Hi,
Now that I have finally started getting my finances in order I am looking to challenge charges on my Lloyds account from 2009/2010.
In a nutshell Lloyds applied high charges totalling £617.00 in unplanned overdraught fees and £140.00 in returned DD charges between 01 Nov 2009 and 15 March 2010. Following a complaint they did on 16 March 2010 refund £350 as a 'goodwill gesture'.
Basically what happened was that initial charges of £175 in November 2009 would have made it impossible for me to pay my rent, therefore I had to pay my wages into another bank account so that I would not lose money needed for the rent.
Thus charges were added on top of charges until by the time of the refund I had exceeded my overdraught limit by some £760.00 in March 2010 (total bank charges including the account fee and interest for the period were approx £878.00 - thus without these charges I would have not exceeded my overdraught limit at all).
I understand that BCOBS came into effect on November 1st 2009 and that this legislation is still valid?
If so I believe that Lloyds failed to comply by:
Making charges on bounced DDs or cheques
Treating bank-imposed charges as unauthorised borrowing
Levying charges upon charges
Could someone please advise if I have a case and point me towards any template letter that I should use to make a claim. I assume that even though they made a limited refund I can still claim the rest of these charges back? Also who specifically should I direct any claim to at Lloyds?
Further still as a result of this episode I have arrears showing on my credit file for this period which I assume if these charges are unfair I can insist they correct?
Thanks for reading this far, any advice would be most welcome!