OK the story goes my 306 was due for an MOT 2 months ago, So I took it to a large independant garage in the centre of edinburgh, they inspected it, told me what needed doing (two front suspension arms, n/s anti roll bar link, mid section exhaust + clamps+ 2 brake pipes = £412 inc labour), So I swallowed the rather large and unexpected bill and had the work done. All was fine when I drove out the garage. Approximatly two months later it was time for a service, not wanting another hefty bill I did this myself. While checking over all the components I noticed large amounts of shoulder wear on my two front tires, one of them was replaced just before the MOT with a £30 tire as I got a puncture. For amounts of wear to be noticeble on a tire after only two months, and particularly only on the outer shoulder there must be somthing wrong, I suspected the tracking and took it down to quickfit to get it looked at. The tracking values for a 306 of this age have tollerances of 1 to 2 (is it mm or degrees?), this one was at 15! It was out by a factor of TEN. The Quickfit guy was astonished that the car was handling correctly, so I asked could it have gone out like that by me bashing kerbs or potholes? He said catagorically not, only the monkey who re-attached the suspension components could have let it go like that, they must not have checked it after the MOT. So I plan to go to the garage and demand (nicely of course, but firm) that they pay for the re-tracking (£25) and for half a new set of front tires (£30) as their incompetence has caused the wear to be abnormally high so soon. Is this a realistic amount to ask them for? Should it be more? less? Im going to stand my ground whatever I decide to ask for, no bargening for less back, I am prepared to go through the small claims if nessesary. Do I have a good case?

The library is where you will find your DPA letter.

Speak of the devil and he shall show! Tommy Mclean has signed a bit of paper with my name on it :O Usual letter... although... "no evidence of default fees being applied to your account in the last year.. if there are specific fees prior to that date you wish to challenge then provide details and we will investigate"? Hmm, its your bank mate, you do the investigating, I'll be sending you an LBA post haste.

Well, prelim letter was sent, reply due june 12th. Are they likely to just ignore my letter and claim ignorance? What should I do in that case? I didnt send it recorded delivery so they may try and pull 'the posty burnt it' trick.

Just noticed something interesting on the govan law centra that I havnt seen mentioned here before: http://www.govanlc.com/undefended_expenses_inscotland.htm If the bank lodges a defence but then never turns up, you get over £183 + other fees of expenses! Regardless of the £39 fee you actually paid.

Got a clear answer from the bank, its from slight going over the overdraft limit not actually on the date mentioned, but in the period (a month or so) before that. Each time it was £1-5, and paid off the next day. Danm that makes me mad! Preliminary count of charges is £300 for my sutdent royalties acc. I want it back! edit, Total £300 student acc, £100 personal acc. RBoS, your in my sights to the tune of £400.

I dont think its that, theres no mention of maintenance, there was a gap between april and noveber where no charges were taken, and its a student royalties account.

Going through them I'm finding a few entiries like this: CHG TO 01APR A/C 1020xxxx -£10.00 But when looking back to that date I see nothing, I was expecting this to be a £10 service charge for going above my overdraft, but when traveling back to the date I see nothing that would have caused me to go into it (and no other associated charge). Weird! I take it I can claim for this? I have no idea what It was for though. edit, they are are always next to an entry taking interest for the same period. Any ideas? edit 3, rang bank, girl couldnt go that far back, but she thinks its from me taking cash out of the wall over the weekend and going over that way. Im assuming I can claim this? edit 2, this seems to be an almost monthly occurance! Could it be some kind of charge they were supposed to be taking that I never noticed? this is a student account and I didnt pay much attention to my finances at that time... I cant tell if i was over my overdraft or not at the time (as it went up so many times, it doesnt tell me what it was at the time), I was always really close to it.

Statements arrived! Pens at the ready! GO!!

Dont see why, should well be easier Smaller banks have more to fear.

You'll be OK Going over your overdraft wont affect your claim, its them who are trying to enforce an unlawful charge on you, remeber that! You could try and get it added onto your claim

No but if you do the bank can request they will all be heard at once, which will take you out of the small claims courts, and into one where you are liable for the others costs should you lose. There may be other reasons, but im not aware of those.

Thats what they said, whats not correct about it, do you mean the using the DPA as a gap?

I may take you up on that in the not too distant future, edinburgh based RBS case here too Early stages yet though.

Didnt realise there was one! Cheers, will check it out now.

Too funny! I rode down to the HQ after work tonight to hand deliver my DPA, couldnt find the letter box anywhere! Ill have to leave it to Mr Postman.

DPA Letter to be hand delivered to head office post box in Edinburgh tonight, no idea how much they've taken from me though! No holding back whatever the amount

Hi there, just letting you know im following your story with interest and wish you all the luck Im in the same boat.

Also the (library) DPA request asks for any note for manual intervention, as this is part of the basis for the large charge. No one would charge £35 for a compter clock cycle so obviously theres been manual intervention... hasnt there? You can back that up can't you? No...? aha! etc etc.

I dont see that in the FAQ? Is it accurate?

Fantastic. Game on!

Hi everyone, Another hit from moneysaving expert here Im going to start the process agaisnt RBoS, who i am usualy quite happy with, but the charges I am not happy with! My 1st question is do i need to send a seperate DPA request (and an aditional £10) for each of my accounts? I have two. I have read the FAQs and did a search to no avail, but appoligies if this has been covered before. p.s. Quite an exciting feeling isnt it, taking on a multimillion dollar bank!