The amount of unhappy customers complaining about bank fees has dramatically increased.

Consumer watchdogs are being inundated with calls from people charged for going overdrawn.

Banks have been accused of setting extortionate charges to boost their profits.

They are being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading.

It has caused a massive public backlash and thousands of customers across Sussex have demanded their money back.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) reported a huge rise in the number of complaints it was dealing with.

A spokeswoman said the FOS was receiving around 2,000 a day, compared to 150 a week in January.

More than 500 complaints a day come from the South East. At the beginning of the year, the FOS had received 400 from the region in five months.

The spokeswoman added more than 5,000 formal cases about bank charges have been referred to it, of which 1,400 were from people in the South East.

She said the FOS had not had to make any formal decisions because banks had always settled the claims before going to court.

The Argus launched a Beat the Banks campaign in January and told readers how to reclaim their bank charges.

Visit www.theargus.co.uk/news/reclaimyourbankcharges for more information.

Have you successfully reclaimed your money? Tell Rachel Fitch on 01273 544536.