Halifax Hardship Response

[Screwedup81]

I made a claim under hardship rules and Halifax sent me a Common Financial Statement form to fill in.

 

I returned that and they have now written back to me saying that they believe that my complaint concerns the level of fairness or lawfulness of the fees.

 

Having reviewed the account they say they are satisfied that the fees were correctly applied

and that my complaint will remain on hold pending the ongoing legal proceedings with OFT.

 

They also acknowledge that I indicate that I am experiencing financial difficulties, and in view of my current financial circumstances

they are arranging Money Management Team to contact me so that they provide me with advice on how to avoid these in the future

and work with me to identify what further assistance they can provide to hep manage my current financial circumstances

 

The letter goes on to say the usual things that if I continue to manage my account in a similar manner ,

future fees will be applied to my account.

 

It also goes on to give me recommendations of Citizens Advice.

 

I need help in what should be the next step for me now?

[yourbank]

Do you have any priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities)?

[Screwedup81]

Yes I have priority debts- rent arrears and council tax arrears.

 

The Halifax Money Management Team said they cannot help me because I am in arrears on my credit card.

 

I contacted Customer Relations - the actual guy dealing with my claim and gave him the feedback.

 

He then said he was to reconsider my case again and yesterday I received a letter with an offer of only £175 refund from 2 accounts,

£105 from a current account and the other £70 from a card cash account.

They said that the amount is to help me bring my finances back on track for the next three months.

 

Is there any way I could have the bank revise that amount.

 

Do I need to get on the phone and speak to the claim caseworker.

 

If so on what grounds could I make them reconsider and offer me a reasonable amount.

[yourbank]

Yes I have priority debts- rent arrears and council tax arrears.

 

The Halifax Money Management Team said they cannot help me because I am in arrears on my credit card. I contacted Customer Relations - the actual guy dealing with my claim and gave him the feedback. He then said he was to reconsider my case again and yesterday I received a letter with an offer of only £175 refund from 2 accounts, £105 from a current account and the other £70 from a card cash account. They said that the amount is to help me bring my finances back on track for the next three months.

Is there any way I could have the bank revise that amount.

Do I need to get on the phone and speak to the claim caseworker.

If so on what grounds could I make them reconsider and offer me a reasonable amount.

 

This is the complicated bit.

You need to argue it in this method.

 

Firstly explain why you were unable to make the priority debt arrears, ie loss of job, etc, etc,.

The next is to explain the effect of the charges on your ability to pay the charges by taking money out of your budget.

 

As an outcome, I wouldn't be arguing 100% of the charges and amount that you need back

but you need to put the full amount and ask for say, an amount to cover the priority debt arrears,

possibly an amount to take the account under the overdraft limit if it is over it plus a suspension of charges for say 3 months

to allow you to be able to budget without the added charges affecting your ability to pay your priority expenditure.

[Screwedup81]

I have been in contact with Halifax several times now and have written some letters explaining my priority debts.

 

I also sent them copies of my rent arrears but they are still standing with the original offer.

 

They have written a letter saying they still stand with the original offer and that they will not be able to deal with my complaint any more.

 

They have said if I am not happy with that then I need to go to the ombudsman.

 

Do I need to get to the ombudsman in regards to the amount that they are paying out and if so what is that I need to include in my complaint to the financial ombudsman?

[yourbank]

I have been in contact with Halifax several times now and have written some letters explaining my priority debts. I also sent them copies of my rent arrears but they are still standing with the original offer. They have written a letter saying they still stand with the original offer and that they will not be able to deal with my complaint any more. They have said if I am not happy with that then I need to go to the ombudsman. Do I need to get to the ombudsman in regards to the amount that they are paying out and if so what is that I need to include in my complaint to the financial ombudsman?

 

Have they given you a final response letter outlining their reasons?

[Screwedup81]

Yes they have given me a final response which outlined that I refer my concerns to the financial ombudsman if I was unhappy with their decision.

 

I have been in touch with the Customer Relations Manager dealing with my case on the phone,

faxing him letters but he does not seem to be backing down.

 

Is it really worth the time going to the ombudsman or best to just accept the little offer.

[Screwedup81]

Wrote to halifax in December that I was in finacial hardship and they refunded me £175 of the £2400 of the bank charges and froze charges for 3 months.

 

I wrote to them again recently explaining that my financial situation had got worse and that they should reconsider my claim.

 

I explained why my financial situation had worsened including items being returned because of insufficient funds, unable to pay credits cards, rent arrears, utility bills etc.

 

However they wrote back to me saying that they were sorry that I had got in the situation.

 

However they referred back to their original decision and that if I was unhappy I should go to the ombudsman.

 

I even wrote to the director and got a reply which referred back to their original decision.

 

Should Halifax be doing this and what can I do?

 

I have heard that the FOS is a waste of time.

[MARTIN3030]

Whats the position with your account ?

Have you got any outstanding loans or overdraft ?

[Screwedup81]

Have an overdraft of £1900.

[sweetjane]

Hi Masha

Go to CAB, get a financial statement drawn up with them which all creditors will have to accept as proof of your financial hardship situation and start paying Halifax a goodwill payment of £1 pcm. CAB will contact Halifax for you if you request. Good luck SJ