This topic was closed on 11 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 2019-03-08. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

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Hello Amelia, you really have nothing to worry about. I too was scared of taking the first step but then after reading all the FAQs it dawned on me that at the very worst I would lose my court fee. I thought maybe I would have to go to court, end up with a huge claim for legal fees etc. - all completely wrong of course. Instead I ended up spending perhaps 10-15 hours on my Natwest claim, which was succesful in the end. The letter writing does take some time but then on the other hand you have got plenty of time to do it. It's not like you have to defend yourself in court with a big bad judge looking down on you - instead you can reply to letters in your own time and I found the whole process fairly easy. It just takes a bit of determination!

Well! I did phone up the court and they could not explain what a directions hearing was other than a vague "it's what the judge has ordered to decide how to proceed with the case" (that's all clear as mud then). A few weeks before the directions hearing was to take place the solicitors firm Lloyds uses writes and offers a full settlement. AFAIK no claim has ever come as far as a real directions hearing but I may be wrong...

Well, what can I say - this matter has now come to its conclusion. I have got what I asked for. I must admit it has left me with a bitter taste in my mouth though, because: * It's my money. My lovely money which I have earnt fair and square and paid taxes on. I cannot believe how much has been involved in getting my own money back. * The way the bank has played this. They have tried to make it as difficult as possible and it seems only those who really persevere until the end get a decent result. Their tactics are all above board but trying to scare me by saying that they believe my case will fail in court seems a bit over the top.

Do not worry. It is just scare tacticts. They will also say in their next letter that they believe your case will fail in court. Of course they do not really believe that, otherwise they would let all these cases go to court instead of settling in the last minute. I bet the letter you have received is also a standard letter they send out to every claimant. Remember when you filled out that spreadsheet to work out the interest, so you could include this in your claim? Simply print this out and send it back to them with the letter as suggested in this thread (you may have to slightly edit saying you are including a list of the charges). That should make it easy for them to see how it's all worked out.

It might be a case management hearing, I am not sure. Will call the court tomorrow to try and find out what on earth is going on here.

My partner has a claim in progress and a few weeks ago he received a letter from Barnet CC saying the case had been stayed pending the outcome of the Elliott test case. I wrote a letter back informing them the case had been settled and wished to apply for the stay to be removed. Now he has received a slightly odd letter stating that there will be a directions hearing taking place on 30th August. It also says at the bottom "Please note: This case may be released to another Judge, possibly at a different court". So - what goes on at a directions hearing and why the need for this hearing? After googling this it seems it is normally only used in custody cases. Maybe we will be discussing the custody of my money?

"Banking facilities" can mean a lot of things, surely? It may simply mean that they might withdraw your overdraft facility, for example. Having said that, when I was with smile I received similar messages that I found slightly patronising. This is one of the reasons I left Smile (primary being their charges!). It could be an empty threat. On the other hand, if you do complain about charges again they might simply refer to their terms and conditions and close down your account. It's hard to know!

Forgot to enter a dairy here as I went along - but have yesterday received a lovely cheque for £734 from Smile. I went through the usual route - Data Protection Act request then preliminary letter. Received a letter dated 20th June saying they were looking into my complaint and they would get back to me. The 14 days were up, I sent my LBA on Wed 5th July and then the day after the cheque arrives. I have a feeling Smile are taking a risk and are simply refunding without the case going to court. It makes sense, they incur less costs in dealing with my case and I get my money back faster. It 's a win-win! I will be bying myself some good quality salmon once the cheque clears! PS Yes I have filled in the survey.

It's pretty sad isn't it! I cannot see how this is good news. £12 is still far too much. Also interesting to see that the credit card providers are reducing their unlawful charges to the maximum possible. Typical.