The claims process is often portrayed as a simple one but through the years we have seen allot of really dirty tricks played by big corporations.

You can only win a claim if the rules surrounding the establishment of the account or policy were broken or are categorised as unfair. After you make a complaint, the company who sold it to you will investigate to see if they broke the rules or not.

At Empire Claims we offer unbiased, straight forward advice and will support you every step of the way. And more importantly, after you return your signed and completed welcome packs, you can sit back and leave all the hard work to us!

If your initial complaint is not upheld, you can go to the Financial Ombudsman's Service (FOS) for arbitration. The FOS will independently assess the details of your complaint and decide whether your complaint should be upheld. However, you may need to be patient, as the FOS currently has heavy workloads, due to the thousands of mis-selling complaints they are receiving about these products.

Empire Claims provides a real alternative, offering professional, experienced, jargon free help which will give you peace of mind.

• You could claim your charges back your self, however, in today's demanding world many people simply don't have the time to trawl through paperwork. Further, there are many jobs people simply decide to leave to the professionals including accounting and taxes as they know the professionals could do a better job.
• Further, for a claim to be successful it must be made on the correct basis and covered by the correct regulations. A significant number of claims made by individuals are rejected straight away by the companies involved.
• Empire Claims are industry experts and know the rules, regulations and processes involved, so we can ensure your claim is given the optimum time and experience for success.

Have you paid out too much of your hard-earned cash?
Have you paid unfair credit card or bank charges, for example?
Or have you made a purchase and been mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance?

It happens all too often and it's easy to think there's nothing you can do about it. Not so. We could help you claim back the money you've paid and more.

Empire Claims use legal argument to demand the refund of your unfair charges or payment protection insurance. Empire Claims used leading industry experience to maximize your claim and get your money back faster.

Our highly trained team could put together a case on your behalf and give you absolutely the best chance of getting your maximum refund. We'll take care of every step. We could even win you interest on your money or compensation!

We work to the highest professional standards. Our skilled team gives you access to the very best help available.

Not at all! If your bank, refunds your charges or premiums, it’s simply because the charges are unfair or illegal.

Not at all! Reclaiming back your hard eared cash will have absolutely no impact on your credit rating.

Empire Claims are registered Data Controllers with the Information Commissioners Office and adhere to strict regulations regarding the security of your data.

Absolutely no financial information or bank details will be divulged or shared with any third party other than the banks, the banks solicitors, courts and yourself without your express permission.

All documents relating to your claim will be either returned to you on request or destroyed by shredding on completion.

All customer data is held in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 ("DPA"). All personal data will be held in accordance with the terms of the Company's privacy policy which can be found on the Company's website. For more information please refer to the Empire Claims Privacy Policy

Empire Claims Limited is registered in England & Wales No. 6311039. Registered for VAT No. 925 9609 88

Empire Claims Limited is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claims management activities (Registration CRM7874) and it is recorded on the website www.claimsregulation.gov.uk

Empire Claims Limited is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (Registration Z1095446) www.ico.gov.uk 

For more information, please refer to our privacy and security page

Empire Claims work on a 'no win no fee' basis which means you have nothing to pay until you have received your refund.

For more information, go to our claim fees page

You can claim the last six years of charges, or five if you live in Scotland

Yes. We can reclaim charges for the past 6 years irrespective of whether the account is still open.

Your bank will usually say no at first and throw all sorts of red tape and bureaucracy in order to make you give up your claim. Empire claims used leading industry experience to maximise your claim and get your money back faster. If your bank continue to say no, we will escalate you case to the small claims court or financial services ombudsman (FOS)

At the earliest, you can have your charges refunded is in about 3 months, however, it may take between 3 and 6 months where Empire Claims escalates your case to the FOS or small claims court on your behalf.

Your bank shouldn’t not contact you, as you will have given Empire Claims authority to act on your behalf.

After returning your signed welcome pack, you can sit back and leave Empire claims to do all the hard work!

The regulator, the financial services authority (FSA) has not yet lifted the hold on reclaiming.

Yet it’s crucial to start a reclaim now, as you can only go back six years (five in Scotland), and delaying may mean you lose the ability to get the money for old charges back.

You can claim back the following!

Bank Charges

1. Account misuse fee
2. Cheque return fee
3. Card misuse fee
4. Unarranged borrowing fee
5. Unauthorised overdraft fee
6. Unpaid DD fee
7. Unpaid cheque fee
8. Unpaid standing order fee
9. Exceeding Authorised Overdraft Limit
10. Exceeding Unauthorised Overdraft Limit
11. Direct Debit/Standing Order/Cheque returned fee
12. Irregular fee
13. Paid referral fee
14. Total charges (HSBC personal accounts only, not business accounts)

Credit Card/Store Cards/Catalogues

1. Late payment fee
2. Over limit fee

You can’t claim back the following!

• Cash Machine Withdrawal Fees (ATMs)
• Account Service Charges
• Service Fee / Annual Fee
• Charges related to foreign currency transactions and conversions.
• Monthly account fees on certain type of accounts (such as RBS Royalties)
• Normal overdraft interest charges

Although we have heard stories, Empire Claims have never experienced this. The Banking Code Standards Board clearly advises banks that they should not take a “disproportionate response” and should treat customers “sympathetically and positively”. In the very unlikely event your bank closed your account; Empire claims would escalate this to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) citing retaliatory action on your behalf. We can also assist you in setting up a new bank account, making the whole process smooth and effortless for you

Empire Claims, on your behalf, will have your Bank send us your last 6 years of bank statements. This will be requested under the Data Protection Act (1998) which allows the bank 40 days, from receipt of the letter, to reply.

Yes. Your bank should not have allowed you to go into overdraft and then charged you for it.

You will both need to sign all relevant documents to make a claim

Yes - including 8% Statutory Interest.

As long as you have not yet served court papers, we usually can. To enable us to take over the litigation, we require all the documentation and statements by recorded delivery post. Please call us first to discuss your individual situation

Yes. We can reclaim charges for the past 6 years irrespective of whether the account is still open

Go to our bank charges product page

Go to our credit card charges product page

At the time of sale, lenders need to give clear information about the cost of PPI and where it is being applied. If lenders automatically include PPI without asking you, then regulators see this as unfair. Lenders should not renew an existing PPI policy without confirmation from you. You can claim against both these charges.

Further, the common question asked by the salesperson is 'do you want to protect your repayments in the event you are unable to work'. If you answer 'yes' the box will be ticked and they move on. The salesperson should actually explain what PPI is, what it covers, what it will cost and if your circumstances mean you are eligible for cover. This is not always the case.

NO. PPI is designed to replace income in the event you cannot earn it. If you do not have income any claim on the policy would be rejected.

If you are not earning an income, or work less than 16 hours a week, then your PPI will not pay out. The company selling your PPI policy has to explain important details like this at the time of sale.

If you are self employed or contracted it becomes more complex. Some policies provide some element of cover but with restrictions. Often it will only cover not being able to work due to illness, injury or critical illness as opposed to lack of work opportunity. This information should be acquired by the sales person before suggesting a policy.

Many of the most common reasons people for people stopping work are not covered including stress and any chronic illnesses. PPI also excludes any medical conditions you knew about before you took out the policy. Companies selling PPI must explain what is and is not covered.

A lot of lenders sneak the cost of PPI in the amount customers borrow. Therefore borrowers will pay interest on the PPI as its included in the loan. This makes it hard for them to get a refund if they want to cancel. Financial regulators say lenders must give customers a fair refund if they cancel.

PPI contracts often say customers can only get some of their PPI money back. Regulators regard this as unfair and customers should insist on getting a pro-rata refund.

Although companies that do make it compulsory to take out their PPI are not technically breaching any particular rules, they may be contravening of the Financial Service Authority (FSA) in 'treating customers fairly' or the 'acting in a fair and reasonable manner'. The UK banking code states that banks should not make customers take out their policies.

You can reclaim if

1. If your policy started in the last six years, whether you’re still using it or not
2. If your policy started over six years ago and you are either still using it, or it ended within the last six years
3. If your policy ended over six years ago and you have the paperwork

However, you can’t reclaim if your policy ended over six years ago and you do not have the paperwork.

Go to our payment protection insurance product page

The regulator, the financial services authority (FSA) has not yet lifted the hold on reclaiming.

However, it was important you got your back charges welcome pack back early to Empire Claims as you can only go back six years (five in Scotland), and any delaying would have meant you lose the ability to get the money for old charges back.

Empire Claims will lodge the claim with your bank (if it has not done so already) however, this will not be processed until the wavier is lifted. We will send a newsletter as soon as we hear anything back from the courts.

But don’t worry this doesn’t affect Credit Card Charges or reclaiming your Payment Protection Insurance (PPI)

24/7 Claim Tracker!

You can track the status of your claim 24/7 by logging into your personalised claim tracker

Simply use the username and password you received when you registered for your claim (Existing Customers). If you can’t remember these details, we can resend your password to your nominated email address.

Click here to track your claims now!

After you have posted your welcome pack, it may take up to 5 business days to process your pack and acknowledge it has been received.

At this point, Empire Claims will send you a ‘Thanks for returning your welcome pack’ email. Please check your junk folders and add us to your safe list as we send allot of important communications via email.

WHAT HAPPENS IF EMPIRE CLAIMS SENDS YOU A ‘PLEASE RETURN YOUR WELCOME PACK’ REMINDER?

• If you sent your welcome pack less than 5 business days ago, please ignore these reminders
• If you sent us your welcome pack more than 7 business days ago, please reply to the reminder email confirming you need another welcome pack.

Note: You’ll get a ‘Please return your Welcome Pack’ reminder for each claim you have opened with us. We are not trying to spam you, we are just making sure that we are able to maximise your claims by ensuring we get the correct paperwork for each and every claim you have with Empire!

24/7 Claim Tracker!

You can track the status of your claim 24/7 by logging into your personalised claim tracker

Simply use the username and password you received when you registered for your claim (Existing Customers). If you can’t remember these details, we can resend your password to your nominated email address.

Click here to track your claims now!

• If you sent your welcome pack less than 5 business days ago, please ignore these reminders
• If you sent us your welcome pack more than 7 business days ago, please reply to the reminder email confirming you need another welcome pack.

Note: You’ll get a ‘Please return your Welcome Pack’ reminder for each claim you have opened with us. We are not trying to spam you, we are just making sure that we are able to maximise your claims by ensuring we get the correct paperwork for each and every claim you have with Empire!

24/7 Claim Tracker!

You can track the status of your claim 24/7 by logging into your personalised claim tracker

Simply use the username and password you received when you registered for your claim (Existing Customers). If you can’t remember these details, we can resend your password to your nominated email address.

Click here to track your claims now!

At the earliest you can receive your claim is in about 3 months, however, it may take between 3 and 6 months where Empire Claims escalates your case to the financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or small claims court on your behalf. No win no fee!

24/7 Claim Tracker!

You can track the status of your claim 24/7 by logging into your personalised claim tracker

Simply use the username and password you received when you registered for your claim (Existing Customers). If you can’t remember these details, we can resend your password to your nominated email address.

Click here to track your claims now!

Banks don’t always play fair! Banks try all types of dirty tactics including sending bank statements and paperwork directly to you in the hope you give up your claim due to the red tape and bureaucracy involved!

IF your bank sends you any letters or bank statements directly, please forward these to the FREEPOST address below at your earliest convenience. This allows us to calculate your charges and send the claim to your bank without delay. After all, this is where our industry leading experience ensures we maximise your claim and get your money back faster!

Empire Claims Limited
FREEPOST RRTZ - SRSJ - JGEY
PO Box 55459, London, SW4 9YD

If you receive communications directly from your bank, please let us know at enquiries@empireclaims.co.uk as soon as possible so we can manage your claim on your behalf. Further, this allows us to escalate your bank to the FSA for breaching your letter of authority and for holding up your claim.

Finally, your bank or financial institution may contact you directly confirm the letter of authority you signed allowing Empire Claims to manage your claim on your behalf. For some banks this is standard procedure, so please complete any paperwork at your convenience. This just means we can take over your claim faster and fast track any payments with your bank.