first direct, need a wee bit of advice

[PhilipR]

Dear all,

 

First of all, I am very new, so please be nice! I have been looking to claim bank charges from first direct for a total of £665. I sent of the letter requesting statements for the last 6 years and they sent me all of these free of charge - posted the cheque back for £10 whihc was nice of them!

 

I then wrote and claimed the full amount back and they have offered me £555. Tempting to accept that, bearing in mind it'll cost me £80 to claim through moneyclaim, but I have a couple of questions:

 

- if I make a claim through moneyclaim, will I get the £80 back?

 

- is there a template letter to say "thanks but no thanks to your offer" - i can't find one on here at all, but maybe that's me being dim!

 

Good luck to all of you claiming charges back - I have found this website an absolute godsend and have passed details on to many friends and family members, so keep doing what you're doing!

[dolly]

Hi

 

Yes you will get your £80 back plus the 8% interest if you file through money claim. I don't believe there is a template for that letter but it is not too hard to do a letter saying that - the others are just more legalese

 

Good luck - you'll get it all back soon.

[closey]

First of all it's your claim, so do what you feel best, however lots of people get these offers, carry on claiming the full amount and succeed. So go for the lot I'd say!

 

When you file the claim and win, not only do you get your costs back but you will also get 8% APR on each unlawful charge levid from your account.

 

I would write back saying something like:

 

I write in reference to your letter dated *****.

 

I confirm that I accept your offer of the sum of £*** as an interim payment against the full amount requested, but not as a full and final settlement. Please contact me so that I can confirm which account I would like this to be paid into and to confirm a date by which this payment will be made.

I now give you a further 14 days from the date of this letter to return the remaining £*** (total amount £***) and confirm what date payment will be made.

 

Failure to respond positively to my request, within this time frame, will leave me no alternative than to issue a claim. After that there will be no further communication from me.

Looking forward in earnest to hearing from you.

Hope that helps.

It would also be worth starting a thread in the relevant bank forum.

[JO1955]

Hi, I'm very new too, both to this site and the computer in general. Just sick of all these charges, then to find out the Halifax has been taking them illegally! Well that puts the cherry on the cake so to speak. I sent for my statements on 21st June and they cashed my cheque but I'm still waiting. Anyway it seems I've got a human interest story as my son died and my account went a bit haywire, I got no sympathy from the bank then and I don't need it now so I'm going for all the charges going way back. Not sure how much it will be but hey! Hope you get yours all back, if they've made an offer it just shows. Joyce.

[melpomene]

Hello people!

 

I have just landed on this forum, & guesswhat? I claimed £494 from FD, & have had an offer of £377.50! I've just amended the LBA to acknowledge but reject their offer. Should i accept it as part payment as is suggested above?

 

Now this may sound very silly indeed, but isn't it BETTER for me if we end up in court & i get my 8% interest on top?! It's over £100 more!!

 

Finally (for now), they've offered to make the payment to reduce my O/D. I've said I want the full amount, & as a CHEQUE. Am i within my rights? Will this really antagonise them?

 

PLease reply if you know any of this type stuff.

 

Thanks,

Mel

[closey]

If they end up offering you the full amount you asking for then you can't claim to get the 8% APR. Only issue a claim one the deadlines are up and the full amount hasn't been offered to you.

 

You can also ask for the amount by cheque, but if you are going to use it clear the overdraft then you're probably best having it paid directly into your bank account.

[melpomene]

thanks, Closey, i find it ironic is all...i'd much prefer that they pay up for peace of mind...i don't get why we can't claim the 8% unless we end up in court!

 

the way i see it is - FD is a bank, i am not. they have some of my money that i didn't lend them. i have some of their money that they did lend me, & on which they charge interest (not disputed). actually i'm keen to pay off the debt that remains, but take umbrage at their imposition of a debt reduction using my money when i'm already paying my negotiated instalment unfailingly each month.

 

bottom line is that the full amount will be lovely & i will be delighted if i don't have to wrestle with any default they might enter against me. hopefully that won't happen as they have had no cause thus far. i get a bit scared they might do something vengeful.

 

thanks soo much

Mel

[PhilipR]

Thank you ever so much for al your help here - I hav written to fd now and said that whilst I accept their offer, if they do not pay the extra £100 I will take them on in court! Still waiting on a response, but thanks ever so much to all that helped.