Getting bank charges refunded from Barclays

[Andy20]

Hi all.

Got this info from a VERY reliable person. Please dont abuse it!

The banks policy on charge refunding is very simple after the banks won the case in the high court. Nothing you can do about historic ones, but if you get some in the future there are only 2 ways they will be refunded.

The first is due to Fraud. If you get any charges due to fraudulant transactions, they will be refunded. Obviously no use if you have a payment returned for a few quid!

The second is due to bank error. They will ALWAYS refund due to this, which of course is right, but whats classed as an error. Well this is basically anything that you can tie to them. Its policy to not question the customer to much...... Thats like saying there making it up

An example a Direct Debit / Cheque / Standing order isnt paid due to lack of funds. If you have "told" the bank to cancel it before hand and they dont, thats there fault!

Now you have to be careful, when telling them when and how you told them to cancel the payment. EVERY call to a call centre is recorded. If you say you called on a specific day, and no call was made, they will know. If you called for anything else, it will show you called, and therefore you can say you cancelled the payment - They wont go into the time / expense to listen to a call. After all, thats like saying your lying!

Another way is to say you cancelled at branch - make sure you know what branch you visited. Nothing got done. You got charged, and now your on the phone wanting it sorted. Follow these steps:

1) Most importantly BE NICE - Nobody likes doing somthing for a toss pot.

2) Take there full name - You dont need to write it really, just makes them think that it will come back on them if they dont do what they say.

3) Dont let them send you back to branch - firstly you may not have cancelled the payment. Secondly, call centres have a higher allowance for refunds due to the volume of customers they speak to. Also, why should you??? Its there fault, and your haing to take even more of your time to sort it!

If you stick to the basics, and confirm its their fault, they will refund you.


I know that the best way is to not get charged, but it happens to the best of us, and it always nice to feel like you "won" a battle with a big company.............. especially for the Cable section who will need the extra cash soon

[Andy20]

Just an update,

I have used this for the 1st time after a cheque went out and took me £1.12 over my limit.......... saved me £22!.......... well they should have cancelled it like he man at the branch said he would

Post any feedback on this. That way it will give the post a bump, and other people may benefit.

[Robbo]

Yes, could be useful.

BTW, changed thread title so that it makes proper sense.

[Andy20]

Thanks.

Lets hope it saves people some money