new girl Sarrah v HSBC - SETTLED IN FULL

[Sarrahk]

Hi i am new on here and as kindly advised by users i am now starting my own thread for extortionate charges i have received from HSBC over past year! I am just going to send off DPA letter this week. I am trying to clear up whether if i have 2 accounts with HSBC i need to send in 2 DPA letters to bank along with 2 cheques for £10?

 

any tips in relation to this preliminary stage, delivery to brach manager is that better than customer relations do people think?

 

I am little nervous about the whole thing as HSBC seem pretty tough to crack! I also have old closed accounts from couple years ago with Natwest who i know levied loads of charges against me but i am wondering whether it is worth starting anything up to get them back, i could certainly use those funds!

 

Thanks sarrah x

[Guest Lueeze]

Just 1 cheque is fine for a tenner!

 

I have 3 accounts with HSBC (current and also closed) and that covers everything they have!

 

Get Natwest too if you have the stamina!

Good luck

 

Lou x

[Spiceskull]

Hi,

 

As the accounts are with one bank, you only need to send one letter, and one fee. However, you will need to tailor the letter to identify yourself as responsible for both accounts. If you have moved house in the last six years you may also need to provide proof of ID.

 

The easiest way is to pop into your local branch, get them to make a 'certified copy' of your driving licence or similar, and hand your letter in at the branch whilst you are there. It may be good to get them to sign for the letter, and it is a MUST that you include the £10 fee.

 

It is also best to use the DPA letter from the library, as it extends the request to more than just statements - it asks for ALL transaction history.

 

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Sarrahk]

fantastic that is really helpful! I will get letters sent off this week and enclose copy ID and my previous addresses i think with my £10 for the branch manager!

 

I have £60 worth of charges pending next week from them which was the absolute last straw and i had heard about this forum from a friend of mine at work who is using all info from here to start a claim and doing so successfully so here i am!!

[Guest Lueeze]

Start another bank account jst incase too!

 

That way you can start afresh once they refund you!

[Spiceskull]

I have £60 worth of charges pending next week from them which was the absolute last straw and i had heard about this forum from a friend of mine at work who is using all info from here to start a claim and doing so successfully so here i am!!

Charges pending? Try this - it works well against HSBC, although they will only be able to refund after the charges have gone through:

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I find myself in the position that your actions require my intervention for the [HOWEVER MANY] time in the space of a few days. I am seriously reconsidering my view that [bANK] has the capacity to act as my fiduciary in a responsible and lawful manner, as implied by the terms and conditions between both parties.

 

This morning I received a statement from [bANK], stating their intent to unlawfully apply penalty charges to my account on [DATE]. These charges are to the sum of £XX, as well as an interest penalty of £X.XX for the 'privilege' of this unlawful action being undertaken.

 

As you are aware, I have asked you to demonstrate to me that these punitive charges are fair and just, that they are lawful, and that they are being lawfully applied. You have failed to demonstrate this to date, and therefore it is implied by your refusal or inability to supply such demonstration, that these penalties are, indeed, unlawful.

 

Therefore, I would draw your attention to the following point: you have stated that these charges will be applied on [DATE]. If these charges ARE applied, then you will be required to explain why you have, in my view, committed a pre-meditated breach of the law, and I will be reporting such breach to all of the relevant authorities.

 

However, as this has not yet happened, I require that you take action forthwith, and cancel this transaction prior to its execution. Furthermore, I require confirmation, in writing, that this transaction will, indeed, be cancelled.

 

I shall be checking my account on [DATE], and if I see that the penalty charges, plus interest, have been unlawfully applied to my account, I shall lodge a claim at the county court to recover these charges, plus my costs and interest calculated at 8% APR, without hesitation. Furthermore, I shall require that you confirm whether these unlawful charges have resulted in a default notice against my record with credit reference agencies, and if so, I will seek appropriate action to have this notice removed.

 

In view of my first paragraph, and considering your apparent incompetence to act as my fiduciary in a lawful manner, I will start to consider a course of action whereby I may seek redress for all the inconvenience you have caused me.

 

And yes, you definitely need to look into a parachute account.

[Sarrahk]

yes but i dont know if any banks will take me as my credit rating has been so screwed up by banks! Might just have to be a basic account i think!

[Sarrahk]

Charges pending? Try this - it works well against HSBC, although they will only be able to refund after the charges have gone through:

 

 

And yes, you definitely need to look into a parachute account.

 

wow! thanks! i will send that off asap!

[Spiceskull]

Basic is all you need. CoOp Cashminder and NatWest Step accounts seem to be the easiest to open...

[Tinkerbelle]

Try the Alliance and Leicester. I managed to open a current account with them - cheque book and Electron card - though I expect that the card will be upgraded later down the line.

 

Don't be afraid of contacting every financial institution to make a claim. You'll be glad you did.

 

We're all here to support each other and hand hold where needs be.

 

So you go get em girl!

[Sarrahk]

Charges pending? Try this - it works well against HSBC, although they will only be able to refund after the charges have gone through:

 

.

 

Just sent this letter off today so hoping to have some success. Contemplating whether to hand deliver my DPA letter into local branch or send recorded delivery to HSBC customer relations.. any preference anyone?

[Sarrahk]

by way.. i not long ago had £125 of charges levied by HSBC and at that time wrote an angry letter of complaint but i actually offered then £25 as settlement in alternative. I now realise my tom foolery in doing that but is it worth me trying to get that £25 back now???? any thoughts anyone?

[Sarrahk]

yet more questions for perusers of my thread..

 

can you claim back the £25 arrangement fee for temporary overdraft facilities or is that agreed and therefore no go area????

 

thoughts welcome.. otherwise i will be the only one posting on my thread!!!

[nickmack]

can you claim back the £25 arrangement fee for temporary overdraft facilities or is that agreed and therefore no go area????

 

I think the answer is no, but someone else will confirm.

 

You could include them and see if HSBC are paying attention. If it goes as far as court, they will deduct these from the settlement amount if not valid.

[neilloffhagen]

can you claim back the £25 arrangement fee for temporary overdraft facilities or is that agreed and therefore no go area????

nickmack is right you cannot claim back overdraft arrangement fees.

 

Neil.

[Sarrahk]

nickmack is right you cannot claim back overdraft arrangement fees.

 

Neil.

 

Bummer! maybe i will try swindle them into my letter anyway and see if they notice !!!!

[circuit]

not sure if that's a good idea. you have to act reasonably in case your case ends up in court and you have to demonstrate that to a judge. most if not all HSBC claims are ending after a claim has been filed. there is a good chance you will have to file a court claim before you are paid back. i would be honest if i was you, but it's your call.

[Sarrahk]

dont worry i was only joking, i am a trainee solicitor for my sins !! .. i work in crime mind but as neo remarked to me the banks are the biggest criminals of all!

[juicy]

Hi Tinkerbell,

 

I have just been looking to open up a different account and was looking at the Alliance and Leicester. Did you choose that one because of the low overdraft rate? It looks like one of the best to me.

 

Jodie

[Sarrahk]

HI folks.. i am just wanting to send my preliminary letter for approach for repayment.. what do i do about the interest they have deducted every month they have levied a charge? Do i include the full interest amount they took off for the relevant month?(surely if i was overdrawn anyway when they levied over limit charge they were entitled to some interest anyway cos of the fact i have an o/draft?) .. i dont really understand how the interest side of it works??

 

HELP much appreciated.. confused sarsy!

[juicy]

Hi Sarah,

 

I am confused about that one too!!

 

Just about to send my prelim letter, who are you addressing yours to? I have a contact name and address if you want it that someone else used and was successful!!

 

Did HSBC send you all your statements or just the charges??

 

As on my statements I have charges on the bank statements for each month i.e DD reversal and then a summary letter with each statement also with overdraft fee charges for that month on. Should I be adding them all up and claiming for the whole lot.

 

Very Confused!!

 

Jodie

[Sarrahk]

Your contact for preliminary letter would be much appreciated thanks!

 

i got all my statements online (easy for me as only been with them 18 months) and i then added up all the bank charges i could see deducated on each statement to start a claim for the whole lot (except the interest as i am completely confused by that!).

 

anyone who can help us clear up this interest malarky for preliminary letter?!:-|

[overcharged_consumer]

anyone who can help us clear up this interest malarky for preliminary letter?!:-|

 

No probs.

 

It's really quite simple.

 

You CAN claim for any unlawful charges applied to your account. IF these charges take you overdrawn you CAN claim for any interest that has been charged on these charges (only likely to be a few pence each month).

 

Before County Court stage you CANNOT claim interest on the charges at 8% APR. You only add this interest when you file a claim.

 

Basically, request a refund of your charges only as calculating what interest was charged on the penalty aspect of your overdraft would be far too tricky, especially when it only adds up to a very small amount. Then, when your bank don't refund you and you're forced to file a claim, ADD INTEREST AT A RATE OF 8% APR FROM THE DATE EACH PENALTY WAS TAKEN FROM YOUR ACCOUNT. The spreadsheet in the library will help you do this.

[Sarrahk]

thanks for this, very helpful. i will only put the charges in my prelim letter in that case! my charges are only approx £170 but i figure if its small amount they might pay up more easily & i would rather it was in my pocket not theirs!

[Tinkerbelle]

I wouldn't worry too much about the overdraft interest charges.

 

Halifax owe me just under a grand and the O/D interest when I totalled it up was less than £2.00 - so you're not missing much!