The Ultimate Guide To Reclaiming Bank And Card Charges

We've written a lot on how to reclaim charges you've paid for things like late payments and exceeding overdraft limits. From here you can access all our articles.

Important note on 8 Jan 2008: most people's claims for bank charges will be put on hold until a big court case is settled. So, before making your claim, read more in What's Happening With Bank Charges?

Bank and card companies charge us £12 to £40 for exceeding overdraft limits, making late payments, defaulting on debts, returning a bounced cheque, or for failed direct debits and standing orders. However, it is unlawful for them to penalise us financially for breach of contract, or any other breach in fact! And we've just let them get on with it. How British!

But not all of us have just sat there and taken it. Thousands of people have recovered their charges, with an average recovery of £956. You could do this too! Whilst making my own claim (which was successful), I wrote the following guide.

The Guide

1. Reclaim Your Bank And Card Charges, 4 May 2006
Read the legal background and my four-stage plan to reclaiming charges, including a template letter.

2. Reclaim Even More Bank And Card Charges, 22 May 2006
More details on what you can claim and how to get details of your past charges from your bank or card company.

3. Reclaim Interest On Bank And Card Charges, 24 May 2006
Find out how to calculate the interest that you've been charged on top of your charges.

4. Tactics For Reclaiming Bank Charges, 12 June 2006
Read about some of the nasty tricks bank and card companies have been using to stop these claims, and what you can do about it.

5. My Claim For Unlawful Bank Charges, 29 June 2006
An update on my claim so far, plus another template letter.

6. My Bank Charges Claim Is Going To Court, 8 August 2006
True to form, my bank is still denying that its unlawful charges are unlawful. Here I explain how I initiated court proceedings against them. With ease!

7. Unlawful Charges And Court Proceedings, 12 September 2006
Here you can read about the next steps in the court process: applying for a default judgment and the Allocation Questionnaire.

8. My Ongoing Bank Charges Saga, 28 September 2006
My bank fights back, but not particularly well.

9. My Unlawful Bank Charges Victory! 8 November 2006
At long last my bank gives in and pays my claim in full.

10. The Way Ahead For Bank Charges Claims, 25/05/07
As the banks win a couple of victories (versus tens of thousands of losses), you are reminded to take your claims seriously.

Podcasts

The Ultimate Guide To Illegal Bank Charges Podcast, 5 February 2007
David Kuo and I talk to one Fool about how she could reclaim illegal charges from her bank.

Landmark Illegal Bank Charge Court Case, 19 April 2007
David Kuo and I talk to barrister Tom Brennan, who is in court fighting his claim against NatWest.

Get help

Discussion Board
Put your questions to experienced Fool claimants.

Related articles

Tom Brennan vs. NatWest

The First Bank Charges Court Hearing
The Fool Talks To Bank Charges Crusader
Bank Charges Hearing: The Consequences
Brennan's Valiant Fight Against NatWest

Other bank charges articles

Reclaim Charges: Stick To Your Guns!
Successful Claims For Unlawful Charges!
Welcome The High Court
Bank Charges A Fool For Unpaid Standing Order - To Herself!
Ombudsman Not Failing Claimants On Bank Charges
Penalty Charges And Other Banking Tricks!
Current Accounts Crisis
Lloyds Bank Wins Bank Charges Case
Beat Bank Charges With New Current Accounts!

Good luck!

> Compare current accounts at The Fool.

This page updates an older version of the guide.