Today the BBC reports that 85% of all claims to banks for unfair bank charges have been successful, although only a third of those having received these charges have tried to claim them back.
The report also suggests that a claimant might be more successful by complaining to the Financial Ombudsman Service than by taking the bank to court.
The Independent today reports about the tricky business the banks have been up to to help prevent customers reclaiming their overdraft fees.
The article highlights the common response the banks send out saying data has been archived on ‘microfiche’ which is not covered by the Data Protection Act and therefore do not need to comply with the request for statements to calculate charges incurred. The article claims that this response is wrong and it is still covered by the DPA.
The BBC is reporting hundreds of people a week are turning to claim handlers to assist in claiming back their unfair bank charges.
I don’t think it is necessary to involve any intermediary as all the resources for a successful claim are online and you won’t need to give 25% to anybody.
If in the rare chance you are happy to give away up to 25% of your claim, you should use a recommended handler, as most of the claim handlers advertising are nothing more than a one man band that had a bit of luck with their own claim.
Contact me for a recommended handler should you decide on that route.
Read the BBC article here.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced it will begin to look in to how banks handle complaints and if customers are dealt with fairly.
Complaints figures are on a sharp rise as more consumers claim back their unfair bank charges but many are reporting their banks are closing their accounts after a successful claim.