Sokam vs Allied Irish Bank

[sokam]

Hi everyone - just checking whether anyone has or in the process of claiming back charges from AIB (Allied Irish Bank)?

 

Anyway below is my experience:

 

1. 10 Oct 2006 - sent letter claiming £1,104.25

 

2. 14 Oct 2006 - received response from bank basically refusing to pay (see full text of leter from AIB)

 

It will appear I will've to go ahead and send an LBA - will keep this thread updated. I've read the FAQ but will appreciate any advice, suggestion be it specific to AIB or general.

 

===Response from AIB======

We refer to your letter of 10 October 2006 and we have sought advice from our Head Office regarding your query.

We have been instructed to advise that we have acted in full compliance with the rules concerning charges as governed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). We have at all times provided you with itemised details of all charges that may be levied by the Bank and we have therefore complied with our legal obligations under current legislation.

At present the Office of Fair Trading report is just that and has no legal binding on the Bank and until such time as legislation is brought into being, we are fully compliant with the current rules.

We therefore advise that we will not be offering any refund of Bank charges in this instance.

Should you consider our decision unfair, we enclose the following advice brochures to assist you if you wish to take the matter further.

• Your complaint and the Ombudsman
  
• How does our service measure up?

[sues35]

Hi everyone - just checking whether anyone has or in the process of claiming back charges from AIB (Allied Irish Bank)?

 

Anyway below is my experience:

 

1. 10 Oct 2006 - sent letter claiming £1,104.25

 

2. 14 Oct 2006 - received response from bank basically refusing to pay (see full text of leter from AIB)

 

It will appear I will've to go ahead and send an LBA - will keep this thread updated. I've read the FAQ but will appreciate any advice, suggestion be it specific to AIB or general.

 

===Response from AIB======

We refer to your letter of 10 October 2006 and we have sought advice from our Head Office regarding your query.

We have been instructed to advise that we have acted in full compliance with the rules concerning charges as governed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). We have at all times provided you with itemised details of all charges that may be levied by the Bank and we have therefore complied with our legal obligations under current legislation.

At present the Office of Fair Trading report is just that and has no legal binding on the Bank and until such time as legislation is brought into being, we are fully compliant with the current rules.

We therefore advise that we will not be offering any refund of Bank charges in this instance.

Should you consider our decision unfair, we enclose the following advice brochures to assist you if you wish to take the matter further.

• Your complaint and the Ombudsman
  
• How does our service measure up?

 

HI and welcome. Keep to your schedule and send your LBA. Every bank answers in a similar vain, however to quote someone on here if it walks like a duck, quack likes a duck then it is a duck! Of course they say their charges are fair (its fair cos it pays nice lump sum bonuses etc) however its not lawful and thats the point. No where on the letter does it mention the charges are lawful so full steam ahead and good luck!

[sokam]

Just a quick update - sent my LBA on 16 Oct 06. Got the following response (see full text below) from AIB this morning saying I they're not paying. All my correspondence (Request for Payment & LBA) were sent to my branch and now they're suggesting I re-direct my query to their Head office. My questions are:

1. Should I still go ahead and file my claim (court) or re-send the LBA again to the Head office as well?

 

2. If the response/suggestion is to go ahead with the claim do I 've to wait another 14 days or will it continue from the date I sent the intial LBA to my branch.

 

 

Thanks.

 

=====Response from AIB dated 24/10/06=======

 

We refer to your letter of 16 Oct 06 and your request for the refund of excess charges.

 

We would advise again that we are not currently in breach of any legislation. Under the terms of the banking code we are required to notify you of all charges and we have complied with this at all times. Our charges are freely available on the internet and they form part of the contract that was agreed with you when you opened the account with us.

 

It is your responsibilty to maintain your account either in credit or in line with any sanctioned facility. As you have not clearly done so, we are fully entitled to charge you for the time and effort required to manage your account.

 

We have no further comment to make regarding this claim. Should you still consider the decision to be unfair and wish to to take this matter further, your next port of call would be to either contact the Financial Ombudsman services ( details of which are included in the recent leaflet sent) or to contact our Head Office at the address detailed below.

 

Allied Irish Bank (GB)

Customer Care

Bankcentre

Belmont Road

Uxbridge

Middlesex

UB8 1SA

 

signed by the Operations Team Leader

For & on behalf of AIB Group (UK) plc

[juicyd]

Hi Sokam, I am in the process of claiming against AIB through the small claims court. I wondered whether you had started your claim and how far it had got? Could we exchange any info which might help each other? The bank have served a defence in my case but it only has one para which deals with the issues and is along the lines of what they have been saying to us both via the letters you have copied. I am confident i will make a full recovery but it would be good to have any additional information. thanks

[Readybrek]

how did you get on, as starting claim for a friend

[juicyd]

Hi Readybrek, I posted that message last week, my claim is presently in the clerkenwell county court...I served a Reply to the 'defence' asking the court for a preliminary hearing to dispose of it as the defence has no real prospect of succeeding - it doesn't answer the allegations in the claim properly. I shall post updates if that will help