HSBC - Help! - How to begin

[mortip]

Hi all,

 

Was wondering if I could get come preliminary help.

 

Have been considering looking at this for sometime, and have finally (today) - decided to do something about it.

 

Have been cruising about the website, looking at forums etc and just trying to figure it out. Am not really used to forums etc, so is proving character building.

 

Have two initial questions really:

 

1. I have only had my present current account with HSBC for about 3 years, prior to this I had two different accounts (with the same bank/branch). But they were in joint names with my ex- wife. Can I still claim against these even though they are now closed - is is a legal minefield because of the possibility of any excessive charges being payable to both me and her?

 

2. Have had a look at the letter templates, and am getting used to the 'prelim' and 'LBA' terminology, but unsure what relates to what. I don't know what interest is due to me, so need a report from my bank detailing this, (including (if possible)) the accounts that are now closed i spoke about in question 1 - (what a mouthful).

 

Anyway, any help would be appreciated to get me started.

 

Many thanks

[overcharged_consumer]

Hi all,

 

Was wondering if I could get come preliminary help.

 

Have been considering looking at this for sometime, and have finally (today) - decided to do something about it.

 

Have been cruising about the website, looking at forums etc and just trying to figure it out. Am not really used to forums etc, so is proving character building.

 

Have two initial questions really:

 

1. I have only had my present current account with HSBC for about 3 years, prior to this I had two different accounts (with the same bank/branch). But they were in joint names with my ex- wife. Can I still claim against these even though they are now closed - is is a legal minefield because of the possibility of any excessive charges being payable to both me and her?

 

2. Have had a look at the letter templates, and am getting used to the 'prelim' and 'LBA' terminology, but unsure what relates to what. I don't know what interest is due to me, so need a report from my bank detailing this, (including (if possible)) the accounts that are now closed i spoke about in question 1 - (what a mouthful).

 

Anyway, any help would be appreciated to get me started.

 

Many thanks

 

Hi Mortip,

 

Right, in relation to 1, I suspect that, as your old joint accounts are now closed, you will have to get written permission from your ex that you have authority to deal with this. If the account was still open there would probably be an "either or" clause in there allowing either of you to deal with matters. However, as it's now cloased I suspect there would be an issue with this. Start on your sole account for now eh and then move to the joint account when you get a firmer answer on the position.

 

In response to 2, prelim is the preliminary letter - in other words, the first letter, the one that asks for payment. The LBA is the letter before action which threatens court action if they don't comply. This is the second letter to go. When you say you don't know what interest is due to you, do you mean charges, or do you actually mean interest? Have you calculated your charges? If so, do that first. The interest you can claim at this stage is the interest THEY have charged YOU on the charges they applied to your account PROVIDING those charges took you overdrawn or added to your overdraft. Very complex to calculate and probably not worth it.

 

You can claim 8% annual interest on each charge from the date the charge was applied ONLY when you file you claim with the courts if they fail to pay up to either of your requests.

 

OC.

[Bookworm]

Hi.

 

You came to the right place.

 

I don't know about your divorce situation, but there is no legal minefield that I'm aware of.

Joint account, either can claim back. If your ex finds out later that you got all the dosh back and wants some of it, that's something for your divorce lawyer, can't help you there.

 

As far as reclaiming the charges, OTOH, it's all systems go. Closed account? Even better, they can't threaten you with closure then.

 

Interest due... Mmmhhh...The calculations to work out what is legitimate interest you should have paid and what part you can reclaim are tricky...And the bank is not going to help there. Unless we are talking of huge amounts to be reclaimed, I usually advise people not to bother and just claim the statutory 8% if they have to issue court claim.

[mortip]

Thanks guys, most helpful.

 

I think I have all the statements since my new account was opened, so will follow the advice and go for that first.

 

The reason I mentioned interest was because, I have noticed that over and above the £100 in charges I have been getting every month, I have also been charged interest every month, which seems to be in excess of at least £23 on most statements.

 

I think I will tot it all up, and perhaps sound off if thats ok.

 

Again, thanks for the help, I shall let you know stuff as I do.