| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 11:05:55
I'm about to start this. When I was a student and money was sticky just one charge could snowball my financial situation into complete mess territory. There were some months I was getting over £60 a month charged to me because I couldn't clear the excess from the previous charges.
I was a bit timid about doing this but it seems easy enough. There was a guy recently who got £36,000 back from natwest. I've filed a letter requesting a list of charges from my bank. I'll be interested to see how far this goes.
Basically, the banks charge a fortune for penalties which is actually illegal. Banks don't want to disclose their actual costs or set a precedent in court so, so far, they always pay up without a court judgement.
Am I being too bold? I've read through this site (and subscribe to the newsletter, I'd encourage all Brits to do so, it's well handy) and it seems encouraging. They even have the templates for sending out the letters and a forum for advice.
Anyone ever tried this/considered trying this?
* just to add, you can do it for credit/store cards too.
Idiot. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 09:29:21
Shut up, American.
Idiot. |
| darwin |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 09:26:36
Go away spammer! |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 09:16:03
My dad signed me up to this Martin Lewis newsletter a while back. I sort of rolled my eyes when he did. However, it's pretty cool. In this months for example:
quote:
Free mobile deal: 150 texts & 150 cross network minutes sim card
e2Save (part of Carphone Warehouse) has a Virgin £15 Sim only* 6 month contract deal, which includes 150 texts & 150 cross network minutes (calls to all landlines and mobiles) for £15/month. Yet send your third and sixth bill within 30 days and you can reclaim the whole £90 fee.
There's a ton of money saving tips and hints and nods to good products for the lowest amount of money. If you don't mind being a bit fiddly with stuff sometimes you can get loads of things for free/you get paid to do. He also keeps an eye on the best accounts/cards/isa's to go for. I'm fascinated/obsessed by it at the moment.
Idiot. |
| Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 04:42:03
Loads of people I know have done this. The only reason I haven't is because I am too lazy and have not had many charges, as I am pretty careful with the money in my bank.
Apparently the banks are making it harder to get this money back now, but ultimately they still have to play ball. Don't give up, and don't accept their first offer. That's what I've been told anyway.
 I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
| fbc |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 04:39:47
My better half's in the process of claiming and is owed quite a bit, but we're still waiting for her bank statements to be posted through. Before sending off one of the template letters, she asked the bank personally for her six year details and they offered her a few hundred pounds, but this is well below what she's entitled to claim back.
Good luck, everyone. I'm looking forward to reading the updates and finding out what we splashed the cash on.
ch-ching!! |
| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 13:41:01
I'll actually have to face just how irresponsible I've been with overspending when I needn't have. When I look at how I've had to adjust my spending habits since heading out on my own, especially with nothing other than spiralling debts, I've noticed just how many unneccessary things I bought and really have got my head around what is a want and what is actually a need. You'd still be suprised as to how many needs I have, but let's not go into that too much. Anyway, the point is is that I could have saved that money (or even done something silly with it). It's probably all down to that I"m a horrible procrastinator and numbers, though I'm quite capable, numb my mind and therefore, even though there is cash to be had at the end, it seems an awfully boring dreary task, which again I suppose is nice for the banks because I know I'm not the only one thinking that. |
| hammerhands |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 13:33:33
Worst thing that a bank ever did to me,
There was $11 in my account, I went to another bank's ATM (bank machine) and I pulled out $10, the other bank machine charged me $1.50 which put my account in the red by $0.50 and my bank charged me $10.00 for the overdraught.
I told them they shouldn't have allowed me to withdraw the cash, they didn't care so I closed my account.
I have to admit that I do bank with them again, a few years later the bank bought the company I worked for. They fucked that up to.
I don't currently pay any fees, except when I use other branded ATMs. Of course there is almost no interest. |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 13:29:46
Okay I must be missing things.
Why is it scary or too bold to do this?
__________
For Chrissakes have a cup of tea. |
| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 13:24:22
That's what's stopping me doing it. I suspect I'm going to be so horrified when I see what I've been charged. The shame as to how utterly reckless with my finances I've been. |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 12:41:19
I've been putting it off too. I just found six months worth of bank statements under my bed so had a go at working out the interest and the total for those six months (remembering I can do this for six years worth of claims).
Over six months I got charged £300!
Total: £300 Interest:£77.75 Total+Interest: £377.75
Idiot. |
| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 12:24:37
I'm too scared to do that. I'm terrible, I've been meaning to do this for months now. |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 11:54:38
Stupid lawyers, spoiling it for everyone...
Letter is going out tomorrow for the statements. Claim should be out in a couple of weeks.
Cool beans Surfer. It looks promising, I've wasted most of my evening reading through the martin lewis forum at the 320 pages of success stories
Idiot. |
| Llamadance |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 11:52:45
there's a guy (a lawyer) who is taking this to court and is determined not to accept a settlement so that if he wins, there is a precedent. So get this in quick, just in case he loses.
Your not being too bold, it seems a standard, downloadable letter should do the trick.
When you're going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill |
| Surfer Rosa |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 11:45:22
I'm about to in part of the taking control of my mess plan. |
| Carolynanna |
Posted - 04/25/2007 : 11:30:29
Do it do it do it!
Banks are almost worse than the government for taking you money.
Have you seen this commercial before? (Cracks me up.)
http://www.capitaloneexterminator.ca/
__________
For Chrissakes have a cup of tea. |
