All UK citizens have the right to make a bank charges claim. However, not everyone is familiar with the difference between an unfair and fair bank charge. Many citizens in the country nowadays are having trouble with the high bank charges, which contributes to the UK’s current economic depression. This short guide intends to help readers know more about unfair bank charges and how they can make a good bank charges claim.
Customers who have bank accounts must be very familiar about the bank charges they receive. Sometimes, customers do not notice that they are being charged hefty amounts for violations that are not worth the penalty fee. Consumer groups, which stipulate these amounts to be unfair bank charges, had called upon authorities to re-evaluate the amount of bank charges customers receive. The worsening economic condition of the UK leaves citizens at the mercy of unfair bank charges, which, if not addressed sooner, can mean trouble for many.
Unfair bank charges is a direct violation of the Lending Code, which states that banks and lenders are expected to be fair to their customers. Unfair bank charges are disproportionate amounts charged to customer for using a certain service or penalty charge. The Office of Fair Trading stipulates that £15 is the ceiling amount for all penalty charges banks can charge against customers. Banks should always consider the nature of the violation and their customer’s concurrent financial capabilities before they continuously charge them with penalty fees as well.
Bank accounts receive bank charges for the use of its services and features. They also receive penalty fees if their use violates the terms and conditions agreed upon by both customer and bank. Unfair bank charges is when customers receive a £35 bank charge for a £1 overdraft. Some customers also complain about the minimum withdrawal amount for ATM’s, which deprives them of withdrawing smaller amounts from their bank accounts because of the high service charge. Some customers are sent spiraling down into huge debt because of continuous penalty fees.
As a result, the continuous charging of penalty fees to customers who are obviously having financial difficulties ‘tie’ these customer’s monthly loan repayments to banks. Banks are obliged to consult about the termination or the resolution of the financial problem of consumers. Many customers nowadays are indebted due to the high penalty fees of banks. Not being able to withdraw an average amount, some citizens cannot receive all their money from their bank accounts through ATMs because of the high minimum withdrawal amount.
Citizens who intend to reclaim all their bank charges will need to consult with PPI claims handling companies. Most PPI claims experts are knowledgeable not just with PPI claims, but with other financing and banking issues existing nowadays. Customers must always ensure that they are working with a no win no fee PPI claims handling company to help them get good legal help and receive all the refunds they deserve.