Hi everyone , this is the letter i have sent to the bank. Is it okay? Dear Madam, Thank you for your letter dated 21st February 2007. We accept your offer of part settlement of £3151.17 and request once again, to us, all charges imposed on these accounts, totalling £4066.73 to be refunded. On closer inspection, we did discover, however, a further £600.00 in unlawful charges but we are prepared to abandon this on the understanding that our request for full and final settlement is met. As you are aware the Small Claims Court has a limit of £2000.00 and so our claim will be split into two and therefore the documents received by you from the Northern Ireland Court Service will only state the balance of our 1st claim! The second claim will be submitted if the full balance has not been settled. Your investigations will have clarified this ‘confusion’ but we hope that our explanation has clarified the situation. Once again, we will accept the sum offered only as part settlement and on the clear understanding that we will pursue recovery of the remainder, with a second County Court claim if necessary. We trust this clarifies our position. Yours faithfully, I've omitted the £600.00 cos i hadn't originally included this in the letters and i feel we are being generous tothem after all. nervous.

Hello there, well I just read your thread out loud to my hubby and as he laughed I was burying my head in my hands. Do I just go ahead and state part settlement or will they throw it out in the courts? I have pmd you. nervous.:-| at the moment. Too nervous to be anything but, i feel i'm a hair breadth away.

Hi Clare thanks for all your bumpff. Well I phoned the Small Claims court and the civil processing centre just to make sure. The outcome is this, so all Northerners please take note: The small claims limit IS £2000.00 whether it is online or not. If a claim exceeds this and is up to £15,000.00 then it becomes a civil bill. This means that it is necessary to employ a solicitor because the forms become rather complicated and can only be dealt with form a legal aid, as i was advised by a very helpful gentleman this morning. Secondly, he also told me that there is an ongoing dispute with the Judges in N.I. One judge in particular has decreed that ; "If a subsequent claim is made between similar parties arising out the same set of facts or law, then the later proceedings may well be dismissed as an abuse of process." However I was told that other judges are deeming this to be unfair and so at the moment there is some confusion within the Small Claims Court.So at the moment it seems to be that it is coming down to 'take a chance and split the claims and hope that they both go through.' I am. Good luck all, nervous.

Received letter from Northern Bank today. It states; Dear Mr & Mrs ***** I refer to our recent correspondence and to documents received from the Northern Ireland Court Service in relation to your dissatisfaction with fees charged to your account over the last 6 yrs. You have advised you believe these fees to be unfair and have requested a full refund together with interest. You have since submitted a claim to the Small Claims Court for the sum of £3,151.17 To assist with my investigation i have looked at Bank records and spoken with **** Senior Branch Manager for our Newtownards Branch and ***** Branch Manager. Bank records show that on occasions the branch increased your overdraft limit in an effort to assist you (LIES),despite this the balance of your account frequently exceeded your authorised overdraft limit. Having reviewed your account, i can confirm that the fees you refer to were properly charged in accordance with our published tariffs. It may help if i explain that all customers are required to maintain their accounts within the agreed facility and to ensure that sufficient funds are provided in advance for items due to be presented for payment. If there are insufficient funds in the account to cover such items, your account may attract charges for unauthorised borrowing or the branch may have little option but to return items unpaid. In an effort to resolve the matter the Bank is prepared to offer you the sum of £3151.17 in full and final settlement of the matter. Upon your acceptance of this matter the bank would ask that you contact the SmallClaims Court to advise that your claim has been settled in full and that it is not your intention to pursue the matter. I have enclosed our normal form of receipt and would ask that you complete and return it to this office within 30 days from the date of this letter. Upon receiving your completed receipt I will arrange for the funds to be credited to your account. In the meantime, I trust that you have found the above explanations helpful and I thank you for taking the time to write highlighting your concerns and for giving us the opportunity to address the issues raised. Yours sincerely ********* Service Recovery Officer. The fact is this is only part of my claim for £4660.00 and they know this. The fact that they have conducted 'their' investigation on numerous occasions is that they are well aware that my claim for the £3151. is a split claim, and that there is another £1000.00 plus interest outstanding!! I am going ahead with my pursuit with the courts because the interest is still running on a day to day basis and as LTWFB rightly stated, if the shoe was onthe other foot, would THEY let us off without paying £1000.00 plus interest? No, I don't think so.. the fight goes on, I'm afraid. I will now right a letter back to them indicating that that will be accepted as part settlement of the original balance and that I will still continue with proceedings. Their investigations would have made them well aware of what the full refund has been.

Hi Clare, does this mean that if i handed my file in person it would have been okay at £3000.00 plus? When i did go in to get my form, i was told that £2000.00 was the limit! I really need this like a hole in the head. The whole thing is just a complete farce! Why can't we have the standard £5000.00 limit in all courts in the UK. It makes me mad! :mad: nervous

Hi Clare, apparantely according to LTWFB, he received a court date, because the northern did defend. But they settled out of court and twice. That means that they obviously are still testing whether or not we have the strength to continue to the end, which we do have!!! It also means that as he received a hearing in Oct. it was only a matter of weeks before they settled with the second claim. They knew he wasn't bluffing this time round and that is the same scenario with me. I have copied all my bundles onto my pen drive and I will send them off with all my statements (again) and yes, I am now ready to go to court. I am tired, really tired of this pathetic playing. They pay the solicitors to do the work, but you know something, WE are paying for it, because once again, they'll incorporate it somewhere as another hidden charge, and once again, we won't even question it. So , realistically, the banks don't lose anything at all, it's us, we lose our sanity, we get stressed and then WE WIN!!! :D

I've just typed my letter to the bank. Dear Sir/Madam With reference to your letter dated 14th February 2007, we now feel that since the Court has issued notification of current proceedings of the present situation, it is only right that all correspondence be conducted in writing.This is to ensure that no ambiguity or any verbal communication be wrongly interpreted. However, if a meeting was to take place a) we would like written confirmation that Mr. Alan Watterson is in an executive position to fully resolve this matter once and for all. b)any meeting to be agreed upon by both parties, should be appointed at a neutral venue. c)the meeting to be attended by Mr.Alan Watterson and chaired by him, alone. d)a single agenda, which would involve the full reimbursement of the charges levied on our accounts, which would also include the daily interest incurred. e)all matters to be addressed in writing before meeting is concluded. yours sincerely, Mr & Mrs.****** The format of the letter 'stolen' from LTWFB and amended to suitability. What do you think? Okay? At least all communication is still being kept open! Wow, is anyone out there, it can be a bit daunting threading to oneself? nervous.

Hi Clare11, received receipt of letter from small claims court on Sat. The Northern has until the 16th March to respond.They will, if LTWFB's thread has anything to go by, but hey, I'm ready, are you? We will keep each other strong!!! nervous.

Okay, this is IT!!! Received letter from small claims court on Sat. ******* v northern bank ltd. It is important that you read the enclosed information and if necessary complete and return appropriate form. If the Respondent has not replied by the 16th March 2007 you may then complete the application for default decree and send it to the address above. You can respond via the Internet using the Court Service website.Northern Ireland Court Service. etc etc. Do I have to advise the bank? It says in the info letter that ; Note all correspondence is sent to you as the first named applicant, please keep all other applicants advised. Do I send my court bundle now, one to the court and one to the Northern or wait for a court date. The letter that i received from the bank requesting for me to make an 'appointment' with the bank manager will now be a no thank you due to court papers being filed. Unless of course you just want to give me my cheque as requested in the previous 3 letters! Advice please........ An extremely nervous, nervous

With the 2 claims added together it comes to £4683.19 to present day. If separated it becomes £4178.46 due to the date of the second claim being in 2006 as opposed to 2000. Do you mean that IF they settle out of court for the 1st claim that i demand the full £4683.19 (depending on daily interest) even though they will have receipt from the claims court of only £2000.00 plus interest? I don't think they will agree to this once they see that the claim has gone down ( they won't realise that i will be submitting a second). I just don't want to lose £500.00!! nervous.

By splitting the claims because of this £2000.00 limit, I have worked out that i am going to lose £504. Is there a way round this?? That is a hellalot of money!! And the bank is still laughing 'cos no overdraft interest was added , no contractual interest and no going over the overdraft interest only the solitary 8%. So , does anyone have any answers to the loss of separate claims?? nervous.

Hey LTWFB, how long did you have to wait until you heard from the small courts claim processing centre? Maybe i should give them a ring tomorrow. I think this is what one calls 'the waiting game'. nervous.

Hello LTWFB, I am delighted it was you that sent thread! I was reading your threads and i have copied what you wrote. I am going to leave out 'meeting them' but will state that'as this is in the hands of the court, i feel that it is only right to conduct ( you know the rest) and i will copy your bullet points as well. The thing is , there is nothing to discuss, they haven't acknowledged their investigation, only the fact that i am wanting my refunds back and the fact is... when i questioned that a year ago, they credited my account without a whimper!! The difference being now is that we are talking thousands and not hundreds!! Anyway, please, please lickthewallfatboy, keep reading, 'cos i will still need plenty of advice. thanks nervous.

UPDATE EVERYONE!!! I received a letter from the Northern Bank today! Dear Mr. & Mrs. ***** I refer to your correspondence of 27 January. I have been unable to contact you on 028 ******** and should be grateful if you would contact this Office to make an appointment with the Manager, Alan Watterson in order that your fee refund request may be discussed further. yours sincerely Teresa Craig Senior Manager. Well, what about that then? I will acknowledge letter with a ' sorry, but due to current court proceedings it will not be possible to discuss current situation. Or is there a standard letter for this?? Advice please, and also I posted the letter to the small claims court on the 5th Feb. how long do i have to wait for contact. Do i wait to receive acknowledgement from court of bank? Help please, anyone out there? nervous.

Hey,Clare11, have you heard anything from the small claims yet? I haven't heard a dickie bird. No claims number and no copy of my claim. I know they have cashed my cheque but I thought I would have heard something by now!! I'm not sure how long it really takes, do you? Keep me posted, or I should say, keep us all posted. nervous.:o

Thanks paddym, that's nice to know and hear. nervous:)

Okay, this is the latest! I have just checked our accounts online. The £62.00 from the Small Claims Court has been cashed!! So, I must have done everything right. The next thing that caught my eye was that the bank has charged £75.00 to my sole account for the release of the deeds to our house! The mortgage is in joint names, so why did they not a) debit our joint a/c and b) £75.00!!!!???? :-x I am sick to the back teeth of this crowd! Does anybodyt know if we can claim that back?? It is after all another charge, that on the deeds form clearly states us as the owners!! They just go ahead and charge, charge, charge. But why my account? Hmmm, strange no? Well, they will surely be getting a nice kick up the bottom? Maybe they are so used to it now , that they just create their own format and go into automatic, in other words, maybe they don't really care if they are being sued??!! A very angry nervous.

Hey there! Well at long last, all is posted at precisely 09.32 am! So, i guess a waiting game just like Clare11. Once this claim is dealt with, i will lodge my second claim automatically. I read Clare11's message and she has just received a letter from 'Service Recovery' (please,-- what is this all about)? We have by law set the date, not some sad misconception derived from a 'large' institution who seems to deem themselves above the law!!! These letters are just churned out and the cost, let me tell you is in another hidden charge that you and I have to pay, because we don't question, we just all pay up and go on our way! Yep! I really am mad! These large institutions really do see us as 'plebs' and even though we are paying their SALARIES they walk over us, they threaten us, they demoralise us and treat us with the contempt that they deem 'fit'? Well at long last, the tables are turning and people are not sitting back and questions are being asked. Oh, how I remember my first day going in and asking for my statements for the last 6 years. Now look at the confidence I have gained. What a BRILLIANT site!! Thanks to all!! Keep reading..... nervous. P.S. Nope, I haven't won,..... yet! But I sure hope to, unless of course, they make an exception to the rule???

Hey, Clare11. This is unfortunately only part of a claim, because I am well over the £2000.00 small claims. My balance of charges is actually £2566.plus minus interest and as i said before, it's so typical that over here in N.I. we would have tohave a £2000.00 limit as opposed to the £5000.00 in England. Well at least we are not in Scotland, i believe they can only claim for something ridiculous under £800.00!! Did you receive any more letters? nervous.

Hey,hughes690, i have just finished filling in my N1 forms (manually) if you see my thread 'nervous v northern ' you'll see why and i have just finished doing my spreadsheets, attached all and posting recorded delivery tomorrow,pronto! Read my thread, it'll keep you up to date. Happy reading!! nervous.

I seem to be the only one online! It's strange talking to myself. How do i PM a Moderator? Help? nervous ( except, that i don't feel really nervous anymore).

HALLELUJAH!! I cannot BELIEVE it! I have actually finished doing the spreadsheets, hopefully all done correctly and i hope i have done this bit right...I included my sole account with joint, but as it is the same surname there really isn't a problem?Anyway, i have now attached all forms together and they are ready for postage tomorrow! I have all my bumpf needed for my court bundle downloaded and i guess, i am now ready for action! Keep watching this thread, because is it not strange that i am getting replies to my letters and Clare11 isn't? Especially after their deadlines!!?Maybe it's because our account is still open. My next step is to open a parachute account, methinks!! I tell you, i have been at this 8 hours and i think this should be included in court fees as prep time, though i haven't done it, i still think as we are spending so much time and effort to do this, the banks must really be laughing at us. They wouldn't do it for free!

What spreadsheet do i use? English advanced or simple? nervous

Okay,everybody, further update! I've been rather quiet for these 2 days,cos i am just fed up with the whole damn thing! I had to go to the court house to get my application forms and now i have to write them by hand. The only good thing is i can enclose another sheet for further info. On Sat. morning we (or should i say, hubby,though i've been doing all the work and both names attached to all docs) was delivered to us from our good ol friends, 'the northern'! Dear Mr.***** I refer to your letter dated 27 January 2007, addressed to the Manager, Newtownards Branch, regarding your dissatisfaction with charges which have been applied to your account. In accordance with our Internal Complaints Procedures the matter has now been referred to Service Recovery. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. All complaints are taken very seriously and I have arranged for the matter to be investigated. I will respond to you as soon as these investigations are complete, and in any event, within the next 20 working days. I have enclosed for your information a copy of our internal Complaint Handling Procedures "Putting Things Right For You" These procedures confirm how to pursue your complaint if you remain dissatisfied and how to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service if we cannot resolve the matter. Yours sincerely Melanie McKee Service Recovery Officer. Well what about that then? The bank manager has already conducted his 'investigation' which is why he offered us a paltry £1000.00 and now we are having another investigation when all has been stated in past correspondence of what the outcome is to be. They are stating to me that another 20 days??? I don't think so. My claim forms are right beside me. I will enclose the spreadsheets and post them all off tomorrow recorded delivery. Should i also enclose the court bundle and all relevant info from Bankfodder's library of new update on the 'Big 4' in N.I.? I'll be back once i've filled in forms. God, I wish it was all over! nervous.

Hi thereLTWFB. For me i managed to access the small claims online, but it doesn't seem to believe that i live where i live. So i actually cannot get passed the address system, even though i have been trying to amend it i don't know how many times. The fact that i have lived in this house for the last 5 yrs, somehow doesn't register with these government officials. I live in an extremely rural area and the house is new, by the way and somehow we do not seem to come up on ANY systems, so that's why i now have to go and collect a form. But thanks anyway. Keep watching!