Too good to be true?

[mattjanes]

I have had a student account with the Halifax bank for the past 2 years, and over the time I have been charged £28 on countless occassions for unauthorised overdraft usage - i.e a cheque or direct debit or card use takes the balance below the agreed overdraft facility.

 

Now, being absolutely skint and in need of cash very quickly, I was referred to this website from another message board, but my initial reaction to the facts here are that they seem too good to be true! Is it really correct that I can claim back every instance that I have been charged £28? Obviously it is my fault it has happened so many times.

 

I have read through all the FAQ's but I am still slightly sceptical to it all. I would love to take all the money back, but is it going to hurt my pocket even more if it doesn't work?

 

Thanks for your help.

[mattjanes]

It does seem that way. I have read through lots of the letters that other people have sent to banks and feel that perhaps my first step would be to ask for a schedule of all charges made to my account and the reasons for them, along with some kind of proof that the charges were necessary.

 

If, then, they do not provide proof, then it could be time to start asking for the money back.

 

I suppose this way, they receive a bit of a warning shot and I can see whether it's even possible for me to get the money back before I start charging in and asking for it.

 

So, to this end, I notice from other letters that I will need to make a request for the information under the Data Protection Act and set a deadline for it. And I also read that they may charge for this service - suppose they could take it out of my account, and then charge me an extra £28 for the privelige.

 

On another note, I'd like to say that this website is an extremely good idea and I hope it can go from strength to strength! Good work guys.

[mattjanes]

Here's a copy of the letter I have whipped together with the help of your library and my own creative spark!

 

 

 

 

Halifax PLC Head Office

Customer Services & Complaints Dept.

Trinity Road

Halifax

HX3 2RG

 

 

Ref: mj.schreqhal.001/06

 

 

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

 

Re: Information Request – Account Number XXXXXXXX / Sort Code XXXXXX

 

 

I hereby respectfully request a complete list of charges made to my bank account by Halifax PLC since the date of account opening under the current regulations of the Data Protection Act (1998).

 

Additionally, I would ask that you include the reasons for the charges being made, and include details relating to any event in the account history where manual action had to be taken by a member of your staff.

 

I ask for this information for my own records, as many of the notices regarding to these charges have since been destroyed for the protection of my account data.

 

Under the terms of the Data Protection Act (1998), you have 40 days to provide this information, although I would be highly appreciative if my request could be resolved as soon as possible.

 

 

Yours Faithfully,

 

 

Matthew Janes

 

 

 

It's a start, I shall get it posted this afternoon

[mattjanes]

This topic was closed on 03/05/19.

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