Legal Beagles Home Page
.....Guarding Your Consumer Rights
ChatroomDonate
 
dpenolygfyrhrehdlovetomato soup
Are you struggling with Debt ?
Do you have excessive bank charges?
Do you just need a bit of support?


We are delighted that you’ve found your way to Legal Beagles.

The Free Forum is where everything happens, so make sure you Register today!

We are a small free site and have a great community spirit with many experienced and knowledgeable people on hand to help, whatever your problems or queries may be.

With our experience, knowledge and resources we will be at the forefront of the battles against unfair practices, whether they be from the banks (where our main battle is at the moment) or any other organisation that feels they can use unfair business practices to take money from our members.

TEST CASE
Big question on everyone’s mind is ‘’whats happening with the Test Case ?’’.

In the main cases are still on hold pending the outcome of the Test Case being held between the OFT and the Banks. However, thanks to the FSA updating the waiver in July and putting pressure on the Banks to assist consumers who are suffering financial difficulty, we are seeing a number of settlements for our more vulnerable users. We have set up a Financial Hardship forum to concentrate on these claims and you can read further information, and details of our successes here > Hardship Claims during the FSA Waiver - Legal Beagles. If you are struggling financially, facing repossession or your circumstances have changed since the start of the Test Case then please take a look and see if you fall into the category of hardship.


We are awaiting the decision of Justice Andrew Smith with regards to the application of the UTCCR and common law penalty arguments applicability to historical (pre November 2007) overdraft charges. The initial Judgement handed down in July was that banks’ current terms cannot be construed as penalties, but that the terms may be assessed for fairness under the UTCCR. This is now subject to an appeal by the banks, which is expected to comment October 28th in the High Court. Therefore the FSA have extended the waiver until January 2009 and claims remain on hold.

BEAGLES MEET THE OFT
In July the Office of Fair Trading published the long awaited report into Personal Current Accounts. The report focused primarily on switching between accounts, transparency and of course structure of insufficient funds charges. This report can be viewed on the OFT website http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/rep...ts/OFT1005.pdf and there is discussion on our forums OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING - Legal Beagles . The OFT have invited Legal Beagles, and other consumer groups, stakeholders and banks to respond to this report and assist in finding remedies for the issues highlighted in the report. To this end four representatives of Legal Beagles attending a special meeting with the retail banking team at the OFTs offices in London earlier this month. The meeting was extremely positive and we are confident we have a good opportunity to get across to the OFT the views of the consumer on the street. Our report is currently being prepared and we are grateful to have the assistance of barrister Tom Brennan. We would like to obtain as many views, thoughts and experiences from our users as possible and if you visit our OFT forum you will find a number of threads to which you can contribute and have your voice heard in the future of the personal current accounts in the UK.
What are the Banks doing ?
BARCLAYS
In August we saw the introduction of the new Barclays Reserve account system of charging. Despite shouting about a headline reduction to £8 for insufficient funds requests, the Reserve foisted onto vulnerable consumers has seen people further crippled with excessive charges as they began charging £22 for every 5 days you are over your standard overdraft and into your reserve amount. The new reserves were offered to customers on an Opt-Out basis and many customers were not aware of the change. If you have been affected and feel you are worse off due to these new charges we encourage you to write to the Bank and to the FSA to complain. The OFT are currently looking at these new charges for fairness, however they are not part of the waiver and complaints about the reserve must be dealt with within 8 weeks of your complaint under the Banking Code.

We also encourage Barclays customers who previously struggled with the old charging system to OPT OUT of the new Barclays Reserve. If you are unsure if you have been given this account please contact Barclays.

Opting out means you will have a buffer zone of £15 over your current overdraft which is not charged for, and any transactions that would take you over that would be declined and returned, excepting guaranteed cheques. These insufficient funds transactions will attract a fee of £8 per transaction - as opposed to the previous £38.

ABBEY
We have also seen Abbey plc make changes to the way they charge interest on their Current Account overdrafts. Whereas previously they charged a set rate of interest on your authorised overdraft balance, then another, higher rate, on any further unauthorised overdraft, they have amended their terms and conditions to allow them to charge the higher unauthorise rate on your entire overdrawn balance. For example if you have an overdraft facility of £100 and then go into unauthorised overdraft by £50 - you will now pay the higher rate of interest on the entire £150. We have made the OFT aware of this situation but we suggest anyone affected writes to both the bank and the OFT with their concerns.
Latest News
Consumer Rights
12th September

PPI complaints over 500 a week
The FOS has already had extensive discussions with the banking industry, but is worried that organisations that sell PPI are "not getting the message." One bank, RBS/NatWest, has responded to the FOS's approach to the FSA by changing its attitude to dealing with customer complaints about PPI. According to an internal bank memo, dated 22 August, the bank decided "at Group Senior Executive level to reduce the volume of complaints going to FOS" to demonstrate to the FSA and FOS that their concerns have been taken on board.

2nd September
Justice Smith on hols till 30th September - Judgement on historical expected before 28th October.

28th July
As we predicted at the beginning of July the new waiver terms are now in place and included that hardship is defined as incurring more than £500 of charges per year. The banks unsuccesfully protested against this definition which places 1.4 million consumers in hardship.

16th July 2008
OFT have published the PCA Market Study report.

It recognises over 1.4 million consumers are charged over £500 in overdraft fees per year. If the FSA keeps to its proposed definition of hardship, as detailed in the following story, this effectively places those 1.4million consumers within the boundaries of 'hardship' and thus able to continue their claims exempt from the terms of the waiver.

Read more on the OFT PCA report here

2nd July 2008


The FSA is focusing on the treatment of hardship cases in considering the extension of the waiver and has proposed that hardship is defined as incurring more than £500 of charges per year. The Banks do not agree with this definition and are putting forward alternative proposals to more 'accurately reflect' hardship. A meeting was held on the 2nd July to discuss the options. We await further details.

Beagles Side Bar

Forum Home
Email Admin
Send A Message To The TeamSearch Forums

View Who's Online
HAVE YOUR SAY !!!

chatroom

We are in the middle of preparing our response to the consulation documents following from the PCA report - we, and the OFT, really would like your views. Please read here and have your voice heard.

Important Information
blog
Natwest change online banking so you can access 6 years of transactions without the hassle of DPA requests
Read here

Hardship Successes

The Banks FINALLY appear to be getting their bums into gear and are helping people who are in hardship and suffering from crippling bank charges. In recent days we have seen First Direct, Lloyds, Halifax and Abbey make interim payments to consumers to assist with their financial difficulty whilst we await the outcome of the OFT v Banks test case in the High Court.

Read Here
CHRISTMAS DO
overdraft feebank charges penalty
Beagles Christmas Meet
November 29th Manchester - The Printworks
See the LB Meets Forum in the Lamp Post for details

Reclaiming Charges News
21st July 2008
Waiver has been reviewed and will now remain in place until January 2009 or the conclusion of the test case.

We recommend anyone who considers themselves to be in hardship to look at the terms of the new waiver and consider reapplying to the Financial Ombudsman Service. This may not get you a refund but may see a halt on future charges and on debt collection for any overdraft debt caused by charges.
Please keep us informed in a thread on the site.

read more here
Member Successes
weblog
Details of Hardship claim success can be found HERE

Recent CONGRATULATIONS go to;
Bloomingflower v Abbey
Starbug v Halifax
Derochelle v Lloyds
Laura v Lloyds
Tuttsi v Abbey
Outspoken v Abbey
Jester v First Direct
Travelgirl v Abbey
Shooter v Lloyds
Ladidi v Abbey

OFT v Banks Test Case
bank charges

16th July 2008

Waiver remains in place

PCA report published 16th July 2008

FSA to review waiver 26th July 2008

No judgement on historic terms handed down - due early October

Appeals to be 28th October 2008

Read updates as they happen in our OFT Test Case forum . So keep an eye there and in the notice box at the top of the forum for the latest information.
VIP MEMBERSHIP
h

This site is free to use but it does cost something to run, unfortunately. We do offer a VIP subscription area to members. This area contains some more forums, the Stags Pants for fun, managing your finances and working and claiming forums for things you prefer to be out of the public eye a little. There is also the added bonus of the on site CHATBOX which is used pretty much 24/7 by our VIP members for nattering and discussing claims and issues. You also get a bump in PM space to 500. the use of profile piccies and youtube vids in your profile and all the social networking type stuff that goes with it.

As a way of keeping the site running financially we ask for donations to join this area - £9 per year or £25 for lifetime membership (well 10 years but near enough for some of us)....To join click the link at the top of the VIP Forum or HERE
 


 

Forum HomeEmail Admin
PM AdminSearch Forums

 

 
Copyright ©2007 Copyright Consumer Legal Ltd Consumer Legal Ltd

 

 

 


d4l betchacomal tracemuralist riveraholmes foundry lawsuitp935 software downloadcarey hart backflipchristmas mangersdynomax bulletexploitive weight loss industryspanked behindspumpkin catapultmichigan ouilportraits herranzskillet alien youthsubsidy code generatorportraits pictures marcelino herranzvan zandt county appraisalalberta prosperity chequesyearling haltersdudy noble fieldcumulous cloudstransferable machine gunsconsultas juridicas bilbaoorganic germanium ge 132turneffe flatsjarcatgunpowder plot of 1605speedboat rental annapolissamaire armstrong nudebloodborn pathogensforcefantasieseddie guerreolaika teen modelrosalina smockedhawaiin kona coffeehogtied stripped girlpsx3chicken invaders2mistress ekkosedona body wrapguy cloutier seconde victimepaper towleselkskin glovesmotorola radius p1225prices on mastercraft tiresphysics of bungee jumpingpulp fiction misirloujeicerandyblue passwordprices for mastercraft tiresmissy peregrym nudelads wankingblondie scorelandcylindrical fendersshotgun choke sizesblinc eyelinersamual morsedebelah morgan yesterdaygoldfinger mablesilencer blueprintspernicious anaemiacometologycorpus christi remax real estateabnormally long nippleslolettajoseph palczynskihyp sportswearyakitate japan mp3kates playground wmvlisa nistriinternational house of pancakes2315 michael drcorey haim nudecootchamanda paige playmatetimneh african grey parrotpenthouse pets pictorialsgregor ziolkowskisuntanscerritos answering serviceamanda marcum nudenorweigian dictionarynextel i30 faceplatesprince escaluscistellewonderlick testjodhi packerfort pierce tribune classified adscorpus christi de la ysletadownrigger mountscrissitara correa mcmullensesshomaru fan artrosina lhevinneovens wiscokilleen real estate brokerage firmcarolina topcatsnewspaper mastheadsaccoyo alpacasroyce gracie recordbobbi billard mpegsnaked athletsearth freindly business opportunitieshyrogliphicsbellingham damaged auto glass repaircandlepower spotlightcharity gunge tankpneumatic rivetersscreenwriting consultationaaascanian farrieroutplacement consultant cranberry township paoutplacement consultant boardman ohproffessional photography digital imaging informationbootyshortsrobert shufeltdarien intercoastal homesitebreast expansion morphsdarien georgia intercoastal homesiteshildegarde de bingenposedionmaumelle arkansas real estatethunderasskumar sanu mp3preterist theologyexecutive outplacement pittsburgh pakualapuu cook housemstatcrabbieswisco pizza oventarrie bdoctor sabbaticalsalan hawkshawtransmyocardial laser revascularizationramstein sonnefoxy teenzkristin timkenhomo sapien sapienscuti cuti malaysia toursjenifer tilly nudehunters extravaganzapenelope pumpkins gallery870 police shotguntsunami sasamikirsty alley nudekaty couricgse tirepewter hallmarksjasper gahuniadestanycaius cassiuskisspurz catterychipolte restaurantcaptivepennytruckpicturesa scrap of paper playwrighttruckskinsaggerjohn hagee divorcecharmain sinclairbeaker tongshot gia lashayacme tapssapphic erotica daphne and joeastenders episode guideashly raebeverly hills brow liftridgid threading machinefatmen55 gallon drum accessorieswireless vibrating pantiesfariyerta alehomer choking bartwww.coccozella.com passwordcuttiesgerald marchewkapiper comanche 260 for salesimple and clean planitb remix mp3louise redknapp gallerymisirlou pulp fictionpower racing xr80bjork swan dressen ligne.htmlhally barry nudejohn medeiros jewelrycarla alapontemaskmakingdnepropetrovsk hotel ukrainecollis potter huntingtonbashore propertieshestia nativitylimerick classic and vintage car clubabert squirrelbmw z8 pics to downloadmige amourmetal mulisha motocrossunconformitiesbeverly mitchel nudemalibu strings swimweartaco sal restaurant8210 faciassean gilleycky freestyle rapancient roman mythologymisato nakedkalimat pressancient healthcare center los gatoscanning venison15times.comdavie jones lockercdg duplicatoroutbacker antennaangalina jolie nakednootka indianswhipedass.comdavina mccall nudeveggie tales cheeseburgerthe exorsistchipmunk removalflexible chimney linersmartine and jim barneydigimon xxx sorabrooke tighdfw steen steerdoc severinsonsnidley whiplashpeyote graph paperelyse cheneypapoose lake lazarused stairmastersdupont rubber mulchtench muyouniden bearcat manualcardinal principle of homeowner personal loanscanine acl surgerytian an men square massacrechiefland newspaperbrazil ecotourbreast bud for girls pubertyfamily truckstermatt shirvington bulgejilliangracesilicone rubber awareness braceletvedic jewleryjustin timberlake bulgewrinkle smoothing serummsr xgk exzafarahighrises in las vegaszack wardenstanadyne injection pumptorvill and dean boleroexecutive outplacement cranberry township pamini snauzeranaerobic glove boxdarien ga intercoastal homesiteslittle leage world seriesfaye wong mp3tori no uta mp3lladro nursesalacia oblongabourget low blowflorida tangerinesgravely stump grinderstellersoutplacement consultant cleveland ohfrottage techniquefrottage orgasmcessna 310 picturesheber porcelainbulma and vegeta kissingatemreduktionantione lavoisierlevel f sadlier-oxford vocabulary workshop answersmgp6.comdurood shareefamsterdam vienna bucharest tickets flights travel airfaressuurikuplacroatia teflneebish islandphaser 6250dpphaser 8400dpcystic adenomatoid malformationvictoria secertssell trendwestyoko kanno inner universedownload libby hoelerjodie penfoldball pumperscolormax lensesglyconutrients and blood pressuresolar dehydratorshakespeare marlowe controversyhypotheque montrealmaeista pr0xyyulia nova russianskytel pagingcentrifugal mag drive pumpsshimmy shimmy hellogoodbyeleticia loyayiffy horsetypes of spider websgigi dagostino mp3withim temptationconsumtion junktionrembrandt van rijn self portraitinsane clown posse hatchetmanmorrowwind walkthroughinflatable snowglobediversified builders bemidjicindy breakspeargresham urgent carepsilocybe semilanceatagaltech semiconductor stock quote londongynecologist speculum examfemale russian contortionistsbali webquestamin nazemzadehgrex p635eton beamersnow lepordorianne collinscivil war weponscarbide tool resharpeningearlwood real estateforeplay breast rubatkingdom passwordgwen stefanie nakedwwfcnuff seddbernhart furnitureemilia fanjul pfeiflerwater caltropmechanical broadheadsbrandiloveprosthodontic societyhomestarrunner.comselling a home in ahwatukeecarly simon nudehayden pannetiereyaesu vx 1rwh autopilotsmuller advertyaesu ft817vietcong tunnelsdem franchise boyz white teeofficer krupkemachinable plasticmargarita jello shotsnikki ziering playmateautosleepervida guerromotorola subsidy code calculatormotorola talkabout t5820gaogaigar mp3temporary housing croftonfinal fantasy mithrastueve realtyannette otoole nude picsdeserts the falafel oasisdanielle delorenzobess passwordstgi joistfinal fanastystephenville lake front private communitystephenville lake front texas propertystephenville lakefront texas vacation homelinda evangelista nudemedieval jesterstrifocalsshana hyatt nudeurinalysis reagent stripslakefront properties in stephenville txcar leather protectantthird eye blind crystal ballersprint lg 5250anodize processcamp mastectomy brasabsesssomma air bedruki makinojpcarrenkotsulucy pinder sunday timesbanzhaf power indexbajar peliculas en formato mpgsoubrettesmega brushless motorjeremiah osboruger .22 hornetreyburn intermediate schoolmumbai auntiesride of the valkyries mp3cybermatetvfolsum prisonalcoholism belize treatmentmelanies uk swingersclematis roguchithundercraftfatlaneonlinesavanna biomeeri kitajimakiichiro toyodaboat junkyardsraymond waites dinnerwaregiant swallowtail butterflycaterpillar d6hshaved orientalsbuckshot treestandsspineshank smotheredprimitive rug hooking kitcataldo missionzoids leenabloodhound gang-foxtrot uniformkit patio haulerchamae roseinflatable joustsally gunnellglazing puttynunn hospitality group ltdloftstrand crutchesorganza ribbon necklacesspecial prices agritourism pratodownload motorola c350 device drivercomte de frontenacalexis bledel fakes nudebugling bull elkart herranz marcelinopeter ompirbernadett petersparachuterlowes kitchen remodeling pictures and pricesnorandalvezeauinsulated pexjeep stroker engineanekee picturesnappy punishmentproperty in terralzembo shrine circuslucky brand jeans dungareesmaya angelou timelinesaabs for salekerry mcfadden toplessmitch hedberg mp3elastration14971 consultant isonortherntoolsveronica verakovajccs ltdgenerac 4582gen gorderteen toplistsgolf course real estate calabash listingraquelsworlddime washburn guitarsjoggs user galleryspike harrowsherlock holmsasssstornado fuel saver kc-50-cal440lxvrlmsorshafrankie lymon wifesunset wooded homesitesgorden lightfootla mucurafhm beth ostroskynude beach goersbrevard nc properties riverfront for salepatricia javier nudemiracle ii moisturizing lotionla trochitapersian kittporcelain veneers hollywoodnoclothesallowedatec batting cagesmetacrawler horoscopemetacrawler horoscopeswooden quilt hangerwailea golf vistasvanishing retractable screen doorsoul calibur 2 takiakai pdp5016hhdi certification training orange county californiaeileen donanruss dalbey cash flow notesatlanta dissolution of marriagewhalen firepitmaaya sakamoto gravityslipknot members unmaskedstephenville investment propertystephenville lake front propertybundas maravilhosaschristina aguilar nudefree download truesynccarmelita montoya foxgangstas paridisecarmon electra naked