last in vs HSBC

[last in]

Hi all,

 

After reading through the FAQs, important info and just some of the many fascinating threads on here, I am feeling inspired to reclaim my money from HSBC, so wish me luck! Am going to go through my statements tonight to see if I have all 6 years' worth (unlikely, but you never know) - if not, tomorrow will see me sending a recorded delivery data request.

 

I have also passed on details of this forum to my best friend, as she too has suffered at the hands of punitive bank and credit card companies for years and is currently in poor financial health following graduating from university as a mature student, so I'm hoping she can also claim back what is rightfully hers. This is such a helpful site, I can't thank everyone enough but will be donating for sure if I win (another reason for you all to cheer me on )

[claire78]

Hi last in,

 

best of luck to you, if you need any help just post your query in your thread, we'll all be around to help

[lateralus]

when you are going through those statements, mark anything that has a DR next to it - even the overdraft interest is reclaimable - the spreadsheet will determine how much of each interest charge is added.

as claire says the faqs are the backbone of the site - so really read them well, then you will find details of things you need just below the hsbc thread - like description of charges, contact details, etc.

we are here to help, so, see how you go and get back with any questions you may have.

[last in]

Cheers people

 

As predicted, I don't have 6 years' worth of statements, so I guess I will be sending off my info request forthwith. Even going through the 18 months' worth that I do have, it is plain to see that their charging policy is not in the slightest transparent or fair: on some occasions I have been slightly over my limit for a couple of days and been charged £60, other times I've been over for a week and only (only!) been charged £20. What the hell is that all about?

 

I look forward to breaking out the highlighter pens when my statements arrive.

[jambon79]

Hi Last In

 

Not sure if you are signed up for it, but I got my last six years statements on the online banking, it is quite easy to sign up for and easy to find once online.

 

Regards,

 

jambon

[last in]

Hi jambon,

 

I do have online banking but have never been able to access any statements further back than a few months...can you point me in the right direction, as whenever I try it just says the earliest date I can view is *blah* (usually 2 months back).

[jambon79]

I had the same problem to start with, as I was trying to look on the current statements screen, but eventually I found them.

 

Go in to your current account.

 

On the left hand panel go to 'my statements' and they should all be accessable from there.

[last in]

D'oh! Thanks jambon, as you can see I'm going to need all the help I can get!

[jambon79]

That makes two of us, I thought they had pulled the access in light of all the claims, but no, they had just semi-hidden it away!

 

Good luck.

[last in]

Right, have just printed off all my statements from Jan 01-Dec 06 and have sharpened my highlighter pen in readiness. No doubt this is a bit of a silly question, but I don't remember seeing it in the step-by-step or FAQs anywhere (apologies if it's an old chestnut though) - once I've gone through all my statements and done my sums etc., is it worth me making a S.A.R (Subject Access Request) anyway? From other threads I've read, it seems important to establish what, if any, manual intervention took place on the account, and I won't know this from just my statements alone. Also, it would be really handy to know what my overdraft rate was, since it has changed quite a bit over the last 6 years and knowing will make it easier for me to see exactly what has gone on.

 

Any thoughts?

[lateralus]

don't think you need to send the sar if you have all the statements.

as for the o/d info: when you use the advanced s/s it figures everything for you - that's the beauty of it - i didn't understand one tiny bit of it but it worked. so, i'm going to send you my link to my super simple explanation of the s/s and the interest bit. if you need it,,,,fine. if you don't need it,,,,,,that's fine too - it has been of use to a good few now.

so, check it out on this link - it's post number 9: HONEYGIE sees you HSBC! (1 2 3)

let me know how you get on.

[last in]

Thanks lat, I will definitely be using the spreadsheet and your explanation! Reading my post back, I've realised I was completely unclear - I meant to say 'overdraft limit', not overdraft rate. On my original statements it shows what my agreed OD limit is, but this doesn't appear on the printed versions and it's changed so much over the last 6 years that I can't remember what it was at any one time.

 

So I went through and highlighted every charge with a DR next to it that wasn't a 'legitimate' charge e.g. using cash machines abroad, along with the interest that appears with them. I've read the 'Charges description on statements' page on here too. The only charges I have are 'total charges', always deducted on the 30th of the month - I can't see any other kind. Obviously there's no explanation of what these total charges refer to! They vary wildly as well, from a regular £27.50 for the first few months of one year, to a whopping £72 (plus interest, of course) on several occasions. The funny thing is, I can count the number of times HSBC wrote or called me to inform me that I was over my limit on one hand - what on earth were they charging for, I wonder?

[lateralus]

so, you've read the paragraph at the bottom of this thread:

Charges description on statements - Please Read where it talks about total charges.

it doesn't matter if you know what they are for or not. when you start putting the charges on the left side of the s/s - call them just exactly what they call them and on the right side - put the date of the interest charge and your balance at the time - you'll see sometimes it may pick up some of that interest and add it on and other times it doesn't pick up any. it has to do with whether you are in plus or minus balance at the time - so, just copy, in date order all the stuff you've marked with a DR next to it. it just amazes me - but the s/s does all the work - really and truly, i had never done one before and i was gobsmacked! just plow in and do it - you'll see it doing all the work.

by the way - that's exactly why we are reclaiming - they charge when you go over your o/d limit, they charge when a d/d got bounced back, then had to be resubmitted, they charge when a st./or didn't get paid because it put you over the o/d limit and then have the bxlls to charge you for going over, and for having to resubmit the charge. it's crazy - and it's all on computer - no one does anything - just the computer and they charge you all that money. get mad before you start - it will spur you on. now, if you have trouble with the s/s look at my step by steps, and if you really have trouble - get back to us.

[last in]

Wowee Just finished all the data input, and my charges come to a stunning £1577. With % of interest as well, this tops out at £1849.31. Hello, my money, how I've missed you! Let's hope we'll be together again soon...

 

Now that I've done the sums, I think I am going to do the SAR anyway - I plan to do this thing absolutely by the book, and as others have said at least this way I can show that I have asked for a full disclosure of charges and manual interventions.

 

I shall keep you all posted. Once again, a preliminary thanks to everyone who posts and helps out on here; for someone as useless with Excel as myself, even the amount of work that's gone into the spreadsheets and their magical formulae is pretty mindboggling, so massive thanks to everyone - you rule!

[last in]

Well, after a short hiatus caused by other life stuff, I am sending off my SAR tomorrow morning. Will keep everyone updated!

[traceyjsmith]

Well done last in, its not quick or easy but it is soooooooo worth it. The bank paid up today, £812 straight into my account lovely. It has taken since november though so just be patient and if you have any probs these guys are fantastic! Good luck.

Tracey

[last in]

Wicked news tracey! I'm picturing a very emotional reunion between you and your cash Enjoy it!

[nettyg]

you don't need to send a SAR, you've got all your statements!!! you are sending them the prelim letter - asking them for your money back ok

 

Letter - Preliminary approach for repayment

[Bunnykins321]

I've been reading all your threads with interest and wondered if someone can help me please. I'm trying to claim back my neice's charges on her bank account back from HSBC. I've got her account number details but dont know which address to write to requesting the statements (enc £10). As anyone got the correct address.

 

Thanks

 

Bunnykins

[nettyg]

hi bunnykins

 

8 canada Square, London, E14 5HQ.

Tel 020 7991 8550 Fax 020 7991 4992

 

you can send the SAR either to the branch where your neice holds her account or head office address above - either way it will get to the right place.

 

start up your own thread so we can keep track of your progress - that way we can always find you should you need any help

 

netty

[last in]

you don't need to send a S.A.R - (Subject Access Request), you've got all your statements!!! you are sending them the prelim letter - asking them for your money back ok

 

Letter - Preliminary approach for repayment

 

Thanks nettyg. I was originally going to send the SAR anyway as it also asks for details of any manual intervention - I know they never send this out, but I wanted to be able to say I'd asked for it if/when I file at court (makes me look like I've given them every chance innit). However, what with all the recent developments (courts striking out banks' defence, reclamation info all over the media this week) I really think that they will soon act to try and stop the reclamation process, so I've decided instead to go straight for the throat now. Which is why your link posted above is doubly helpful! Cheers

[last in]

Prelim letter typed and ready to go along with schedule of charges - I've addressed it to David Lewis as an actual named person at Canada Square, is it better to do this or just send it to HSBC plc do you think?

[lateralus]

doesn't matter - it will get where it needs to be.

[last in]

Cool, cheers lat

[last in]

Woohoo! Prelim letter delivered today. I'm off to mark the dates for action in my diary, although I'm sure they'll get back to me before the 14 days is up