She writes your wrongs: I was stung by bank fee firm

She writes your wrongs: I was stung by bank fee firm

I received an unsolicited phone call saying my bank owed me money, which it wanted to give back. I said I didn't think so and hung up. The person phoned again, twice, so I asked him to send me details. This time he asked for my bank card number, which I did not want to give. He assured me it was safe as he was not asking for my Pin. Stupidly, I gave it.

A few days later, I received a package from Reclaim2Gain, a service for reclaiming unfair bank charges. I have no complaint about bank charges. I then discovered that two amounts, totalling £79.98, had been deducted from my Abbey bank account. I closed the account so that Reclaim2Gain could take no more.SX, Farnborough

Claims handlers must not deceive you about their purpose. And they must tell you that you can make claims yourself directly, which costs nothing. No one need pay a claims handler to recoup unfair fees. Reclaim2Gain's website says it charges £39.99 upfront, as well as 20 per cent plus VAT of any bank charges it gets back for you. It should not take even that without your permission, let alone twice as much.

Claims handling businesses are now regulated and you should report your experience to the Ministry of Justice at info@claimsregulation.gov.uk, or phone 0845 450 6858. You can read more about this on claimsregulation.gov.uk.

The Office of Fair Trading's test case on unauthorised overdraft charges is due to be heard in the High Court in January......continued below

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Meanwhile, complaints about this particular bank charge, through banks and the Financial Ombudsman Service, are on hold except for anyone suffering hardship. Anyone with a grievance can still ask their bank to log their claim. Reclaim2Gain told me it had no comment and put the phone down. Abbey has refunded your £79.98.

Barclaycard bungle benefited a stranger

In July, I wanted to pay my £255 Barclaycard bill from my Halifax account. Barclaycard gave me the wrong sort code and account details and eventually I learned that my money had been paid into the account of another customer with the same name. I was given the wrong information after I had correctly answered the security questions. All I get from Barclaycard is 'it is being looked into'.EH, Northallerton

Barclaycard admits it has failed you, despite your good efforts to retrieve your money. Your account is now straight and Barclays has refunded the £6 interest it charged. The bank is sending you a hamper to apologise.

Abbey got into the habit of taking our money

In February I was notified by dabs.com, an online retailer, that my husband had spent £1,110 on computer equipment. He hadn't. Someone had used our Abbey Visa card and our address to order a computer for Mr J Smith in London. Abbey's Visa department refunded the money, but then so too did dabs.com. Like honest twits, we told Abbey, which said it would take the money back. It did so - twice - and this has sent us overdrawn.GM, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire

Simple human error, says Abbey. It has put your account straight and added £150 for good will.

Powergen debt put back into perspective