this has bee copied from another prince site.

You may have seen in the press recently about customers getting their bank

charges refunded.

Basically, the banks are only allowed to charge what it costs them to carry out a certain task (such as bounce a cheque or allowing someone to go overdrawn). A panel of experts worked out that the highest cost for this is about £4.50, about £25 less than they actually charge. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the UK are applying to have these charges refunded. The banks come back is that it is in the terms and conditions of the account, but the law states they cannot charge more than it costs to administor.

There is speculation in the media about banks deciding to offer this refund and then closing peoples accounts down, so if you are going to do it, do it with this in mind. Also worth bearing in mind is that of all cases taken to a small claims court (which happens rarely), the banks have settled with an offer to the customer in the 11th hour. In every single case.

You can apply for the last 6 years of charges to be refunded and if you would like to do that, here's how.

1) Call your bank and get 6 years worth of statements (or get them online if you can do that).
2) Work out exactly how much your charges equal.
3) Download the template letter below and complete it with your details.
4) Send off by recorded or special delivery to your bank.

Your bank will send you a letter back asking for a breakdown of charges (dates, amounts and descriptions). Make sure you send them the details in the layout they have asked for.

Now all you do is wait.

I sent a letter to my bank on 25th January asking for my charges to be refunded. I got a letter last night offering a full refund of all incurred charges over the last 6 years.


WORD DOCUMENT LETTER TO SEND TO YOUR BANK

Here is a copy of the letter;

YOUR ADDRESS

DATE

BANK NAME, BANK ADDRESS



Dear Sir/Madam

Regarding: YOUR SORT CODE AND ACCOUNT NUMBER
Due to recent media coverage on bank charges I now believe that you, YOUR BANK NAME , have been charging me charges that are contrary to the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts
Regulations 1999. Schedule 2 (e) of the said regulations gives a non-complete list of terms,
which may be regarded as unfair, such as a term that requires me as a consumer who fails in
his obligation, to pay a disproportionately high sum in compensation.

I believe that your charges are disproportionately high and therefore they are contrary to the
Unfair Terms in Consumer Regulations 1999. In addition I believe that your charges are a
Penalty. Penalty charges are irrecoverable at common law. The precedent for this was
Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v New Garage and Motor co Ltd [1915] AC 79 along with
Murray v. Leisure play [2005] EWCA Civ 963. It was held that a contractual party can only
recover damages for an actual loss or liquidated losses. It is clear that your charges do not
reflect any actual and or real loss.

Furthermore if you fail to comply with this letter, I request without further notice a breakdown
and proof of all costs involved, in regards to your actual or liquidated losses involved in any
breach of contract to which these charges relate with yourselves, and that these charges
reflect your true costs in relation to the said charges, and are proportionate to the charges
levied on my account as defined in Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.
Schedule 2 (e).

Therefore I require you to refund me a total of AMOUNT , representing the total, unlawful
amount charged during the last 6 years.

I hereby give you 14 days to refund the charges back on to my account. For the avoidance of
doubt, if this is not done within 14 days, I will commence my claim in the courts without further
warning. This action will inevitably involve you in additional costs.

I also hereby request a detailed report of which clause in your terms and conditions each
charge has been applied against.

Yours sincerely,


YOUR SIGNITURE
YOUR NAME

ohh. Does this work if i had insufficent funds in the bank to pay a direct debit? in the past 3 months ive had over £200 of charges because of this from my bank.

Can i get my money back this way too?

Yeah I have done that.. I am owed over £2000.00 in bank charges. They finally got back to me and offered me £1800.00 but I have refused and will be taking them to court..

wish me good luck

3121 said:

Yes you can..

go to.. www.thisismoney.co.uk/bankcharges and it will tell you exactly what to do

REDFEATHERS said:

Cool! thanks