Woolwich £3 per day charges

[flopper]

Hi there,

i had an basic current account with the woolwich, i used it for a few months and then openened another account with another bank. I had a couple of pence left in the account and it was left unused for several months. Somehow a direct debit tried to come out of my account, (they were cancelled but not with the bank) and as i had moved house i didnt know. Basically they charged me for an unpaid dd, then began to levey a charge of £3 per day on my account as it was overdrawn. By the time i got to know about this it stood at around £200. I called them and was told that there was nothing that they could do, i went to the branch and all they could do was cancel the dd and close my account.

I continued to call woolwich head office and i was told time and time again that there was nothing they could do, not even stop the charges and arrange a plan for payment. I was told to wait till it went to debt collection???

Well i am now paying this off via wescot collection (total amount was around £400! doun to around £150 now), from reading your faq's i realise that i was wrongly charged, also someone has told me that you cannot be taken to a debt collection agency if the debt is due to charges, is this true?

I no longer have any details left from this account i.e. acc no's etc i only have a wescot account no.

What would you advise i do to start the process of claiming this back

 

Thanks

[hughes690]

Welcome Flopper: I too had similar charges from Woolie. £3.00 per day by 31 day = £93.00 pm for too long! See my thread (Brooksdad v Woolwich) which might give you some info and procedure. Read FAQs and reread for great info and read others experience on Woolwich threads.

Wish you well on your claim. Chin up - think of the end result. You must follow the correct procedure. Send SAR to request a list of ALL charges over last six years to start the ball rolling.

[flopper]

Thanks hughes,

Im goin to go to my branch tomorro and see if they can give me my closed account details, then im going to get the ball rolling with the woolwich and the dca. I will keep you updated.

Thanks

[hughes690]

Suggest you send SAR rather than visit branch. They then have 40 days to info you all 'illegal' charges on your account. This is the initial action I took to start the ball rolling. Hope this encourages you. Chin up!!

[flopper]

Hi there,

i need to visit the branch in order to get my acc number to put on the S.A.R. If it does not include my acc number i would say they will delay it as much as possible. First thing tomorrow il go to branch and get acc number then send SAR. Thanks for the help

[flopper]

Visited the branch today, was asked why i wanted my old acc number, i told them as i wished to make a complaint and needed my acc number. Gave them all my details, they could not find it, i was asked various questions and i realised that they knew what i was up to and that they were tring to make it difficult. After telling them that they should have my details due to auditing needs and the data protection act the lady found it. Was told that my account had been written off, i told them that it had been directed to a debt collection agency. Could anyone give me any advice on what to do with the debt collection agency, i.e. what they need to be sent or told.

S.A.R. sent today, 21st march is the deadline.

 

Thanks

[flopper]

Recieved conformation that they are dealing with my complaint and will respond by the 15/3, along with a letter from barclays telling me that my schedule of charges is in preparation.

Just have to wait for the list of charges to come and then i can get busy.

[flopper]

Ok,

 

Forgot to post that i got my statements and i sent a prelim, their 2 weeks is up on Thursday (29/3) so if there is no reply by friday i shall give them a ring and if there's no joy with that i will send the LBA.

 

Will keep you posted

 

Flopper

[steve31]

Good luck

The proceedure is so "step by step" you will know there next moves n=by having a read through the forum.

 

Regarding the DCA, you could if you wished tell them that the account is now in dispute and that you will not be making any more payments until it is resolved. They can not force you to make payments while the account is in dispute, infact they shouldn't hassle you at all over it (though that doesn't mean that they won't!).

 

Good luck!

[flopper]

Thanks,

 

i already have told the dca that the account is in dispute and surprisingly they were fine with it, i just have to keep them informed on my progress.

 

Flopper

[flopper]

Hi all,

 

No word from the Woolwich, so LBA off on monday, also i have had 2 calls this week from the DCA. The first one was ok when i explained the account was in dispute but the second lady was trying to do the hard approach saying i had to pay and thats that. It was very funny especially when i said that i would pay if i seen the original credit agreement, then i told her it would be difficult as there never was a credit agreement and that if they would wait a few weeks this would all be sorted out. She then hung up LOL.

 

Flopper

[flopper]

Ok,

Still no word from the woolwich not even a response to say that they got my prelim letter. Surprising as they were very quick with my SAR. I have been snowed under with work and have not yet sent LBA. I will be sending the LBA tomorrow (if the PO is open).

 

Will keep you posted

 

Flopper

[flopper]

LBA sent 11/4/07 they have till around 26/4 to respond, im gonna give them a call today and see what is happening (if anything)

 

Flopper

[flopper]

Forgot to post the outcome of the call,

 

Well phoned Woolwich and they passed me onto Barclays. Phoned Barclays and they have no record of my claim, so the nice bloke told me he would put the wheels in motion. I told him they only had till 26/4 before i took court action and he could only say they will look into it asap and he would put URGENT onto the 'complaint'. I think they are ignoring me and trying to stall.

 

Flopper

[CAZKATJOE]

Hi Flopper,

I had this problem, they kept on saying they had no record of me, and i never received any letters from them.

 

However they have just acknowledged my court claim against them, so they now know i exist.

 

Just stick to your time lines, and you will be fine. If you have not heard from them on the 26/4 then start court action.

 

Good luck, youll be fine

Caz;)

[marley2009]

yep thats exactly right caz, as long as u have copies of all letters etc that u have sent to the bank then thats ur proof if it goes to court.

[flopper]

Hi all

got a letter from barclays today, it goes something like; we are sorry you feel that your charges incurred are unfair, but we disagree. Blah blah terms and conditions you agreed to when you opened the account etc etc. Then at he bottom of the letter it goes onto say; Despite my comments above, without any admissions of liability i am willing to offer you the full amount you are seeking.

 

I just have to send off the acceptance letter. I WON!!

 

Not for much but its my 1st claim and will fund some court action towards other banks.

 

I will not put this in the succesfull claims till i get the money.

 

Thanks everyone who helped

 

Flopper

[CAZKATJOE]

How much did you get, i dont seem to be a ble to see here anywhere.

 

Well done, congratulations.

Caz:D

[flopper]

Hi Caz,

only £380, take away what i havn't paid DCA it works out around £250, probably settled quick as the amount was small. Its not much but it was this account that got me on the road to reclaiming unfair charges. It will come at a good time as i will be taking the halifax to court (1 week till Lba runs out) and i didn't think i would have the money to do it for a while.

Will post when cheque arrives,

 

Flopper

[flopper]

Hi all,

 

Cheque recieved and in the bank today.

 

I won yippie

 

Flopper

[jowalshy]

Well done Flopper that is excellent news.

[flopper]

Thanks,

 

Money will be used to fund court action against the halifax for a much larger sum.

 

Flopper