BernieB vs Halifax

[Bernie B]

First post, deep breath, here we go....

 

Having read all the brilliant advice and threads on this site and a couple of others, have taken the plunge to re claim charges from Halifax - £562. Not a massive amount I know, but to be honest I'd still be doing this if it was £5.62 - it's the principle and, most importantly, it's my money and I want it back!

 

So, umbrella account opened (just in case), FAQs read, bank statements dug out of dusty box at back of wardrobe, charges highlighted and spreadsheet filled in and preliminary letter (from this site) posted on 6th Feb (recorded delivery) with schedule of charges. Then minor panic and very large G&T as I started imagining Halifax lawyers interogating me on the witness stands !

 

And in no time at all, things are happening. 9th Feb recieved a very polite letter from my Assistant Branch Manager saying my 'complaint' has been forwarded to their 'specialist complaints department' who will contact me shortly. Hoping this is ringing bells with some of you and they haven't just invented this department specifically to take me to court :o !

 

Can't imagine even if the complaints department do contact me before 14 days that they'll cough up, so expecting next step to be LBA on 20th Feb.

 

Will keep you all posted and would love to keep in touch with anyone at a similar stage to me - something tells me the mutual support I've seen on these threads is a really really important part of getting our money back.

 

Bernie B xxxx;-)

[jenpenny]

hi bernie, and good luck think were all on vaLIUM AT THIS STAGE! i sent my lba last week, so have a look at my thread and ill let ya know how it goes!

jen xx

[Bernie B]

Thanks and good to know everyone feels this nervous at the start!

[docannie]

Hi Bernie,

My LBA expires on Friday so I'm almost at the entering the claim to Court stage. Am a tad jittery but am determined to see it through. I come on here every night to see how everyone's getting on & that helps me/spurs me on.

Good Luck.

[Bernie B]

Will definintely keep an eye for your progress. Good luck!

[Bernie B]

Quick update - No further response from bank other than a 'thank you for your complaint' letter (even though I didn't 'complain' just made a perfectly reasonable request for my money back!).

 

So LBA sent recorded delivery today and starting to pull together details for small claims process. Not sure whether to go for MCOL or NI, probably the latter as I think I'll feel a bit more in control if I do it all myself in person.

 

14 days and counting....:)

[Bernie B]

LBA sent 2 days ago, but today recieved letter from Mark Scott, Review Manager Customer Relations (Leeds) offering me £440 in response to my preliminary letter and claim for £562. I still can't quite believe the bank want to give ME money! :D

 

Also usual stuff including bank charges leaflet, can't reveal cost of charges as commercially sensitive, can't comment on OFT statement as doesn't apply to banks, and if I get any more charges they may close my account. And of course, requirement to accept offer "in full and final settlement" with acceptance form enclosed.

 

So, what I'm planning to do is call him and request (haggle?) the full £562. I'll make it clear that anything less and I'll proceed with my claim which will then mean I'm asking for 8% interest and costs, so in theory, offering me the £562 now could save them up to about £150 extra.

 

Does this seem sensible? I know I should really go the whole way, but I really would be happy with just the charges returned as still really quite nervous about the claim stage.

 

Any advice or experience of anyone else who's haggled over the phone appreciated and watch this space for news...

[karen69]

Hi Bernie

My claim was for just over £7500, I received an offer of £5500 and told them I wanted £6500 and they said yes straight away. Wish I had have haggled for more now - but hey, £6500 is a lot of money to me. I had the acceptance form the following day and the money was in my account within a week.

[Bernie B]

Phoned Halifax back, and asked to speak to Mark Scott. He wasn't in but the girl who answered said she could deal with my query. Thanked them for the offer but explained couldn't accept because it wasn't what I'd asked for. She then immediately offered the full amount which I said I would accpet as full and final settlement of my claim.

 

She told me to simply change the amount on the acceptance form and make a note of her name next to it, send it back and the £ would be in my account in 14 days.

 

Words cannot express how excited I am about this (been running round the office squealing!) and I am so so so grateful to this site for getting me here.

 

Will be filling in the surveys bits and donating 5% as soon as I get the money.

 

And most importantly, please keep going if your at the start of your claim against Halifax - it really does seem as if they're folding sooner and sooner. Keep the faith -we've got them on the ropes now!

 

Bernie xxx

[jenpenny]

excellent newas! well done. send me lucky vibes please!!!!

jen

[Bernie B]

Consider them vibes sent Jenpenny and I really hope you get a result soon:p.

 

Can't believe I've gone from start finish in only 16 days, and have got so attached to this site that I will definitely keep checking in and helping where I can (even if it's only moral support).

 

Also, if there's a moderator out there, can they move my thread to the success bit - can't figure out how to do it, or how to contact you direct - I blame it on the fact I'd barely managed to learn how to post before my claim got settled!

[docannie]

Well done BernieB!! & thank you for your Good Luck wishes.

[Bernie B]

Final update - money in bank today!!!! :D

 

Even though they said they'd settle on the phone, it didn't really sink in until I saw the money in my account. Came through really quick too, only 4 working days after returning the acceptance form.

 

Thanks v much to the CAG site and everyone on the forum

 

Bernie

 

(p.s. donated my 5% last week, really pleased to be able to give something back)