Hi all I just received a cheque for my full claim 0f £2027!!!! Can a Mod change my thread to WON please (it was 'charges ate up my benefits' etc) Thanks for all the help everyone & DON'T GIVE UP!

YAY!!!!! :lol: CHEQUE FOR FULL AMOUNT FROM COBBLERS A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who held my hand and helped me through this. This whole process has taught me so much about standing up for myself AND watching my finances more carefully in future. Phew!!! Good luck and all the best to everyone....I'll remember to donate to this site, just want to stroke the cheque for a bit first;-)

Thanks Muggins, you're a star I've just re-checked the paperwork the court sent i have till the end of April to submit the bundle. But I'll get it ready and put it to one side, so I know it's ready. Hopefully NW will do the decent thing and cough up the cash, you never know!All the best S

Any advice anyone? Thanks

I'm trying very hard to hold onto the belief that there are good people everywhere. Sadly they often get overshaddowed by the bad ones or get bullied out of their jobs, as happened on the Whistleblower show. The bullying is also directed at the customers who are most vulnerable to coercion and those who complain esp' about poor service and unlawful charges (which as we know generates huge profits) One employee did say something along the lines of "banking is now about sales, targets and bonuses". Sadly it's very clear that conscientious staff and most customers are expendable, particularly if they don't contribute to profits. It's a mess. The whole financial industry needs overhauling and cleaning up, ASAP.

I have just received the hearing date from the court in JULY!!! Why such a long wait? I'm hoping it's due to the number of cases they're dealing with and not because there is something iffy / complicated about my case. Is anyone else having a long wait too? Anyway they attatched directions: - "all parties shall deliver to the court...documents on which he intends to rely in the hearing" I think they have everything so far. But I just want to check if there is anything else I need to supply ie: re complaint above or anything re' the loans taken out to cover the bank charges. Any one have any idesa? Thanks

Was the £100 for the court fee? As far as I know the next thing is for the bank to set a hearing date. I don't think you need to do anything else yet. But I'm sure someone will post a more detailed response to your Q soon.

EVENING ALL... Is anyone else watching the BBC 'Whistleblower' documentary about Barclays Bank employees dodgy dealings? It prompted me to update you on things with my claim with Nat West. 1)Haven't heard frm the court yet, so waiting for a Hearing Date...will let you know. 2) Complained to Banking Ombudsman about the employee at NW who was abusive to me (see above). They forwarded complaint to NW. Today I received a transcript of the phone call in which NW employee demanded to know my new bank and acc details, demanded to know where my DSS benefits were being paid, refused to let me have my benefit money needed for food and to pay for gas, denied receipt of my letters, admitting they had closed my acc', refusing to negotiate the repayment of the loans they forced me to take out, admitting the bank is struggling to cope with claims for charge refunds etc...again will keep you informed when I read the transcript I was furious that this NW employee had the audacity to think he could speak to me or anyone else like that...lucky for him it wasn't a face-to-face conversation... :mad: Ombudsman service states they will wait to see how NW handle the complaint. Personally I think NW will have to come up with a MIGHTY apology AND all of the money in my claim. How is everyone else getting on?

Hi Westy, why pray tell are you still awake? Just keeping an eye on us sad insomniacs? I'm only awake as I'm waiting to ambush the tooth fairy when she visits the little girl I'm baby sitting...yes I am that skint! Night all... S

.....cos vampires are afraid of daylight, they bleed our accounts dry, they work the night shift cos they have no mates and nobody lves them either....'NAT WEST Bank of the living dead'.... Oh you just know we'll all be on a list of 'undesireable customers' if that's the case I'll wear my undesireableness as a BADGE OF HONOUR!!!! And whilst I'm on a rebellious rant, I'm not carrying that new ID card either, never mind paying for it!!!!Don't get started on the cost of Gas... Perhaps he wanted my bank details as they plan to try and counter sue for the loan. Which wont go v far as I am on benefit so the court will propose a nominal payment say £1.00pm, much less than I offered to pay Will write another 'waste-of-time' letter to the good Mr Higley in C/Services just so I can complain to the Ombudsman when Higley proves to be useless AGAIN. I need a cuppa and a choccky hob nob now...Nat West, don't you just luv em?

"officially debt free, skint, but debt free"....Yes I too remember those debt free days of my childhood...they will come again for all of us:D Just had an interesting 'phone call with NW as they have cancelled my debit card and have refused to let me withdraw the 5 quid in my acc' as they have closed it. The nice man at NW said this was because they had not received a response to their last letter they sent me about the loans(despite them both being sent via Rec' Del over 10 days ago). Of course we know it's because of my claim re the charges... He said... 1) as they have noticed that my benefits are no longer going into the acc' perhaps I 'would be so kind as to provide them with the details of my new bank and new acc number Also wanted me to say that I wanted to close the acc' too (HELL NO!!!!!) 2)and did I know that If I am 'lucky enough to have the charges refunded' as an act of goodwill by NW, they will pay them directly into my NW acc' (now closed but only if I want to get at my own money). CHEEKY LITTLE *******I wont be accepting that! 3) I did point out that the Banks Ombudsman was on TV last week ststing that the banks should not take retaliatory action against customers who claim back charges esp actions such as closing acc' etc Mmmmm, wonder what the OFT & Ombudsman would say?...sadly nothing too helpful I guess

HIYA... CONGRATS TO MUGGINS!!!! Does anyone have any advice re' this.... Got copy of Cobblers AQ in sec G they state: The Claimant has not shown...reasonable grounds for bring the Claim...that the claimant remedy the lack of paticularity pleaded in the particulars of claim... does this sound the standard response everyone gets? Case management directions cannot be proposed until the calimant fully particlurises the claim...in light of this the Defendant may ammend its defence or apply to strike out. are they referring to Draft order for Directions? Cheers .

Howdy all, how's everyone getting on? Sorry haven't been around for a while, have been a bit under the weather, so here's an update: NW refunded charges of £90.00 into my acc ....just like that... then used it pay the loan payment I missed at end of Jan, so OK with me Have completed AQ using "new strategy"info for sec G on N149 and enclosing Draft Order for Direction. Am I right in thinking: I should send copies of AQ & Draft order for Directions to Cobbetts as well as the court? If Judge accepts it both me and NW must provide relevant info to each other and court within 14 days If NW don't cough up, this is when I use info in 'Court Bundle' and any relevant docs' etc in prep of going to court Many thanks in advance of your ideas/ comments Cheers

I DID say that my guess was that you were here for the 'little people' like me who are trying to be treated fairly by the banks... I don't think you have been on the receiving end of / responsible for one of my ill-tempered 'phone conversations with the bank....But who knows? If you have, apologies. But I still want my money back. I got a whole heap of abuse when worked for the DSS Counter Service issuing giros (in the 1980's) but I left when I had a crisis of conscience: I wondered how somone was supposed to live on £36.00 per week. So I went to work with homeless people (in the days when you could chop & change jobs)...but that's another story.If people want to jump on me, so be it. I asked a genuine Q and you gave me a straight answer. Which I respect.

OK this is the only time I'm gonna ask, but why are you here? Conflict of interests? Banking Super - Hero: fighting from inside the mouth of the monster for the good of little people? I'd put my money (if I had any) on the latter:) You seem like a sweetie!

OMG Nattie do you work for them? Now I feel all guilty for my sarky tone on the phone just now....God I hope I haven't spoken to you...It wasn't personal...but she did call when I was watching Corrie even my best mate wouldn't do that

Incompetence or Bullying? Received letter from NW customer 'care' dept on Fri promising to stop the texts and phone calls (in response to my letter telling them I reported them to OFCOM and OFT).... but another text & silent phone call on Saturday and one just now (in the middle of Coronation St!) to tell me that my acc' was overdrawn and to know when I was going to pay them the money "I owed them" and to 'reassure' me that the calls would stop. Advised them that the acc' was OD because they had taken charges and suggested that they bear in mind The Police would view the repeated calls as Anti Social Behaviour and that in addition to my complaints to OFCOM etc I would make a complaint to the Police if they stupid enough to call me again...Arrrrghhhhh!!! Apparently they have transferred my acc' to their Debt/Credit Management Dept' who will be contacting me by.....wait for it....PHONE! I am under no illusions that I am dealing with an incompetent bunch of wannabee gangsters and Cowboys!! Interesting, I got the girl who called me so flustered that she said that NW were so innundating with claims re' unlawful bank charges that they have set up a special dept' just to handle the claims and complaints and they were having to work longer hours and had been pulled off other jobs to work in the call centre....I advised her to join a union, she said the union was unhappy about the way staff were being dumped on as a result of complaints etc.....do I detect a whiff of dissent in the NW ranks? I hope so a strike would put a smile back on my face!!!!! Oh by the way have written to Cobbetts acknowledging defence so will twiddle my thumbs until I hear from the court... How is everyone else getting on?

Ahhhh, all this loveliness makes me feel warm all over......

Hi Westy, Hi Muggins Sorry if I sounded a bit short folks, didn't mean to....up to my neck in debt and the jokers at NW are winding me up again by text etc. Good thing you mentioned the Particulars of Claim, I did include them in detail on reverse of N1, BUT have just realised that I don't have a copy....will get one from the court today, just to make sure. Will wait to see what Cobblers have to say next. Thanks again for the advice, I do appreciate it....even if I do sound like a grumpy old grinch sometimes...:o

Oh what fun we had when I took the 'Telephone Harassment' letter to the branch this afternoon....tell you about that another time... Got the Defence from Cobbetts, I'm hoping it's the usual stuff we all get, but I'll precis it just in case. Would you mind telling me what you thinK... 1) They state ...'the Particulars of Claim do not disclose reasonable grounds for bringing a claim....to recover bank charges (and interest thereon)....in the event that the claim is not properly particularised then the Def' will apply to strike out the claim and/or for summary judgement in respect of the same.' 2)On allocation the Def' invites the Court to direct that there be a case management conference in order for the court to considermaking appropriate orders.....to give the Claimant the opportunity to properly particularise the claim. Is this supposed to scare me? 3) No admissions are made as to what charges have deen debited to the Claimants bank account Er, I could give them an updated spreadsheet.... 4)Re' ...allegation that the contractual provisions pursuant to which the charges have been applied are uncenforceable by virtue of the Unfair Contract Terms Act ("UCTA 1977").....blah, blah, blah then they ask me to "identify the sections" of the above act that i have based my claim on, AND the contractual provisions that I allege are invalid by reference to the UCTA etc... And that until I do that they are unable to plead to the allegation, and because of this the Def' denies that they are liable... So basically they don't know why I have brought the claim, are unaware of the legal basis of the claim, and are unable to understand the relevance of the stated regulations and wont admit that they have taken any charges from my acc' and until I help them to understand where they have gone wrong, they are denying everything... OK so I'm just going to write to Cobblers and acknowledge receipt of the Defence and wait for the bank to send me another copy of Defence along with the Allocation Questionairre..... I wonder how much NW pay Cobblers to retain their services.... Hi Westy, just saw your reply when I posted the above, That was what I was wondering, but I think it is reasonable that they issue payment (cheque) for the full amount claimed...I would argue that the loans are separate and therefore they shouldn't be able to deduct anything from what isessentially my money....of course I would pay them what is owed but until they refund the charegs I can't afford to ( I can barely pay for food and fuel at the moment).....

Just a quickie Recieved copy of defence from COBBETTS (AKA Cobblers )will come back with Q's once I've read that later.... Have had more calls texts today and a call from colllections centre which they ended when I informed them I was recording the call!!!! Have prepared 'phone harassment letter' above and letter quoting Social Security Act' and relevance to bank charges. Am thinking of offereing to make a monthly repayment of £10 topay the loan not covered by Loan Protector insurance (was also advised by Citizens Advice Bureau) But wondering if NW will try and deduct from the amount I'm claiming for unfair charges? Any Ideas?

Morning all Thanks for all the info. think they're trying to intimidate me again (IT WONT WORK!!!!). Phone call this morning from NW's Debt Management about loan repayment....told them that I deposited enough money to cover this months repayment and that I am NOT willing to discuss anything with them over the 'phone (will follow up with letter to that effect) and complaint to powers that be... DSS benefits are no longer paid into NW account, but I will deposit just enough to cover loan repayments and not a penny more. They can def' stick that int there pipe, and anywhere else that will cause them maximum discomfort! NB: I am going to distribute the info about DSS benefits (Social Seurity Act stuff above) and letter of appropriation to EVERYONE I know who's on benefits. The Banks are abosolute **** to think they can snatch Benefit payments. It's a disgrace....can't help thinking of the people I read about who have commited suicide due to crippling bank debts & charges

Hi all So I received the following from the court today (14 day deadline):notification that NW has filed an Acknowledgement of Service, copy of the expected letter from Cobbetts to court re' acknowledgement of service, copy of N9 in which NW 'intend to defend all of the claim' So looks like they are going to drag things out for at least another 28 days (yawn!!!!!) Am guessing this is their standard MO and that I should wait for the court to get in touch with me / Cobbetts to make the next move. Interestingly got a text from NW yesterday demanding that I contact them ASAP, which I ignored as I have written to Higley about 'telephone harassment'........oooooh I'm scared!!!!!!(runs away to hide under duvet LOL:p )

Thanks it is of great use will def' quote it in my next letter NW I made a descision today about the bank charges issue which may annoy the bank but I am so disgusted with them that I really couldn't give a damn. Now that I have read your post I am even more determined to get EVERY single penny they have taken from me. And the whole lot of them can go to H*LL. They make me sick. I get very beligerent and willfull when someone takes me for a ride as NW are about to find out.

Hiya Thanks ever so much for the above. Have used the Refusal Letter template as basis of response, just added stuff about not allowing info to 3rd party and stopping harassment (couldn't find yours so hope what I wrote was OK - they'll get the gist anyway) Will post tomorrow and take copy of it & Higley's letter to the Court. Thanks again Ps. Was listening to radio and half asleep today so not sure if I heard this right: Is is true that some guy sent bailiffs to his back to seize there computers when they didn't repay his bank charges? Sounds like my kinda guy!!!!!