Packaged bank accounts have proved so popular that as many as one in five account holders now have one.

They are different from a standard account as they come with extra benefits, such as travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and car breakdown cover.

You pay a monthly fee, typically anything from £8 to £25.

However, if you have one of these accounts it is likely it may have been mis-sold to you and you could have a claim against the bank.

Do I have a claim?

You should put in a claim if any of the following applies to you:

- If you have tried to make an ­insurance claim only to find that your policy ­offered only limited cover (for example, your mobile phone insurance ­

excluded your iPhone).

- If you were switched to a ­packaged account without your knowledge.

- If your account comes with breakdown cover but you do not have a car.

- If for any other reason you were not eligible for any of the benefits due to your individual circumstances (age, employment, where you live etc).

- If you could have obtained any of the benefits cheaper elsewhere.

Why will I have a claim?

In many cases the banks have made exactly the same mistake as they did with PPI, that is, they failed to take the time to find out if customers actually needed the benefits, if they were ­eligible to use each benefit and if they could buy them cheaper elsewhere.

Instead, they concentrated on selling as many packaged accounts as possible to make money.

How do I claim?

If you believe you’ve been mis-sold a packaged account, first complain to your bank. If you get an unsatisfactory response or you don’t hear anything back within eight weeks, you can refer your case to the Financial

Ombudsman Service, which is free. Do this either by going to financial-ombusman.co.uk/consumer/complaints.htm or call 0300 1239 123.

How much will I get?

It most cases the ombudsman will tell your bank or building society to refund the monthly fees you’ve paid since opening the account.

Complaints about packaged accounts are rising, and the ombudsman has said that the majority are being upheld in favour of consumers. It is therefore well worth making a claim if you believe you have been mis-sold an account.