lol...that sounds fantastic! Doesn't look like your money is too far away? They must have far more claims than they can cope with and hopefully they will get even more! I am thinking of starting a 'reclaim your bank charges' class at lunchtime at work! lol

Hi Jester, I am not sure how to cut n paste onto this site but I think if you go to the homepage you will find information about every stage of the process. If you don't have any luch e mail me on annlowe1@btinternet.com and I will forward you the letters that I sent. Hope that helps!

Sorry Milhail, I should have added, it is worth pointing out in your letter to DG that if it goes to Copurt you will be claiming interest at 8% which will cost them considerably more, but if they settle before Court you are content with the actual charges, interst they have charged you and Court costs. This will save them about £1,000. If they DO make you an offer without the 8% interest before you get to Court you MUST accept it. You are only entitled to add interest if it actually gets to Court and the site is clear that the judge will be cross if a full amount offer is rejected just because the claiment wants to get it to Court to add additional interest to the payment. Hope that helps. Gensha

Hi! Because you have now filed with MCOL the bank won't deal with you as it will be passed to their solicitors. They have 28 days from when your MCOL was served, not from now, to file a defence. If you are not sure of the date, use the MCOL helpline, they are really helpful. DG probably WILL files a defence and at that point you willl get a copy of this through the post after a few days. If I were you I would; * Check when they have to file their defence by. * Write to DG (You will find standard letters on this site) but just basically giving your claim number etc and saying that you would be happy to hear from them to arrange to settle before the matter gets to Court and wastes judicial time. * Write to DG every ten days or so with similar letters including 'I am suprised I haven't heard from you' (If you haven't). They will probably wait until they have filed their defence before they make you an offer. If they do defend then there is a good letter on here suggesting that you write to the judge and ask him to make directions forcing DG to disclose their actiual charges. I sent that to the judge with a copy to DG it was then that I received an offer. Let me know if you get this far and I will find you the letter. They might even wait until a Court date has been issued but don't panic, just keep sending them letters every ten days - YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY! Hope this helps - GOOD LUCK

Thanks Damjef... I was suprised to be honest because I hadn't even had a Court date... Still, I am not complaining thats for sure! I know there is somewhere on this site where you can add to the totals of what has been reclaimed but I don;t know where it is...any ideas? I also want to donate to the site once I have the money... I am happy to help anyone else - this site and the advice has been invaluable and without it, I wouldn't even have got started..I mentioned it at work and we are thinking of setting up a 'reclaim your bank charges' session one lunch time to help other staff! lol. The banks haven't seen the worst of it yet! Hope you get yours sorted out soon (And I am sure you will) Gensha

Hi! No I have asked them to put the money into my bank account within 7 days, and told them I will not write to the Court to withdraw the proceedings until the money IS in my account, and I have crossed out the confidentiality clause... The timing is great because I am going on holiday on 22nd June so the money will come in very useful! I had thought they would wait for a Court date (Which could be ages away) and then settle just prior to that, so I am not complaining! I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to how they are managing claims, I just think that they are snowed under and some get through to the Court stage as a result, whilst others get settled more quickly. I definately think it is worth writing to DG every 10 days if you don't hear anything to demonstrate that you are giving them plenty of chance to settle before the Court date. Hope this helps, let me know if I can do anything else, I find once you have your own success, it spurs you on to want to help other people to get their money back and beat the bank! CAN ANYONE DIRECT ME TO THE PLACE WHERE I CAN ENTER THE MONEY I HAVE WON BACK? I remember seeing it somewhere but can't think where? Also how do I donate to the site once the money is through?

Hi, Just thought I would let you know that I was at a similar stage to you, although the Court dispensed with my AQ. I wrote to the Court, copy to DG solicitors (Useing the template from this site) suggesting the draft directions to request the bank supply details of its charges. I received a letter today from DG solicitors offerring me £4027 (Which is actually slightly more than I was claiming.....? Needless to say, I am accepting and will write to them to let them know that I will only stop the Court action once the money is in my account. I hope this has given you some confidence - I felt a bit anxious about the prospect of Court but YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK! Hang on in there! If I can help at all, I would be happy to, especially given the excellent advice and support I have had from this site. I will be donating as soon as the payment clears. Good luck! :D :D :D

Hi Joeyboo21 - After First Direct acknowledged my MCOL they submitted a defence. The Court wrote to me and I sent them suggested draft directions which you will find on this site, along with the covering letter. I also sent a copy to DG Solicitors. At this stage, I still have no Court date. Today, I received an offer from DG Solicitors for THE FULL AMOUNT I AM CLAIMING! (£4,027.00) They give the usual blurb about 'Without prejudice' etc etc. If I can help you at all, do not hesitate to contact me. I have received all my information and support from this site and will be donating to the wuebsite fund as soon as my money is in the bank. Good luck and hang in there, you WILL get yur money back.

Thank you for that Damjef, I will take your advice and do that tomorrow. I did write to DG and asked the same but will also approcah FD direct and ask. Can't lose anything by asking even if I don't get a reply. I am a bit nervous of ending up in Court because I am well known in the local Court through my work so it wouldn't be easy but....... will do if thats what it takes to nail the theiving bankers! Thanks again.

Thanks for that Smartellie. First Direct have filed a defense (The MCOL site tells me this) It says this will now be referred to Court but as yet I have heard nothing at all through the post from MCOL, the Court or DG. I have written twice to DG solicitors but have received no reply...all seems to be quiet! I am not sure what to do next as I don't have any Court details yet so don't know what Court to contact...any ideas? I do intend to write to DG every ten days as suggested on this site, in order to demonstrate my willingness to settle. Any advice would be gratefully received. Gensha

Can anyone help me please? Even though I have spent hours reading this site, I obviously haven't read enough! Just realised that I have not asked FD for a copy of my Terms and Conditions, neither have I asked them to give me details of any manual intervention on my account. Should I write to them or to DG asking for this now...? Also, I have not received anything through the post, either from MCOL or DG. I should have had a copy of the notice of issue and the acknowledgement but neither have arrived. I have e mailed MCOL to ask them to send again but still have received nothing. I have checked they have the right address. I am currently waiting for a copy of the defence from FD...hope that arrives...Any advice would be gratefully received.

Just checked MCOL and FD have filed a defense...guess I will have to wait now to receive a copy of this and my AQ.

I am after 3,900 from First Direct, They sent me two 'get lost' lettersso I filed with MCOL and FD acknowledged the claim. They have until 29th May to file a defence. I wrote to FD asking if they wanted to settle and I have a message on my answerphone from the Bank which says something along the lines of, "Now you have gone to Court we can't make you an offer unfortunately, you have to wait to hear from our solicitors. We can't keep up with the number of claims". I think the 'random' response is about the number of claims that are flooding in, rather than any pre determined pattern. I will let you know how I get on.....

I am a bit ahead of you both. Forst Direct have until 29th May 2007 to file a defense....it's getting scary now!

I am watching your claim with interest Damjef. First Direct have acknowledged my MCOL and now have until 29th May to defend it...just waiting to see if they do! Are you in Coventry? If I saw that right so am I so if you need any help let me know...can't pretend to be an expert but I have spent hours reading through stuff on here, all of which is really helpful! Started my own thread tonight! It took me days to work out how! lol. Anyway..the very best of luck. m

Have spent hours and hours reading threads on this site and following the very helpful advice given. I am claiming £3,900 back from First Direct. Have put my claim into the SMC having received two rejection letters from FD. First Direct rang me late last week and left a message saying, "unfortunately we cannot make you an offer now you have gone to Court. You will have to wait to hear from our solicitors". I am now going to send a schedule of charges to DG and wait to see if they settle. I can ask for judgement if they have not made a defence by 29th May 2007. It's getting scary now and I am thinking about my Court bundle.... In my view, I think the Lloyds judgement was because the judges are getting hacked off with dealing with these claims, especially when so many of the banks have no intention to enter a defence. I think the judges want it sorted one way or another and they are looking for an opportunity to get a case into the High Court so a decision is made either way about the legality of bank charges. Anyway THANK YOU TO ALL WHO POST ON THIS SITE - If I am successful I will definately be making a contribution!

Thank you for that... I still haven't received the papers from the Court, even though my claim was acknowledged by First Direct on 10th May... Sounds like I need to give it a few more days... My anxiety has increased having heard about the Lloyds case, which I understand Lloyds won for some reason...? Whilst I am sure this deceiosn will be appealable, it doesn't help me to keep my nerve! Thanks for your help Ann

Thanks for that. So I will get the papers through the post then? I am just worried because I can't get my claim details to come up on screen...only the very basic initial info. Ann

I am new to this and claiming from First Direct...Can you tell me how you got on? First Direct have acknowledged my MCOL and I am getting nervous! Thanks

Hi everyone, this is my first thread so bear with me! I have lodged a MCOL claim re First Direct charges. The MCOL site says 'acknowledged' and then refers to the defendent having 28 days to respond...when does that start? Also, should I be receiving anything in the post or just online...I can't get the claim up on screen for some reason, it just says "PDF may take some time to display on a dial up connection" (Mine is broadband anyway!) I keep reading but don't seem to be able to understand what I need to do next. Can anyone help and give me some confidence...I am getting scared now I have lodged the Court forms! Thanks for your help:D

Glad to hear you are getting somewhere with FD. I have written twice and they sent the usual standard letter. Have now lodged a claim in he small claims court and am waiting..... Moneyclaim online says 'issued' 26th April...do I wait for 14 days from then or do I have to give it a couple of days to get to the bank...? Any help will be much appreciated.