| Bank charges for unauthorized | | | | been hit by default bank charges, you |
| overdrafts, bounced cheques and returned | | | | can ask the bank to refund the charges |
| direct debits are those 'damages'. Bank | | | | voluntarily. I have yet to find a single |
| charges to customers were arrived at by | | | | case of somebody in such circumstances |
| totaling these costs and then making | | | | who does not tell me that they had been |
| assumptions about the number of | | | | hit by bank charges. This has led to |
| customers that are going to incur | | | | thousands of people taking on their |
| charges. Bank charges for going | | | | banks and claiming back bank charges |
| overdrawn or for bounced cheques are the | | | | over the last 6 years. The campaign to |
| equivalent of a charge for breach of | | | | reclaim unlawful bank charges is the |
| contract, known as liquidated damages, | | | | biggest consumer revolution for years. |
| and the courts can enforce payment. So, | | | | Charges against the banks |
| how do you go about getting the bank | | | | Complaints against banks have soared, |
| charges back. There are only two bank | | | | according to the Banking Code Standards |
| charges cases known about in which a | | | | Board, with most about interest rates |
| bank has gone to court, defended its | | | | and unfair charges. The bottom line is, |
| charges and won. You can claim back any | | | | ensure you make it clear that you're |
| unfair bank charges, which the law would | | | | using the Data Protection Act to request |
| class as a penalty, that you have | | | | of list of charges. The issue here is |
| accrued over the last 6 years. The true | | | | whether banks charges are allowed under |
| costs of these so called bank charges to | | | | your contract with the bank or whether |
| date have not been proven any more than | | | | they are really penalty charges. These |
| a few pounds. | | | | are charges that are incurred for |
| Claiming back your unfair bank charges | | | | unauthorized overdrafts, bounced cheques |
| can be a long and drawn out process, | | | | and clearing Direct Debits when there |
| with the banks doing everything they can | | | | are insufficient funds in the account. |
| to delay you receiving back your unfair | | | | Various laws mean that the banks cannot |
| bank charges in the hope that you give | | | | enforce such charges legally. Complaints |
| up claiming back your unfair and illegal | | | | against bank have soared, according to |
| bank charges. An example of this could | | | | the Banking Code Standards Board, with |
| be perhaps if a customer is a day late | | | | most complaints about interest rates and |
| making a payment, even if the customer | | | | bank unfair charges. The Office of Fair |
| has been with the bank for 20 years and | | | | Trading has thrown out suggestions that |
| never missed a payment they will still | | | | current account holders in the UK will |
| incur the dreaded bank charges. The | | | | face bank charges of around £300 |
| Office of Fair Trading has already | | | | if banks are forced to scrap their |
| forced credit card companies to slice | | | | controversial penalty charges and that |
| maximum fees to £12, and a ruling | | | | has to be good for the consumer. |
| on bank charges is imminent. If you've | | | | |