Success!! I'm over the moon to say the least...I've just come back from a very nice weekend away to find a letter from DG solicitors and payment in my bank account for the full amount plus interest. Many thanks to everyone for their help and advice. I will most certainly be donating to this fantastic site! Now for a glass of wine or two and on to the next claim Good luck to everyone who's claiming back their bank charges! Cheers!!!!

OOPS! of course! Thanks Michael very much for all your help. I am getting the letter ready now. Just out of interest, if I don't hear back from them early next week, should I contact the courts? Their deadline to defend is Tuesday? Many thanks again

Hello Michael, many thanks for your help with this. Yes, the money they offered was the penalty charges plus interest plus court costs and the amount they have offered only falls short by £30. Thank you very much for that letter I will send that off. However, I am unsure about the last paragraph and the charge for the confidentiality issue? Should I put this and how much!? Thanks again!

Help please! I've had a letter from DG Solicitors today, offering a refund of the money and all the 8% interest (well, all of the claim bar £30). However, they have put the following paragraph in: 'That payment is made in full and final settlement of your claims arising from the charges applied to your account in the period referred to above and by accepting this payment you agree not to make any other claims relating to charges for the period stipulated above blar blar blar... What worries me is the bit about 'not making another other claims relating to charges in that period'. A request has already gone off for the statements on 2 other accounts at FD, so this would have an impact. What should I do? Send a letter back saying I accept the offer in full and final settlement on that account only? Can anyone help with this please? The deadline for the solicitors to defend the claim or pay up is this Tuesday and this letter was received today.

oh dear! ignore the above I was in a muddle!!! They have already filed an acknowledgement of service so I will have to wait....must be all that wine I had last night!

I've received my notice of issue from the courts and the bank has until the 19th feb to reply. I haven't heard anything at all from them and the deadline is Monday. As I haven't had anything in the post today, I thought it's unlikely that I will get anything Monday. Has anyone else had this with FD solicitors? I must admit, I thought I would atleast hear something, ie receive an acknowledgement of service or something but so far there's been nothing!

Hi Dubliner10 No, I didn't use MCOL. Not sure if it was only me but I had real problems with it and it was driving me totally mad! So, I used the N1 claim form instead and attached my schedule of charges. I found it so much easier to be honest. It's a more detailed claim than what you would put on MCOL as you are limited to the amount of characters you can use online which makes it a bit tricky. There's a standard template you can use for the N1 form and I just sent a cheque off with 2 copies of the form. I got a notice of issue from the courts a couple of days later. It was all quite simple! (so far anyway!!) So good luck with filing your claim. It's all very nerve racking isn't it but we've come this far now and we're entitled to all of our money back! You never know, they may pay up before you have to file a claim. Although I have to say, it seems they're doing all they can not to pay up early! Fairycakes

Filed my claim and received a notice that the defendant has filed an acknowledgment of service. FD are going to defend all of the claim. Pretty much what I expected to be honest. It says they have 28 days to file a defence.

Hi Dubliner10, thanks! I've been putting the particulars of claim together and feel I'm doing well with it. I'm not rushing it, I'm just researching what others have done and then I can make sure I have a very good claim. I'm more determined than ever now and will make sure they pay back every single penny... Good luck with your claim!

Nothing heard from FD so I am now just about to file a claim online and go for the whole lot - interest included....

Thanks very much for the response. I've taken your advice and sent another letter. If I don't hear in 7 days I will file the claim. Congratulations on your claim for the full amount, that's really good news

Well I've decided to go ahead with the claim and ignore the letter from FD. Think it's best to stick to the deadlines. However, I am absolutely terrified of what I'm getting myself into. I've been reading through the site for months but still don't feel I really know what I'm doing once I submit the court claim. I have to get a court bundle together and all these things seem to be worrying me as I have no idea what I'm doing!! I've also seen posts about an AQ and other things!?! Does anyone have any advice to give? any help would be appreciated as I am rather confused about everything at the moment!

Hi Dubliner Yes absolutely I agree with you 100%. I just don't know whether I should send a letter now giving them another 14 days to respond for the full amount or skip that and just file a claim with the courts. The deadline was today, so not sure whether I should just forget the letter and go straight for the claim. Good luck with your claim!

I have today received a letter from First Direct offering £1804 as full and final settlement against my £2179.00 claim. The deadline after the lba was today, so I was going to proceed with my claim. What should I do, should I file a claim with the courts anyway or send the standard letter back to them, saying that I except it but as part payment and then give them another 14 days to respond to it? As they have hit the deadline, should I send the letter, or ignore it? I would like to get all of it back if I can, as I feel I'm entitled to all of it and there's another £375.00 to come yet. Sorry but I'm not sure what's best at this stage and whether to go ahead and file a claim with the courts or whether I should give them another chance and send the letter of rejection but extend the timescales? Any advice would really help me! thanks!!!!

Hello, I sent my prelim letter off on 18 December and the bank have completely ignored it! Iknow there may be a delay because of Christmas and everything but it's worried me slightly. I'm due to send the next letter today and will continue to do so, even though they've completely ignored me so far....Does anyone know if this happens alot? I know I have to stick to the timetable so will just carry on regardless, even if they don't respond!

Many thanks Roger66! I am will be posting my letter tomorrow. Good luck with your claim. I'll keep an eye out for your post, when you tell us you've had all the money refunded

Hello, I have just received my statements from First Direct and ready to send off the prelim letter with the excel sheet with list of charges (minus last 2 columns on htere). Just one query. Under the 'what I require' paragraph in the premlim letter, do I need to put in all penalty charges for where it says £XXXXX (so overdraft, excess overdraft and S/D recall charges) and where it says plus £XXX, remove this part, as this is for interest only? Is that right? Sorry just want to get the letter right before I sent it. I've been reading through posts on here for weeks and still nervous about sending it! Many thanks!

Hello, I've been reading through the site for the last couple of weeks now with great interest. Both my partner and I are with First Direct. He's been having bank charges on a regular basis purely because he can't seem to get straight each month. Some of the months he has up to £150 for going just a few pounds over and then it becomes a vicious circle each month. I am actually quite good with money and have bailed him out many times but the more they seem to charge him, the more he gets in a muddle. I dread to think how much he has paid over the years. The bank have been less than helpful when he's spoken to them and we feel enough is enough! I have decided to send the letter to the bank for a list of charges over the years and get the ball rolling. Although I've been reading through this site, I am extremely nervous/anxious about doing this as it could well go to court and I know I have to be realistic about it. That's the bit that makes me nervous! Anyway, once again a hello to you all and what a fabulous site!