Thanks for your posts guys, interesting read tink. Very encouraging to see others getting payouts from the company you are chasing lol. Got a reply to my last letter, in which I had mentioned I was considering a DPA request for the charges going back 6 years which would cost them even more than the charges i was asking for. They kindly confirm the total charges for the 6 years for me for free lol. Total 22 charges at £25 a go. I was only asking for £250 this pushes my claim up to £550. They are offering £286 which is the difference between the £25 and the £12 they state " the oft state is a fair amount". Just debating what to do now. The £550 would clear the balance, but £286 is a fair chunk off now. Also if we go to court stage as I only have dates for the last 10 charges not sure how I would calculate the interest, also as this was originally a card with associates from about 5 yrs ago I dont know dates of opening or transfer to citicards to put on my claim. Any advice? alibobsy

Thanks for all the advice guys. Was tempted by the nationwide account as in the long term would like to have a "full" current ac with them, but ended up appling for Natwest so we can have a debit card (even tho its only a solo card lol) Application approved online so will await final docs. Ali

Up to 78 now yeah! ali

To be honest we only have a low balance on this card anyway and the charges cover the whole of the balance, so if they go down that route gonna send them a LBA and if we have to, see them in court. Quite happy to end up with no cards left open after all our actions as long as we can get them cleared off. Starting with smallest balances first just in case. Done a letter thanking them for the 50% but confirming the rest of the balance still required. Will post when reply received. Big up the mutual "monument fighters" club lol. ali

Both hubby and I have Aquacards so I went through the statements, listed all the charges and sent off prelim letters on 22/05. My card Originally asked for £80 of charges, but had no reply at all. Second letter on 21/06 asking for the now higher number of charges of £120. Still no reply. then I got a letter saying they intended to default on my account unless i paid £70 by the end of the month. I had already spoke to someone and explainned I had had a problem with pay at work (long story I was overpaid whilst training full time then went part time so no pay for 2 months whilst they recover it) and agreed a payment plan which I had stuck to. Sent a third demanding letter to them on 21/06, asked for £120 and removal of default imediately plus I restated my offer. Gave them 14 days to reply.Wait and see now. Hubbies card Original letter on 22/05 asking for £100 charges, "fob you off" letter withing days by reply. Second letter on 10/06 asking for the new amount of £140. Hubbies card paid up and under limit now so no further charges hopefully. Letter rec offering half the payments and a slip to sign, simular to the monument slip hubby had effectively signing you rights to claim any other charges on any Halifax accounts. Just preparing our reply now. Ali

Had all the statements for monument so didn't require a DPA. Went through them all and got a total of £168. Prelim letter done on 22/05. Got an imediate reply that they were looking into the case and would reply by 29th June. Now had letter with offer. They kindly confirm the total charges on my account are now £216 (due to extra charges this month). Usual guff about fair and transparent charges etc. Plus an offer of half the charges as a "goodwill gesture". The best bit was the slip they wanted hubby to sign to send back to them which said he accepted the £108 as "full and final settlement for these and any future charges on ANY Barclays accounts" how stupid do they think we are lol. Gonna do letter today accepting the "partial settlement of £108" and demanding the rest within 14days. Wont be signing the slip lol. ali

Here we go the start of my fight against capital one, DPA on 10/06. Not holding my breath for a quick reply lol. Also sent DPA for hubby on his capital one account as well on same day. ali

I've sent my initial letters by first class post and most of the companies have responded. But I will send any LBA letters by recorded if and (no doubt) when I get that far. ali

In the process of sending out loads of letters to different credit card companies, but just wondering about going for the current account or not. We have a mortgage with them and I am worried they could close down our current ac and maybe the mort as well? Want to open a second safety net current ac but our credit rating isn't that great and I don't want to apply and be turned down over and over. Any recomendations? Ideally would like to still have a debit card and dd and so payable plus online or phone banking if poss, not as bothered about cheques and do not need an over draft. Would be a joint ac with me and hubby with over £2000 a month in wages going in (and mostly straight out lol). ali

Anyone saw this about a recent motion at westminster? Early Day Motions (Westminster Watch) 05/06/2006 EDM2227 DEFAULT BANK CHARGES Julia Goldsworthy - 22:05:06 - 44 signatures That this House notes with concern the exorbitant costs to customers of default charges applied to current and credit card accounts, which cause distress and alarm to consumers, and in particular to the financially vulnerable; welcomes the statement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that a default charge should only be used to recover certain limited administrative costs; recognises the work by Which? to challenge excessive bank charges; commends the thousands of consumers who have challenged these default charges with their providers, many using the free information made available from Which?; and calls on current account and credit card providers to respond positively to OFT's statement. Another useful item to take to court? For the record found this on the bankers association website so they should be aware of it lol. Really fired up now. Pile of letters to post today and will open several separate threads in different forums later on. Sick of being screwed over by the banks just when you need their help the most, sue em all lol. ali

Thanks for the reply, letter done today will post rd asap and see what happens. Ali

Have been a member on here for a short while and have been reading up on claiming in court. I felt a bit nervous about the whole thing so have held off until recently. Have got my local branch of the bank to refund most of our charges in the last 12 months or so, by phoning and complaining each time, but now want to chase up the charges on the credit cards. Spoke to hubby about his cards and he said he's been to court suing companies a few times before! Married nearly 10 years and I never knew lol. Being in IT he has bought alot of items online and had to sue for no delivery and a modem that didn't work. Said he found the judges very sympathetic and helpful so he is primed to go to court any time. So I sent of prelim letters to some of the cards we hold and am looking into dpa letters for the others. Sent a letter to citi cards about the 10 charges in the last 2 years, then realised hubby had the card longer than that so will need to do a dpa for them for the earlier period I think. Got a quick reply from citi cards offering to refund £130 out of the £250 for the last year, just considering what to do. Suprised at the quick offer these companies must really be on the ropes. alibobsy

If she doesn't like to phone perhaps you could both go into the branch to ask. That way you can explain things on her behalf and back her up with the bank. You might be able to speak to the branch for her but some institutions are funny about this, because of the security and data protection issues. They might ask for her to call first and authorise you to speak for her or even ask for a signed authority from her. Perhaps you could convince her to call when you are there to support her, it might help her to have all the points she wants to make written down before she calls so she doesn't feel as lost on the phone. I work in a customer based job and speak to customers all the time and even I write things down sometimes before I make calls! She is a new customer and most banks go out of their way to be helpful, at least at first and this is definately their error. Go get em!!!!! Good Luck Alibobs

I thought most banks give some sort of guarantee when opening a new current account that all your direct debits will be moved accross correctly. When my Dad had a simular problem with Abbey they refunded the charges,both thiers and the other companie's (he had to take paperwork in to confirm the amount) and gave him £50 for cocking things up. Might be worth her contacting her new bank about this, shouldn't have been left without money for so long surely. You'd have thought they would have sorted a free overdraft for a week if it was going to take so long. alibobs