julied1 v Bradford and Bingley

[julied1]

Hi All,

 

I sent my SAR to Bradfrod and Bingley 03/03/07, they received it on 06/03/07.

 

I received the statements for two accounts well within the 40 days, 14/03/07.........amazing!

 

Sent the prelim 15/03/07 requesting refund of charges. Received a letter back dates 20/03/07 basically saying they were looking into it and would aim to reply again within 20 days.

 

I was still sticking to my time scale but then received 2 letters one for each account dated 29/03/07.........wonders will never cease!

 

They are as follows:-

 

Thank you for your letter of 14 March 2007, acknowledged by my colleague on 20 March 2007.

 

Your long-standing relationship with us is valued very much and I'm sorry you've found the need to contact us. The patience you've shown while waiting for my reply is greatly appreciated.

 

You're questioning the fee we charge when there is not enough money in your account to cover a Direct Debit or Standing Order payment. When you set up a Direct Debit or Standing Drder on your account, it is your responsibility to make sure there is enough money in the account each month. Unlike a high street bank our accounts are all savings based and we've no overdraft facility. You earn interest on all credit balances, so it is reasonable for us to charge a fee for any returned Direct Debit or Standing Order, as we have to carry out a certain amount of internal work for which this charge to offsets our costs.

 

We believe our charges are reasonable and comply with the legislation in this area. We are however aware of the concerns expressed by the Office of Fair Trading within the industry generally. We're currently undertaking a review of our charges to ensure that they are still appropriate taking into account various cost reduction excercises we've completed over the past few years within the Group.

 

In the interests of compromise I am prepared to reduce the fees to the amount which applied originally. (On this letter they missed out the bit that the originally amount was when fees were introduced in 1997 - I only found this out by reading my hubbys letter) The original fee was £10.00. Due to increased costs this has changed to the present charge of £25.00.

 

Accordingly this will result in a reduction in the charges added to your account from a total of £175.00 since March 2001 - to the total of £100.00 being a reduction of £75.00.

 

I hope you are happy with the reduction in the fees as detailed above and I trust my explanation helps you understand why these charges were made. I've taken the opportunity to enclose an Acceptance of Offer form to be signed and returned if you agree to accept the offer made.

 

The address details we hold for you would appear to be out of date. Before we can change them on the systems we need to see varification. Please therefore call at your nearest branch with proof of your current address as soon as possible.

 

If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Denise Frear

Customer Relations Officer.

 

 

How interesting. When I sent off the original SAR I enclosed a solictors letter addressed to ourselves with the heading sale of *old address* and purchase of *new address*. This was about completetion of the sale and purchase details.

 

So, If B and B were unsure of who we were, why did they send the statements to the new address, and any other correspondence to this same address. The mind boggles.

 

So from the letter I understand they are prepared to charge me £10.00 for each charge as opposed to the £15.00 and the £20.00 I was actually charged. So intead of claiming £175.00 they are offering me £75.00. any amount over £10.00 charge.

 

My intention now is to reject this offer and at the same time include the LBA.

 

Any comments from anyone please..................

[Parkvale]

Absolute same old rubbish just packaged differently. You have a legal right to claim

PENALTY fees back . I don' know if you have looked through these, http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faqs-please-read-these/

Good luck.

[julied1]

I don't know what planet this Angela Sheffield is on but when I came to write my Decline of Offer letter, I got out my prelim letter and realised I was actually only claiming back £98.00. So where she got the £175.00 from I have no Idea!

 

Maybe, she copied and pasted someone elses letter and just changed the name address and account number. I have written my letter back now and will be posting it tomorrow.

[Parkvale]

Planet bank charges . I am afraid.

[julied1]

Parkvale I think you may be right!

[julied1]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

:D :D

 

Some really good news. Sent the refusal letter, Bradford received it on the 10th April, received two letters on the 11th April offering a full refund on both accounts!!!!! Also in my letter it explained there was some confusion in the amount I was claiming and my charges added up to £175 not the £90.00 + £8.00 still on the account. Well who am I to agrgue?????????

 

Me and my hubby have signed the forms and are just waiting for the cheques to arrive:D

 

Also they sent a withdrawl mandate for me to sign to give me back the £8.00 plus any interest earned in the past 4 years. The account has been closed for that long.

 

£175.00 for me

 

£145.00 for my hubby

 

I didn't claim any interest but this will do nicely for a start. As soon I I received the cheques I will let you all know:D

[Parkvale]

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Congratulations

P.S. Take hubby out with the extra £ 30.

[julied1]

Thanks Parkvale I might just do that!

[Parkvale]

He's a fella , and all us fella's hate to be beat by our better half's

[julied1]

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:D

 

We now have our cheques.

 

Hubby £145.00

 

Me £183.92 (£175.00 + some money left in a closed account plus a little bit of interest)

 

 

Please please could someone move this to *********WON***********

***********************

 

Thanks all and good luck with your claims

[Parkvale]

Congatulations, Another win for us and another lose for them.