Just to let you know that RBS have coughed up in full - £448. No problems went through the templates as explained here. Just prior to issuing court proceedings I e-mailed RBS (Sandy Watt) to ask if any progress had been made on my claim. Very swift reply stating it was being dealt with in line with agreed FCS (?) timescales. Found this to be that the Bank had eight weeks to respond to my initial letter. Agreed by e-mail to adhere to these "official" timescales. Chased up by e-mail 2 days before deadline and received a very quick response that a settlement letter was being prepared and would be with me shortly. It arrived two days ago! Thanks for all your help. Don't know if I'm right but I felt that being reasonable rather than confrontational in all letters and e-mails was beneficial. Thanks again. Good luck everybody. Pete. P.S. Could someone please move this thread to a "Won" file as I don't have the slightest idea how to do it.

Just thinking. When we went to RBS yesterday, among many things the young lady that dealt with us told us was that the charges were a penalty for using RBS money and a deterent. We explained that the charges arose due to timing rather than overspending and that the current overdrawn amount was less than the charges levied - i.e. the charges are the overdraft. However, they also refused to arrange a temporary overdraft on my daughter's account but guaranteed by me, so that no more charges are applied (apart from interest) during the time we are trying to settle the claim. Do you think I should write to the Bank detailing our meeting and include a copy of the letter with my preliminary letter. It seems to me that if I'm claiming the charges are not really charges but a penalty and one of their staff agreed with me in a formal meeting, the case would be stronger. What doe anyone else think? Thanks for your help. Osborne

Hi Martin, Thanks for the message. New to all of this but was absolutely astonished by the RBS attitude. We were prepared to be reasonable but it's impossible. Don't they realise that their smugness just makes you more determined to get the money back. Thanks again, calming down a both now! Osborne

Hello All, Just Been To Rbs Today With My Student Daughter To Try And Sort Out A Financial Mess She's Got Into Purely Through Absolutely Penal Bank Charges - Due To A Two Day Late Payment And Unbeknown To Her She Incurred Bank Charges. She Thought She Was Still Running The Account In Credit Until The Next Set Of Bank Charges Hit And So On. This Is Almost edited Agreed With Bank That We Would Work On Getting The Charges Reduced With Head Office But, So That No New Charges Would Accrue, An Overdraft Would Be Needed Which I Would Guarantee. Unbelievably They Said No. They Simply Want To Disadvantage Customers So That They Can Go On Fleecing Them. This Is An Account Run By Three Female Vet Students Who (should) Earn Decent Money In The Future, Will Want Mortgages, Savings, Loans, Business Facilities Etc... How Short Sighted Can They Be. Acting Graciously, Sensibly And Fairly Would Probably Have Net Them Thousands In The Future. Trying To Calm Down Tonight Before Sending The Prelim Letter Tomorrow. Plan To Send It To Tommy Maclean In Edinburgh. Any Help And Advice Greatly Appreciated. Osborne