This topic was closed on 09 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

Great - thank you SO much both of you for taking the time to respond. I'm going to have a bit of a swot up on stuff, so i can figure out the details and understand the process better, then I'll get a letter sent off. will keep you posted

thank you both for taking the time to respond to my query. I have only reasonably become aware of this now what with it all being in the newspapers etc, my Dad bless him certainly would never have become aware had we not discussed this recently. I'm just wondering if I can still validly claim on behalf of my mother's estate (since its been 4 years since she passed away) so I think that could be a further sticking point ? lois

Hi there With the (very exceptional) assistance that I got from this site a few years ago, I managed to claim back not only my own bank charges / credit card charges but on an account that was held at HSBC in my mother's name. I managed to claim the charges made against my Mum's account despite the fact that she had recently passed away. I successfully managed to get £750 back from HSBC. My mum also had taken a loan out many years ago with Halifax and they insisted she took PPI out on the loan. What with all the recent press over mis-sold PPI, that loan included PPI when I am now thinking that Halifax should never have sold her that policy because she had been diagnosed with cancer so I do not think that Halifax would ever have paid out on insurance in any event because of that fact. Halifax knew of her illness but they still insisted that she had to take it out and I am sure to be fair Mum would have technically been 'uninsurable' due to her medical history? My question is, and I am probably completely and utterly pushing it now, but could I potentially contact Halifax concerning this PPI on the loan ? As I say, I am probably completely and utterly pushing the boundaries now but its just something that has been niggling at me and I thought I would ask you guys for your view / opinion. My Dad is a pensioner so if there was any smidgen of a hope I could make a claim on his / my mother's estate's behalf, and manage to claw back some money, then that would be terrific, but I know I am probably pushing it ! Thanks very much for taking the time to read this! Have a great day Lois

bugger - oh well, was worth a try! thanks again, lois

Dear all I have been reading all the information with regard to default removals with great interest. I just wanted to check whether it was possible to follow the same procedure (as set out in surlybonds sticky) for the removal of late payment markers from a credit reference agency report. (I think Dayglo modified a letter for removal of late payment markers but I cannot seem to locate any further information?). I just wanted to check whether anybody has requested the removal of late payment markers from any company ? thanks a lot, lois

Hi guys Just a quickie question to see if anybody knows the answer! HSBC have 'suspended' my account - now, my question is, because they have 'suspended' my account, does this also mean that the contract between myself and HSBC (which I signed when I opened the account) would also be 'suspended' and as such, can I ask them to cease processing information to third parties i.e. CRA's etc, anyone know? thank you! lois xx

hiya thanks for this. I am working on a budget list. I have to do this for debt free direct so at the moment I am gathering together all my statements etc, for the latest amounts owed on each account and detailing it all on a spreadsheet. I have approached HSBC, SMILE, MBNA and M&S about the difficulties I am having. M&S were pretty good and offered to stop the interest and charges but for no longer than 6 months. Even thought that is a start, I have got to be realistic and though its helpful, it still isn't going to resolve my debt issues, its only going to prolong the inevitable I think. HSBC, SMILE and MBNA would have none of it - when I explained that I was unable to keep up with the interest charges because they were adding a further £100.00 a month alone in interest, she told me that, and I quote 'well, thats the reality of a credit card isn't it?' unbelievable ... suffice to say I thanked her for her time and rang off. I'm just curious as what sort of paperwork and the step by step process was for an IVA. I guess ultimately, my question is does an IVA make a huge difference, do the telephone calls stop etc, does it do what it says on the tin (as they say!)? dcotcar41 - the details for Nuttalls would be great. Did you have your IVA for 5 years or did you settle it earlier ? thanks guys, I really appreciate your help and support, lois xx

Hi guys Hope you are all well and things are progressing for you all. Is anyone out there on the, now, massive, consumeractiongroup website going through or been through the process of setting up an IVA? I owe just over £36000.00 all on consumer credit (credit cards, loans and one catalogue). All my cards etc are all cut up and I've not added to my debts for over a year. Its just that the interest is crippling after a while. I have had a chat with Payplan and also with Debtfree direct (both of which were recommended to me by the Citizens Advice Bureau). I just wanted to see if anybody else was or has been through this and if so, whether you would be able to give me some guidance of what to expect. Payplan will only offer me a debt management plan. The thing that concerns me with that is that creditors can continue to call and there is no guarantee that interest and charges will be frozen. Under a DPM, I would be looking at just over 6 years to clear the debt and thats just on the current amount owing, not including future interest that my creditors would add. I'm not keen on a DPM as the creditors are calling now, and I'm only two weeks late with a payment for Marks and Spencer and in total, M&S have called me 8 times so far, and yesterday alone, I received 3 chasing calls from them. I just cannot handle that kind of stress and it is stressful and its upsetting and I find it intimidating to be frank. Debtfree direct on the other hand, have offered me an IVA and are sending out the paperwork for me to look at. On my current income and outgoings, I can afford around £400 to £500 a month. I would really appreciate some input from somebody who has been through these types of arrangements. The funny thing is that I have never before discussed my level of debt, so none of my family, friends, boyfriend know. but you know what - its funny, because I do feel slightly better just posting this message and in a weird kind of way, its my way of finally accepting the debt in my own mind and trying to get back some kind of handle on my life. Many thanks guys. lois xx

thanks for this. the thing that I think concerns him the most though, if we do push the bank to take him to Court, how does this affect his credit rating? I am guessing that we should write to the bank saying that the entire amount is in dispute because the loan was never applied for by him and was fraudulently obtained. Am I right in thinking that this then prevents the bank from referring the matter any further i.e. debt collection agency, because the amount is in dispute? I just basically want to bat it straight back to the bank, honestly, they have been SO unhelpful its not even funny ... any thoughts? lois xx

Hiya guys hope you are all well. this is a general question that I hope some of you bods might be able to help me out with, it concerns a very good friend of mine. Its a long story. but briefly, the details are as follows: (a) my friend writes a cheque out for £100.00 for his son as a birthday present. His son tells his mother (my friend's now ex-wife), she says 'thats nice dear, let me see?' (b) she then promptly copies the account details from the bottom of the cheque, and then manages (obviously without my friend knowing) to take out a loan to the tune of £23,000.00 with the bank in his name. © the bank insist my friend is liable and he has to repay the loan. Now, my question guys is, I am sure that my friend would not liable for this loan, he hasn't signed anything and she has acted fraudulently by taking a loan out in his name and lord only knows how she has managed it (frankly, just thinking about how easy this has been for her to do, scares me!). However, the bank insist that he is liable for this amount and the poor guy is now paying a monthly amount of £150.00 over the next god knows how many years to pay the debt off. The bank is taking her to Court for fraud but they are insisting he still remains liable as the loan is in his name and was applied for with his bank account information. Any ideas ? Anything would be hugely appreciated. I so feel for the poor guy, but I'm sure that the banking code protects consumers from this type of fraud doesn't it? Any pointers, help, assistance, etc, would be fantastic, thanks guys lois xx

hi everyone just a quickie update on my Abbey claim - filed a claim form online with moneyclaim and have finally received a letter from DLA Piper Rudnick asking me for a breakdown of what I am claiming so have emailed them today with a letter and details of the charges applied to my account. DLA inform me that they intend to defend the matter and a defence will be filed shortly. anyone else had this? lois

UPDATE hi everyone Hope you are all well, just to give you an update, I finally got all the microfiche statements from Abbey (and I didn't have to pay for them!), having waited just over 2 months for the information to come through. I sent an initial letter for refund, to which they didn't bother to reply to, then they sent me a letter saying that they would offer me £80 in full and final settlement of my claim ... a claim which is worth £1200.00 (by the time I got around to receiving the outstanding microfiche information and totting it all up!) So that was followed up with my LBA and nothing ! Anyways, went straight to moneyclaim and so my claim has now been issued (26.06.06) for a total of £1286.00. Hows everyone else going with Abbey? I think they're going to be incredibly difficult and a hard nut to crack ...?:-| lois xx P.S. MODS - please can I change the title of this thread to Lois -v- Abbey please? thanks a million, xx

Hiy guys just thought I would let you know that I got my microfiche stuff through whilst i was on hols - so, that was on or about 3 June ... so it took Abbey some 2.5 months to get this information to me, but I guess, at least I got it in the end, and I have to say, that after getting all statements from my other creditors etc, and managing to get refunds from them, at least its prepared me for what I think, is going to be a very long fight with Abbey!! lois xx

Hiy guys have been away for the last few weeks but thought I would post you an update regarding the wonderful Smile bank ... After sending my LBA, and hearing nothing from Smile, I filed my claim form in the sum of £567.00. I got back from holiday to a letter from the lovely Stephen Mound saying that they had defaulted me and charged me a further £60.00 in administration costs! Suffice to say, that I immediately lodged my claim for the amount of £647.23 inc court costs, interest and unlawful charges plus the further £60.00 that they had charged me). I telephoned Smile on the afternoon of 22 June and spoke to a lovely lady about the matter. She said she was sorry (aren't they always), I said that I did not understand how they could put me in default when I was corresponding with them over my account. She told me that these letters are generated automatically and thats why this has happened (despite a note being on my file that I had written to them, twice!). So, she checked my account and said that Smile had credited me with £350.00 on 21 June. I told her that it was too late as I had already filed my claim (earlier in the morning of 22 June). I told her that the claim was filed because Smile had not written back to me, and that because Smile decided to block my account, I was unable to log into my account and read any messages! She said that the account was now unblocked so I could read my messages, (a bit late now!) but I asked her to make a note that I had called. So, they sent me a message on 23 June saying that they have credited me a further £35.00 and I've sent them a message back saying thanks, and I accept the payment but on condition that this is a partial settlement and that I shall continue to pursue my claim for the remaining amount. my god, WHY do they make it so difficult?! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH ! Anyone else had anything similar?:idea: hope you are well and yours claims are progressing relatively smoothy! lois xx

UPDATE Can you believe these jokers?! honestly, they really try my patience. I have been totting up how much they have charged me and each month for the last 6 months or so, they have charged me £50.00, being £25.00 for overlimit, and £25.00 late payment fee ... i mean, I would be overlimit if they didn't keep darn well charging me everything two seconds !!! So, I have my spreadsheet, and I've done my initial letter. Then, imagine my surprise when I get a letter through last week, (they've not bothered replying to my initial letter mind you and they've had 20 days to do that), saying that they want my credit card back and they've put me in default all because I owe £23.00 in arrears ???!!! I mean, hello, mcfly?! So have sent an incredibly stroppy letter to their Head of Debt Management, Mr Stephen Mound (who by the way, doesn't even both to sign his own letters!) stating that if they do put me in default, then I'll go to court to get it removed and perhaps they'd like to respond to my letters before they start threatening me! Anyway, now I've finished my rant (sorry about that!), have sent LBA, they've got till 23 June to cough up or MCOL here I come!! xx

Hiya Tim Congratulations mate, I've had the first sod off letter, so have sent my LBA which they would have received yesterday but I also faxed it over to them last Friday so they've got till the 23 June to cough up or I'll be hitting MCOL ! Well done , I can totally understand why you went for the 75% and if that clears the bills, then its all good!! lois xx

Hiya Tinks WELL DONE !!!!! I got my refund too from Crapital One last week - hoorah! congratulations ....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xx

Hi guys update: I got a cheque for £72.00 through the post last week - its all paid in and cashed, so this one is sorted too ! so thats three down, one to go .... lou xx

YEY !! Guess what? Got a £220.00 refund to my account on Friday, two down, two to go .... lou xx