and if you need local carers support for your mum, these might help: Carers' Rights (PS, I'm only guessing with the Herts links, but if your mum is outside Herts, then there should be the same sort of organisations where-ever she is)

Hi Lula, You say the GP hasn't done any tests ... it's probably a good idea to at least get your uncle's thyroid levels checked and his hearing tested again. Problems in both these areas are really common in people with Down Syndrome and can give symptoms similar to dementia. Both can be relatively easy to remedy and make a big difference to quality of life. Saying that, if he is developing dementia it's worth rattling the cage of your local Learning Disability Health Team now, rather than wait for further signs of deterioration. That health team should at least have a physio, occupational therapist, speech therapist, psychologist, specialist nurse, that type of thing. They can all contribute to both making a diagnosis of dementia, and recommending support strategies for when skills start to deteriorate. ( Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust : Specialist Learning Disability and Forensic Services ) In my experience, I wouldn't leave it all to the GP,a lot need support just to understand the basics of dealing with people with complex learning disability. Good luck

Not sure if this is any use to you either ChloeJane, but here's a marriage counsellor who specialises in couples where one partner has a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis I think) of Aspergers. She's does a "weekend workshop for women who are either in, or have been in, a relationship with an AS partner; who would like to feel both understood and supported". Maxine Aston and Asperger Syndrome Good Luck! :grin:

Thanks oneofakind, I'd looked at those but they seemed just for rejecting part offers rather than a blatent 'we are giving you nothing' offer. But have realised it won't be hard just to make a quick change to the first line and fight back. It's only 60 quid ... but that's a fair few pints on a Friday night

Hiya all, I'm having mixed success with Barclays at the moment. Within a week of each other, I lodged claims for both my and the fella's Barclays charges. His came back with a full offer which we of course accepted (about 400 quid). Mine came back with a 'I am unwilling to refund your charges as requested' letter (and my claim was only 60 ... but's it's not the size that matters right?). Just need a quick push in the right direction. My claim had gone past the LBA stage. They had their two weeks and a more (that's when I got the rejection letter). Is there a template letter for rejecting their rejection? I've seen some threads suggesting a second 7 day LBA letter, other advice to just go straight ahead with the MCOL claim. Any suggestions? Cheers Jx

Congratulations! My full offer came 3 or so days after the deadline on my LBA too, so I was pretty pleased I had ended up waffling about for a few days before filing the MCOL. Have fun spending your money! Jx

Hey missgiggles, I was ready to post my MCOL claim. I was due to file it from the 26th March, but in reality I wouldn't have got around to it until this weekend or Monday. Have had a letter today offering refund of charges in full. YAY. Their claim letter is dated the 26th March, but was posted 2nd class so maybe it took the extra few days to get here. Have a great weekend. I know I will now. Jx PS - hope you are still going for the extra £70. I've got 4 claims that each are less than £70, just a random one or two charges per account, but I'm still going through the process to get them all back in full.

I had two claims running at nearly the same time. The 'closed account' LBA was sent on 12/3/07 and I've just had back a 'we've sent your complaint onto the specialist team letter'. But sent another LBA on 15/3/07 for an open account for nearly £500 in reclaimed charges. Got a letter today saying the £500 is being reimbursed! yay! Right on the brink of me starting the MCOL claim. How's yours going Parky and 1morenight? Jx

Woo hoo, got my money back! Well some of it at least. This post relates to a piddly little £60 claim that I'm still waiting to hear back about (closed account might be taking longer). But I also had another Barclays claim running 4 days later worth nearly £500. Sent the LBA for the latter on the 15th March, and today got a letter offering a full refund of all. Lucky they got in cos I was going to launch the court process on Monday or Tuesday. Happy Days! Jx

YAY, just when I thought I was going to have to find the money for a court claim, today I received a lovely letter from Mr Higley offering me a full refund of all I've asked. He wants to debit it directly to the account (but it's closed), so I'm going to ask him to either send a cheque or debit it to another Natwest account I have. (I really don't have anything against the lovely Natwest people) And amazingly the next letter I opened was a letter from Barclays offering me all my fees back from them too (nearly £500). So all in all a great day and my shout at the pub. Thank you to all who've kept me going, I'll be making my donation as soon as the funds clear. Jx

oh brilliant! just what i was looking for. Thanks Mr Browne Jx

Well the deadline for my LBA has passed, so now it's on to starting a court claim. Will do a little more reading of what to do next so I don't mess anything up.

Yeah, best of luck! I still haven't heard anything of my claim ... deadline for response to LBA has just passed, so I guess it's on to the courts for me. Just think what else you can buy with that £70! (oops ... i started daydreaming about bags, shoes, bottles of champagne.....) Hope you hear something soon. Jx

Heya - I've got two small claims going through the Barclays system at the moment too, (staggered by a few days), and they are following the same pattern. Seems that you get a response to your prelim letter on day 14, stating that they will try and get to your claim within 4 weeks. I followed both of those up with LBAs which are still in their 14 day zone. (just changed the first line from the LBA on here to acknowledge that they had responded, but unsatisfactorily) Will see where they go next, but I wouldn't expect rapid responses. Jx

Yes silly me - the account has been closed in my case. (I coud give them an alternate account number into which they can deposit my refund, but haven't to date). Also, checked and Missgiggles got her offer through on Saturday, so good for her! (though I think she might be rejecting it to get the full amount) Jx