I took my car for an MOT a few weeks ago to a local garage in Brighton, they did the MOt and came back with 12 different items which were a problem (one of which was a deteriorated suspension seal), telling me that this work would cost £300 to do. I left it a week or so and took it to another local garage, he told me that he couldn't quote me because the mot failure sheet was so vague but reckoned he could save me some money. So last week I went away to Durham, got a call on the friday telling me that he'd done the work and it would cost me £130! On top of that, this suspension seal they mentioned was apparently fine nothing wrong with it at all. I had thought that these guys were quite trustworthy after having used them for a while. But I guess it just goes to show that garages will quite happily rip you off given half the chance. No matter how much they "value customer service" HA!

Well done, that is good news!

Here is the letter we have sent to Halifax today, I think this more than states our situation to Halifax and let's them know we're not messing about Your reference: ********* Dear Dawn Pugh, Thank you for your response to our letter dated the 1st April. We have considered your timescale and found this to be unacceptable. However, we are prepared to allow an extra 7 days from the date of the original letter for you to conduct your investigation, this will take the deadline to April 21st. I am sure for a company of your size, this deadline is more than fair. If a full refund has not been received by this date, we will initiate action through the county courts, Yours sincerely, BeardedLaydee

Well we got a letter today with the usual leaflet and saying they are looking into our complaint and we will receive a reply within 4 weeks. From what I've read here we should stick to our time frame and not be dictated to. Consequently we are going to write to them today givng them an additional 7 days to comply (this brings the date to April 21st) and if we have had no satisfactory response in that time we will proceed with the court action. Do you think that is the best approach?

What a nightmare you are having over what is to them a tiny amount of money. I feel for you as the Halifax did a similar thing to us this month (not the first time either). My child benefit and tax credits went in on the Monday and Wednesday (this is our food money for family of 6 for the month) and on the Thursday they had the lot in charges! We are now persuing them ourselves (see seperate thread) so will watch this thread with interest. Good luck

I've tried looking through the FAQs but have found nothing, my question is...Since we started all this with Nationwide, we have had more charges added to our account (We have had some put on today for two directs debits which were returned even though we had enough in the account and they'd paid 2 other dds on the same day) Is there any way of adding these new charges to the claim? Or would it have to be a new claim?

Its the same claim but as it was a joint account we have received two lots of statements. One of us was banking with them before the other so there are lots of additional pages to wade through now. They also kindly included my old First Direct credit card statements even though I hadn't asked for them, which had lots of £25 charges on them if I remember rightly.

Got our statements through today from the last 6 years. It's like wading through the Encyclopedia Brittanica. Wish me luck, I'll let you know how much they owe us in about a years time when I'm finished PLS stay on 1 thread per claim, it will make things easier for everyone to follow!

We have started the ball rolling with the second of our banks now, Halifax owe us a stupid £1500, mostly from the last 12 months! Initial letter has been sent asking for the money back. I don't want to have to go to court on this one (finding the £80 is quite difficult sometimes) so hopefully they will just stump up straight away

Initiated court action today on the moneyclaim website, so now we just tight and wait for a court date

You must be fuming. Its a disgusting system. Sorry no advice to offer but just wanted to say good luck.

Well, we received a reply from Nationwide containing a very polite sod off. So, here we go with court action, will keep you updated

oh pants, sorry, mis-read natwest as nationwide, it's too late osrry guys, please don't tell me off

Well, we received a reply from Nationwide containing a very polite sod off. So, here we go with court action, will keep you updated

We received our first direct statements the other day, but I'm not sure they're wholly correct. It seems to me that the statements we have received haven't got all of the charges listed on there. there are numerous occasions where we have gone over our overdraft by a considerable amount (upto £900 in some cases) and they have paid things while we've been overdrawn, but the only charge on the account is an unauthorised overdraft charge. I seem to remember (but am not entirely sure) that they charged us a lot more, the totals seem to tally up as well, but I'm not sure that first direct would NEVER charge us for paying a dd while overdrawn. Has anyoen had any experience with this and/or have any advice, thanks.

We're all ready to take the bank to court but can't afford the £80 fee till next month. Very frustrating!

Right, got it. Have done so. Fingers crossed

Right, got it. Have done so. Fingers crossed

OK then, I'm assuming (probably incorrectly) that the 14 day action letter should be the letter I have already sent to them without the DPA stuff in it and the terms changed from 7 days to 14 days? Sorry to be a pain, just want to make sure I get it right

OK then, I'm assuming (probably incorrectly) that the 14 day action letter should be the letter I have already sent to them without the DPA stuff in it and the terms changed from 7 days to 14 days? Sorry to be a pain, just want to make sure I get it right

Hi, This is Debbie's husband. Although we know the exact amount, it would be handy to have all of the statements anyway in case we ever do get as far as court action as I'm not 100% sure that we have all of these. If the DPA request wasn't taken out (which it wasn't) will a separate letter have to be sent to the bank requesting the mone again?

Hi, This is Debbie's husband. Although we know the exact amount, it would be handy to have all of the statements anyway in case we ever do get as far as court action as I'm not 100% sure that we have all of these. If the DPA request wasn't taken out (which it wasn't) will a separate letter have to be sent to the bank requesting the mone again?

I think he left that part in as we only have online statements

I think he left that part in as we only have online statements

My husband did it and used the sample letter from this site. He asked for charges of around £900 to be refunded. (he did put the exact amount!)