Hi All Can somebody please advise as I have read many conflicting posts here. I intend to begin around 19 claims for both bank accounts and credit cards as both my wife and I lost our Fathers recently and of course for our own personal accounts. Do we begin with the Data Protection Act SAR - (Subject Access Request)letter or just a request for copy statements? It seems that many people have simply requested copy statements and received them without trouble or delay but it occurs to me that simply doing this might be a risky strategy as it gives the banks/CC Co's reasons for delay, whereas the SAR letter (although may take 40 days) leaves no wiggle room. What do you all think? I have no problem with filing 19 or so Data Protection Act requests and am in the fortunate position to be financially secure so can take this all the way if necessary.

Yes, increase it. These charges are no more lawful or deserved than any of the others.

They get away with it because we let them. I have spoken to members of my family and some friends about this site and not one, not a single one, thinks this will work. However, I know it will because I regularly get back odd charges here and there and if the banks had a solid case for applying the charges why would they give them back? Even the weasel-words and phrases they use are specifically written to bluff and bluster and it works. As for the money returned so far, it is approximately one three thousandth of the money they reputedly make from charges, so in terms of cost vs. benefit, inconsequential. It could be 100 times that figure and it would still make sense for them to continue charging what they do with impunity.

Good morning everybody Just about to get started with RBOS (two accounts) Capital One (three cards), Vanquis, Monument, Barclaycard (two cards), American Express, Woolwich, Citi Bank (two cards), Morgan Stanley and MBNA. I should point out that I am not just acting on my own behalf, I lost my Father in November and my Father-in-Law in April and am going to recover all charges they may have paid (hence the long list above.) I noticed that there have been a few members acting for the deceased as executors of the estate; anyone had any results so far? I will start new threads and keep the forums updated with regard to progress, the Data Protection Act letters are all going out this weekend. I am not a complete novice at this and still have letters from back in 1992 where I argued successfully and recovered over £400 in charges from NatWest - I accused the manager of my branch of targeting accounts to recover charges (£27.50 even back then!) which she vehemently denied but when I took it to the regional manager they paid up without protest. Has anyone managed to recover charges relating to late loan or mortgage payments? These can be in the region of £50 per month and are usually added to the mortgage balance and thereby also attract interest if left unpaid? Thanks guys.