online bank charge claim companies *beware*

[jules2008]

hello i currently have a claim in for my bank charges with halifax and lloyds tsb.

foolishly i have used an online company to deal with the halifax case but they have done nothing recently as apparently i owe them money from them claiming money back for me for an mbna credit card. they got me back £580 which mbna took off the balance of my card so i got nothing in my pocket but it paid my balance then the company Robertson Holbrook ltd want their fee which is £319.03 i sent them postal orders (as i do not have a cheque book).

Their invoice seems a bit high considering it is suppose to be 12% of whatever is recovered is my math that bad?

anyway they say they have not received a payment yet and are unwilling to take any further action on my bank charge case until then, they are looking into where the postal orders may have gone eg mis filed so i am awaiting a reply monday.

what i could do is continue my claim myself and then they will have to fight it out with me how much i owe them. the only other alternative is to cancel with them pay them for the work they have done so far and tatty bye as i have just read the contract which i have enclosed*see below* on here they could claim for interest so dont want to pay them for any more than i have to.

i believe though that it is no win no fee so they will have to wait till my claim is settled before they receive a payment and the banks pay the client not the company so this is in my favour. so the million dollar question is should i cancel my contract with them asap???? as i am now dealing with it myself via the FOS and the bank themselves.

please can someone help me on this issue i would be very grateful.



FORM OF AUTHORITY
NAME.……… ………………………………………………….
ADDRESS……………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………….

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS or CREDIT/STORE CARD No.
(Account)Number…………………………………………………………………
Sort…..-…..-…….(not needed for store cards or credit cards)
Bank (or card issuer) name ………………………………………………..
Robertson Holbrook have been appointed to act on my behalf in respect of all
negotiations and requisite action as set out in the accompanying letter.
The Bank therefore has my express authority to deal with Robertson Holbrook as if
dealing with me in person .Robertson Holbrook have my full authority to accept or
decline offers of settlement in this issue on my behalf without recourse to myself.
All correspondence in respect of this matter should be sent directly to Robertson
Holbrook at the address provided, do not attempt to distance Robertson Holbrook in
this issue by trying to negotiate with me directly in this matter.
I fully understand that I could otherwise use your internal complaints procedure in this
issue and /or the services of Banking Ombudsman’s Office, please respect my choice in
this matter to use this company’s services.
I can further confirm that Robertson Holbrook has made a Data Subject Access Request
on my behalf. Details relating to this request should similarly be forwarded to their
offices, appropriately referenced and marked as confidential.
I further understand that some of the additional (data protected) information you supply
to Robertson Holbrook may not be relative to reclaiming my bank charges, however if it
is the only format in which you can easily supply the data I hereby authorise you to
supply whatever is required.
Payment in settlement of my claim should be made by cheque payable to Robertson
Holbrook (Client Account) or electronically transferred to:
Robertson Holbrook (Client Account), Sort 30-11-54 Account 57552383
Do not attempt to settle with me direct, without the written approval of Robertson
Holbrook.

and
TERMS OF INSTRUCTION
I hereby appoint Robertson Holbrook to act on my behalf as my sole representatives in respect of my
claim for such fees erroneously levied or applied to my bank account, credit card or store card as identified
in the enclosed/ forwarded “Form of Authority”
I shall provide all information required by Robertson Holbrook, as requested, by return and I shall not
enter into any agreement relating to this claim with the Bank without first consulting Robertson Holbrook
in writing.
I will immediately forward to Robertson Holbrook copies of any correspondence that my bank may send
me regarding this issue.

I further understand that though unlikely it may be necessary to attend the County Court.
Robertson Holbrook will endeavour to recover all such bank charges and undertake to forward any
payment from my bank to me within seven days from the date received, subject to the retention of such
interest deemed applicable to this action.
In consideration thereof Robertson Holbrook will:
• Draft, prepare and forward to the Bank any necessary correspondence.
• Undertake all necessary negotiations on my behalf.
• Review all information provided by my Bank.
• Calculate the sum of money owed.
• Pay the fee for the Data Subject Access Request, as applicable.
• Pay the Court fee, as applicable.
• Provide representation at Court, as applicable

I understand that accepting any deal whatsoever, offered by my bank without full consultation with
Robertson Holbrook represents a breach of the above agreement and under such circumstances I accept
that Robertson Holbrook would be entitled to pursue me for their costs including any interest which they
would otherwise have won by pursuing the bank on my behalf (which in some circumstances may amount
to more then the offer that has been accepted). In the event that the client terminates the contract after 14
days the company reserves the right to make a cancellation charge which will reflect the work undertaken
by Robertson Holbrook in pursuit of the claim., which could be anything up to the full projected fee.
Cancellation of the agreement must be done in writing.
Name……………………………………………
Address………………………………………… Telephone……………………...
………………………….……………………… Mobile. Tel……………………..
…………………………………………………. E-Mail…………………………
Post Code………………..
Signed…………………………………..……Date……………..
Please Send To
Robertson Holbrook Ltd.
Falcon Drive
Cardiff Bay R @: Reclaim Bank Charges - Robertson Holbrook Consumer Recovery Specialists
Cardiff H Robertson Holbrook Ltd No.
5913945
CF 10 4RU H Data Controller

[Amethyst]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

the fee was over £380 for a claim of £500 !!! bloody hell woman thats extortionate.

If you have your postal order receipt you can check if they were cashed by writing (grr) to the Post Office.

Will try check their terms out.

If you can away from them for claiming your halifax charges back do it !

[Amethyst]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

Well they are unable to spell on their website which doesn't fill me with confidence about their service. Have you got a copy of their terms conditions and charging structure ? or a copy of the invoice they have sent you ?


Have just emailed them to ask for their fee structure anyway.

[Budgie]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

With what I have read so far about this I am utterly disgusted.

I feel a phone call session coming on for Monday morning with these people.

********s !

[Guest]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

How much did you send them by Postal Order?

[jules2008]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

i sent them postal orders for £320 after they threatened me with legal action.
At the time i did not question the amount as i was trying to avoid any court action. it is only now that i am thinking this is a large amount considering the only got me back £580 on my mbna card.

The only things i remember getting from Robertson Holbrook are the two documents i signed which i have posted on my thread there is no mention of their fee structure. is this legal??? i have never had anything in writing about their fees only over the telephone where they told me they only took 12% they took this from the interest claimed. i think their website is misleading as it says you get 100% of monies claimed but you dont if they take their fee as you would include interest as part of claim??????

i am now even more confused than ever and i only found out they have put my claim on hold becuase they believe i have not paid up the £320 demanded by them. they are looking into this as they rekon the postal orders may have been mis- filed will find out monday. but this aside i am now questioning the amount? also this is a separate issue from my bank charge claim and they have not advised me about the new waiver etc and i feel they are in breach of their so called contract anyway. if it comes to it they have £320 that they will find i have paid them if they can find them lol and if they think i owe them anymore then they will have to take me to court for it i rekon as they cant legally get me to pay anything unless they do so anyways by law.

how could i have been so stupid as to go through this company to add even more to my problems??? there is always someone making money outta other peoples miseries.

anyway what should i be asking them on monday coz i really feel i cant deal with this anymore. they are supposed to be working in my best interests and yet they are now working against me (sound familiar) i want to get outta this as i feel they have misled me and have done nothing to help me to claim the money back to which i am entitled.

[Amethyst]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

DOnt talk to them on the phone again

We'll try and work out the charging structue somehow - theres a few posts around and about about them and they seem to say they keep the interest element of a claim as their fee in some cases and 12% in others. Then they claim back any court fees etc paid out that werent refunded.

I personally would DPA them for all the info they have on your case see what they actually did....also ask them for a full breakdown of the £320 fee.

And get on to the post office and find out about the postal orders too.

[Birdie]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

We nearly got caught up with a company like that, a few months ago, when my health was really, really bad and we were contemplating going bankrupt. I do not remember the name of the company, but they were really pushy.

Try to take a deep breath and relax, LB's have saved my marriage and our home - I'm sure that you will find all the help you need here. MY husband and I are only just starting with all our debts and have much to learn, I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon.

HLG43

[jules2008]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

ok thanks for your help.

I cant do anything now till monday as they are contacting me then if they have located the postal orders.

i think the pay structure you have mentioned sounds about right but i dont have anything in writing to confirm it.

if i cancel my contract with them i will do so asap and only pay them for work they have done so far when i get my claim settled.

I really dont know the state of play on my claim as i dont think they have done much since the £319.00 incident, but prior to this i made them aware of my financial situation eg repossession claim etc

anyhow at least now i have written to the bank myself and the FOS complaining about my unfair bank charges so will see how far i get with it all and deal with Robertson Holbrook as a seperate issue.

now i feel i have to fight two battles. it can only get better that is all i can say.

jules 2008

[jules2008]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

if they only take 12% how come they are charging me £320 for a £580 claim does not make sense so something is amiss somewhere i feel. Also this makes me very wary of what they will actually try to stich me up for now.
i will get a low down on work done so far and a full breakdown of the £320 cost as you have advised me.

plus i am annoyed because that means all this time they have done nothing to process my other claims any further and that is including my virgin and barclaycard claims, plus my store card claims with debenhams and karen millen. grrrrrr:doh:
but could be a blessin in disguise if i get outta my contract with them and claim the money myself which is what i should have done in the first place.

**I hope that this is a warning for others who might be thinkin bout using an online company to help with their claim. **

DONT DO IT best idea use legal beagles website and do it yourself.

[Paule]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

You may find that they have a minimum fee around the £295 mark plus they usually slap vat on what they recover as well

[Amethyst]

Blimey you have all those claims with them?

They do say that you have to cancel within 14 days to avoid a fee - doesnt say what the fee would be though only that it could be up to the full final fee.

Did you only sign those two documents you have posted above ? And was it one form of authority for each account/card etc or just one ?

In the event that the client terminates the contract after 14
days the company reserves the right to make a cancellation charge which will reflect the work undertaken
by Robertson Holbrook in pursuit of the claim., which could be anything up to the full projected fee.
Cancellation of the agreement must be done in writing.

[jules2008]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

i have had none of this is writing about what their actual charges are so that is quite bad huh? will see what they reply to amythest email about their charging structure.

yes the only things i have ever signed are the two documents i have shown you. i only ever signed one copy of each document so thats two documents and i did not do that individually for each claim. they are using these two documents to cover all the claims.

yes they were supposed to be sorting out my barclaycard, virgin and mint cards(mbna) and storecards debenhams and karen millen. The only one they were sucessful with is mbna as far as i know they will not tell me anymore until i pay them the £320. If they dont tell me anything about what they done so far i dont think it matters that much as it is just a case of contacting the halifax and getting the info from them so i can continue with my claim that is the main thing to be honest. but the last thing they told me was my claim is on hold because of the court stays.

what a mess huh! if you can find out anything bout them all go the good.

I will see how much they want to stitch me up for cancelling? but as it is a no win no fee they may have to wait for it as i have not received any payment yet from the banks or anyone else.
so if i dont win anythin they dont get paid. plus if i cancel with them and do the claim myself it will be up to them to pursue me for payment and it may slip through the net. once the stays have been lifted they may be so busy will forget etc worth a try huh

[Paule]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

the fees

Q. Your offer seems “too good to be true”, how do you make any money, if you are paying all of our costs and then returning 100% to the clients and still have a no win no fee policy?
A. During our analysis of your bank statements we calculate the interest charged and take that, together with any interest awarded by the court to derive our fees.

[jules2008]

Re: online bank charge claim companies *beware*

my question is now as i have never had anything in writing regarding their fee structure am i still liable to pay it? there must be something bout that? I have only signed for them to act on my behalf nothing much else.