Bank Charges

[NetwkSupport]

even if you knowingly didnt pay the bill on time you can get the charge removed?

[ladymuck]

before I went into contracting i was a permie and didnt earn too much, as a result struggled now and then financially
the banks were a great help by charging me charges and making me further in debt, then id go overdrawn again cos i couldnt afford their charges, vicious circle.

Went through a similar rough patch myself years ago - b*stards! Changed banks just to get away from the cycle as I was losing all my money to charges and a never-diminishing overdraft.

[MrsGoof]

even if you knowingly didnt pay the bill on time you can get the charge removed?

do you want me to wipe your a**e as well as think for you

[NetwkSupport]

Yes please that would be nice

[MrsGoof]

well join the queue behind my kids and put those damn dressing up shoes away

[Dalek Supreme]

even if you knowingly didnt pay the bill on time you can get the charge removed?

Yes, because the charge is itself illegal if it does not accurately reflect the cost incurred. The bank might try pointing out that you signed a contract agreeing to a £25 (or whatever) penalty fee if you don't pay on time, but as we all know no contract clause can be enforced if it is illegal.

Seriously. There is virtually a 100% success rate on reclaiming punitive charges. Read all about it here: Illegal Penalty Charges

[ratewhore]

Go here for info:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+rel...2006/68-06.htm

They also have letters you can download but you may have to do a search for them...

[Mailman]

Wasnt OFT saying anything above £12 for a charge is excessive!

Anyways, Im in the process of fighting HSBC to return £175 in charges taken way the hell back in Feb when my account went over drawn (total amount was £35 OD for fecks sake!). Just waiting to hear back from them on my last letter then when they turn that down its off to the small claims court where they can defend their charges by letting us know just what exactly is involved in that £25 charge you pay!

Hopefully, the feckers will just cough up.

Wasnt there a case earlier in the year when some guy sent bailiffs around to his bank cause they still hadnt paid up after the court hearing?

Im just wondering if I could get me some bailiffs to go score me some leather chairs

Mailman

[Mailman]

Actually...can you lodge class action cases here in Blighty? Wouldnt it be grand if someone did that against, say, HSBC for hundreds of millions of pounds on behalf of all people who have had these illegal fees charged!

Mailman

[ASB]

Yes, because the charge is itself illegal if it does not accurately reflect the cost incurred. The bank might try pointing out that you signed a contract agreeing to a £25 (or whatever) penalty fee if you don't pay on time, but as we all know no contract clause can be enforced if it is illegal.

Seriously. There is virtually a 100% success rate on reclaiming punitive charges. Read all about it here: Illegal Penalty Charges

I stuggle to understand this.

As a general principle people agree terms to a contract, often with consequence for non performance. On that basis (and only that basis) the charges are fair - it was agreed. If you don't like the level of charges you agreed to, go bank somewhere a bit more flexible.

As you point out there has been a huge success rate in overturning these, therefore there is some piece of legislation somewhere which prevents this. I don't believe it is covered by the banking act, but might be.

The argument against these fees seems to be that they are onerous, and disproportionate, therefore struck out.

But isn't that the case with a lot of things? Levae your car 2 minutes over your alloted time and get a 60 quid penalty. That was in the contract agreed to, that is equally onerous, should it be struck out?

The law exisits to stop people being made a fool of. Not of making a fool of themselves. Breaking terms they have agreed to comes into the latter category IMO.