A SMALL law charity in Glasgow has helped more than one million people take on the major banks over unfair charges.

A SMALL law charity in Glasgow has helped more than one million people take on the major banks over unfair charges.

Govan Law Centre is celebrating the millionth download of letters from its website, which people can use to make banks hand back cash taken from accounts under penalty clauses.

And lawyers warned customers not to waste cash on firms which offer to help, then claw back a percentage of the money - when the Govan centre can give them free support.

Mike Dailly, principal solicitor at the centre, said: "We set up a website because we were seeing a lot of people getting into trouble with penalty charges from banks.

"Citizens Advice Scotland asked us if they could use the site to advise people going to see them.We've now had more than one million copies of the letters downloaded by people all over the UK."

The website was set up after the Office of Fair Trading ruled banks were not allowed to hit people with high penalties for breaking overdraft limits or for bounced payments.

It said any charge over £12 could be deemed unfair and customers would be entitled to reclaim any excess, dating back over a number of years.

Even charges below £12 could be unfair if banks tried to claim more than their true administrative costs.

Some commercial companies now advertise a service to recover bank charges, taking a percentage of the money recovered for themselves.

The fees can run to £1000 for someone overcharged by £2500.

Mr Dailly warned: "I know of several companies that charge between 25% and 40% of money recovered.

"That's money for old rope."

The law centre gives free legal advice to people living in Govan or Pollok, while Citizens Advice Bureaux across the country offer free help in claiming back cash.

Both services are supported by Glasgow City Council.

Council leader Steven Purcell said: "I urge anyone pursuing a claim on charges to use these services, rather than middle-men, which will only reduce the money they eventually get."

•Customers can visit www.bankcharges.info where advice and standard letters to the bank can be downloaded.