Bank charges of £8,000 wanted back by licensee

A Devon licensee is attempting to reclaim almost £8,000 in penalty bank charges.
Tracy Bond of the Duke of York in Crediton, Devon is one of around 2m people nationwide who have joined the revolt against fees imposed for unauthorised overdrafts. The fees are meant to cover administration costs, estimated at about £4.50 rather than the £35 some banks charge.
The law currently allows claims to be made for the previous six years.
"I have given my bank, NatWest, two weeks to respond to my claim for £7,930 in penalty charges over five years," she said.
Bond claims that at times during the early years at the freehouse she was having to swallow £500 a week in penalty charges.
"The bank didn't seem to care if I was over my limit - they just carried on charging me fees," she said.
Ali Wittwer of the Royal Oak in Exminster, Devon, said she would definitely follow up on reclaiming bank charges.
"It's so hard in the first year of trading and I guess we were charged about £1,000.
"We have a good rapport with our bank manager and will be making an appointment to go and see him."
Joan Henderson of the Woodmine Inn, Ashton-under-Lyme, Lancashire said: "I plan to reclaim £1,300."
The Office of Fair Trading, due to report on this issue in April, is expected to set a maximum fee somewhere between £12 and £20.