I have an overpayment case where underlying entitlement was not calculated. The claimant asked for the decision to be revised to include underlying entitlement and the authority agreed to do so only if she provided proof of capital for the period. The bank has told her it would cost over £300 for the statements which go back to 2000. Any ideas what she can do?

I've paid for bank statements as a disbursement under Legal Help. If she's not LSC funded, no ideas.

Can you approach the local authority and get her to give them permission to get the details from her bank account? They (the LA) can do it if is a fraud investigation

crikey! over £300 quid? it sounds excessive for a computer record request...maybe they have to fly the records in from somewhere like tibet...
from what you know of the case, do you think it's absolutely necessary...? eg is there a tariff income question or an issue of excess capital...
i mean if the statements are likely to show IS in and IS out, maybe the LA would accept her statement, on being told the exhorbitant cost to public of obtaining this evidence...just a thought...probably worthless...

er...don't suppose there was any verification of capital on her claims already?

Banks often have a contractual charge for providing duplicate statements but if she just needs a print out wouldn't this be cheaper? Can she make a DPA request?

300 ******' dabs??? as my St Helens colleague would say with polite incredulity.

Don't you just feel for these poor banks.

Damian, can't you request these on her behalf? Clients have come to us having been told the same thing by the bank so we write and ask for them on client's behalf and they've never charged us yet.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the bank must provide the requested bank statements. As long as you invoke this when writing to them, they are not permitted to charge more than £10.