CONTACT CITIZENS ADVICE - THEY WILL ADVISE YOU FOR FREE!

MIGHT EVEN HANDLE YOUR CLAIM!!

Be prepared to move bank though, just in case. Open another account. If they do try and shove you complain to the banking onbudsman because its illegal.

Which one did you move to? Was it a stoodent account?

Might as well know as the nearest branch of the Nationwide is in Whitley Bay miles from me and there are others just around the corner of my street .

consumeractiongroup.com is best place IMO
Ive claimed. Took 6 months & a Court Case Date. They paid out a week before going to court. Spent the money on a  new roof for the house  :mrgreen:

First letter I sent:

[bank address here]


Dear Sir or Madam,

Re. Account number: 12345678 (12-00-34)

I am writing to request a fully comprehensive list of all the default charges for direct debit, unauthorised overdrafts and standing orders I have paid over the last six years.

Please find enclosed a cheque for the maximum statutory charge of £10. If you are unable to provide this data, I will accept a copy of my statements going back six years; I understand that statements on their own are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998, yet I’m not requesting the statements per se, but the charges, which I’m entitled to by law.

If you store any of the older records on microfiche, please be aware that the Information Commissioner deems this to be a relevant filing system under the Act. As such, any microfiche data must be sent to me in fully legible and comprehensible form.

I look forward to your response within 40 days, as Natwest is obliged to reply under the Data Protection Act. If not I shall seek remedy from the Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully,

sdp

Second letter Im gonna send (draft):

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re. Account number: 12345678 (12-00-34)


I am writing to request that you repay all the default charges that have been applied to my account.  I do not believe these charges reflect the true cost to Natwest, and that such charges are classed as penalties under common law and that penalties are unlawful. Also since these charges are in excess of the amount incurred they are contrary to the provisions of the unfair terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999. These charges are also contrary to the provisions of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.

The charges total £__

I therefore ask that you repay me the full amount of £__.  I have attached a full schedule of the charges and interest with this document.

I look forward for a full response to this letter within 14 days.

Yours faithfully,
sdp

The list of charges from the first letter go with the 2nd.

Go to lloyds tsb website & you can get a new account in 5mins.

I dont understand? can someone explain?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1141050760,24632,

Hes even done a video to explain the basics

a mates just said:

""just told them i think i have been overcharged, they said ok, took my details and account details and that was it, they send out a pack to you and a letter to your bank, its from watchdog so they are legit the number is 08450801800""

apparently this is free service. just on the phone now.

edit: letter sent on my behalf to halifax. I had to do nothing but supply my account details.

awesome, couldnt be arsed to do it myself, only have about 3 charges. so having someone else do it for you, for free. awesome. awesome.