Monstermind v Ulster Bank

[monstermind]

Starting a thread to record my progress against Ulster Bank.

 

State Of Play so far:

 

9 June: sent subject access request

25 August: eventually received duplicate statements.

 

Have drawn up a schedule of charges. £2244.07 from when the a/c was opened in 2002 up to 25th May 2006.

 

I'm due a statement for the last 3 months in a few days time. There are a few more charges for this period, so I'm going to wait til I receive my latest statement, and add these charges to the schedule before sending off my initial request for a refund.

 

I have one question which I hope someone will be able to answer. I have scoured other threads for an answer but haven't found one -

 

A lot of the charges are for £30, £37.50 etc and I have no problem asking for these back. But I also have a lot of "irregular account charges" which I have included in the schedule. These charges are for £10, £11, £12 and £13 each (seem to have gone up £1 every year!)

 

Are these charges also considered extortionate? Could Ulster argue that they legitimately reflect their admin costs?

 

Should I consider leaving them off the schedule and only claiming the £30+ ones? This would bring the amount claimed down by about half.

 

Any thoughts welcome!

[Bettyboop]

Hi Monstermind

 

I included irregular account charges in my claim. If it hadn't been for their other charges my account may not have been 'irregular'. Would be interested to know if anyone else has any thoughts on this.

 

Bettyboop

 

PS Good luck

[monstermind]

Thanks Bettyboop, and good luck with your claim too.

 

I think I will include these smaller charges, bearing in mind that Ulster Bank ROI deduct something like 3 euros for an irregular account charge.

 

I can't see how they could prove my charges reflect their actual costs, when they're more than 5 times what they charge customers south of the border.

[Bettyboop]

Couldn't agree more. They have some nerve as regards the difference in charges North and South. Surely they would find that impossible to justify.

 

Imagine if (for instance) NatWest charged their customers in Scotland more than their customers in England - there would be a huge uproar. We always seem to end up with a raw deal in NI.

 

The usual excuse when things are more expensive here is "its that stretch of water between us and the mainland - more expensive to get to etc etc". Well now the last time I looked, I didn't see any water at the border lol.

 

Will keep updating my thread with any new info on my claim against Ulster Bank (due to lodge court claim this week). There are quite a few of us now and hopefully more will join in. Ulster Bank are the pits when it comes to charging.

 

Good luck. Will keep an eye on your thread.

 

Bettyboop

 

PS - your claim is over £2k - will you be doing 2 separate claims?

[monstermind]

Too right, Bettyboop, NI customers get ripped off at every opportunity, and I reckon the NI-based banks (Ulster especially!!) are masters at this.

 

It's not just their eagerness to slap penalty charges on everyone to boost their profits, it's the wee things like charging £4 for setting up DDs etc

 

I will have to make 2 separate claims if it comes to that, which I'm guessing it will. I'll claim the max £2k first time round, and go back for the odds if they're still not playing ball

[monstermind]

Preliminary request for refund posted 6/9/06, recorded delivery. £2266.07.

[monstermind]

Received a response from Ulster Bank customer relations unit, Noelette Hassett, dated 18 Sept.

 

"We believe our charges are fair, reasonable and transparent" etc, etc..... "having considered all the points made in your letter, I am happy to inform you that I have refunded your account with £60 as a gesture of goodwill."

 

Some way short of the 2K I asked for. LBA printed and going recorded delivery Monday morning.

[big aid]

£60, i am sure you are over the moon with that. this goes to show that these people think that just because we fell on hard times for a while, that we are all idiots.

give it to them

[besty01]

ur lucky

i got sweet fa lol

[shovey]

Hi Im New, Just Starting To Reclaim Ulster Bank Charges. Last Week I Went Overdrawn By 69p So They Slapped On £30. Then A S/o For £10 Couldnt Be Took Out So They Slapped Another £30 On. On Sat I Recieved A Letter Telling Me They Are Taking Another £30. I Phoned The Branch. No Refund But If I Wanted To Come Into The Branch To Discuss My Finances I Could!!! Cant Wait To Write My Dpa Letter

[rayo1973]

Hi Guys

 

Just posted my subject access request against Ulster Bank.

 

Lost all my bank records - clumsy. but they charged me plenty, so about time i had it back!!!!

 

Rayo1973

[big aid]

Hi Guys

 

Just posted my subject access request against Ulster Bank.

 

Lost all my bank records - clumsy. but they charged me plenty, so about time i had it back!!!!

 

Rayo1973

there is no law that says you must keep statements, but there are laws which tell the banks to keep them

[shovey]

HI, JUST POSTED MY DPA LETTER ON 26th RECORDED DELIVERY AGAINST ULSTER BANK. ILL KEEP YOUS POSTED

[Bettyboop]

Good luck Shovey! Quite a few of us after Ulster Bank now!

 

Bettyboop

[shovey]

Thanks Betty, I Hope I Have Some Luck.

[besty01]

u will

[shovey]

Betty It Seems That Besty1 Has Had A Result Out Of Ulster Bank!

[monstermind]

Due to the bank hol and work commitments, LBA didn't get posted til this morning.

 

tick tock ....

[monstermind]

Response to LBA received yesterday, from Ulster's CRU, dated 11 Oct:

 

"... charges are fair, reasonable and transparent ..... the charges that have been applied to your account must stand....", etc, etc.

 

Am now in the process of preparing my small claims documentation ....

[campbell10]

Hi there. sent my third and final letter today. requesting nearly £2000. I know what the response will be so its off to court we go. Do you think i will be successful once they receive the claim from court?