was issued with regard to credit card default charges, the OFT’s position is that ‘These principles also apply to default charges in other consumer contracts such as those for bank overdrafts, store cards and mortgages’. This statement further demonstrates that HSBC as a creditor, have a requirement to comply with the 1999 Consumer Credit Act Unfair Terms & Consumer Contracts and therefore subject to proving that the charges are lawful and proportionate.

I'm not sure that entering in to two different lines of communication with HSBC is the right thing to do, but if we can stop this months charges it'll be a respite.

Thank you so much for your support it is really appreciated - I hope we can be successful as my son is getting married next year and it would be great if they could start their married life without this debt hanging over their heads.

Wendy:)

Hi

We have just started a claim against HSBC in order to claim back charges on behalf of my son of over £4000.00! Needless to say he is always in debt and their advice is consolidate with a personal loan at an interest of 14.8% - I don't think so.

We requested details of charges and were sent two copies of statements going back six years and our cheque to cover admin costs was returned.

Emailed them yesterday requesting they did not apply a further £140 worth of charges next week. Received a very quick reply saying charges are fair, appropriate and reasonable and no refund will be forthcoming. They also 'advised' me that the Office of Fair Trading report published on 5th April referred to Credit card default charges only.

We have today posted the first letter to them along with a breakdown of charges.

Bit apprehensive at the moment, but will keep you posted.

Wendy