Thanks Both. I think required notice was given, and I don’t think there was any payment plan - just housing benefit being paid directly to HA without touching tenant. Also conscious that the last overdue rent payment listed was April 14, so 5.5 years ago. My understanding is that when the age of this debt extends to 6 years old, it becomes statute barred and unenforceable, providing it is not acknowledged... I’m wondering whether it would be better to ignore the correspondence and hopefully this would not be escalated to bailiff, playing the waiting game until April 20, by which time there would be no way of legally chasing the debt? Could there be a danger of engaging in further dialogue, which would jeopardise the statute barred timeline? Many thanks, JK

UKSearch Limited Sorry I'm not sure what you mean "bet it doesn't say will anything if read CAREFULLY". Original letter states: "Dear XXXXX Re: Debt Address: XXXXXX Type of Debt: Former Tenant Arrears UK Search act on behalf of our client XXXX who has instructed us to recover the amount of £XXXX, being owed to them under their reference above. As you have not responded to earlier communications to clear this debt in a satisfactory way. **There weren't any previous comms** If you are unable to pay in full, call us immediately with your proposals for repayment. We will consider repayment by installments, based on your individual circumstances. If you do not respond to this letter within 7 days , we will need to escalate this matter to recover the debt on behalf of XXXX. If you call us, we will explain this further." Does that help?

Hi, A friend was receiving housing benefit paid directly to the housing association where she was living until April 2014, when she moved to private accommodation. She recently received a letter from a debt collection agency requesting payment for around £1200 due to unpaid rent from her time at the HA. This was the first letter that has been sent, and was out of the blue as rent at HA was all covered by housing benefit, and paid directly to HA. She sent a 'Prove It' letter to debt collector - they then sent back a schedule of rent / payments that showed housing benefit hadn't been paid by council for the last 3 months of her occupancy. It also showed that during her time there, housing benefit was paid sporadically, so there might not be a payment for 3 months, and then 3 payments made in a week to cover this. It looks like that the housing benefit was not paid on time by the council over the last 3 months of residency - and this has remained outstanding until now. She is now getting letters threatening bailiff attendance. What advice should I give? Any help much appreciated. Kind regards, JK

My partner had her review meeting today, and they have now extended the probationary period by a further two months. Is this on? It will be a total of 11 month's probation when the contract states 6 months with no mention of a provision to extend. As mentioned previously, on two occasions her probation period has been completed, and twice the company have attempted to degrade her status to probationary, despite the probationary period having been passed by default. Her treatment to me seems completely unreasonable and causing much undue stress. She will be 4-5 months pregnant by the end of January review and we both want to live without this uncertainty over her future employment status.

Great feedback - thanks, I think we do have free legal advice through the bank or house insurance. Meeting day tomorrow so will see how it goes...

Hi, thanks for the feedback. It is a sales role and the probationary period was extended due to targets not being met. Since the probationary period was extended, her sales results have continued improving - one month target was beaten considerably, the other two months targets were not hit but there was still improvement vs her previous performance. It is not unusual for sales targets to be missed across their work force. The recent time line was - we were on holiday in early November. During our break, her colleagues were informed of a new stream of work to be handed over to her responsibility. This is ongoing, indefinite business with no end date. The other half informed work of her pregnancy a few days later. The immediate response to this was that her probationary meeting would be brought forward (pregnancy should be irrelevant here so why the need to bring forward??), and when she inquired about the work that was to passed to her, there then seemed to be a lot of uncertainty over whether this was actually going to happen. This is all within the last week or so. Contractually her probationary period finished on 22 August. It was then extended, which contractually they were unable to do, until 22 November. This has again expired. An extract from her letter dated 23 November, is shown below: "On 24th August your probation was extended for 3 months. This period has nowcome to an end and we would like you to attend a probation review meeting to beheld on 26th November 2015, During the meeting, we will discuss your performance to date against the setcriteria for your role. You should bring to the meeting any records ofperformance you have relating to your 9 months in the business. This is a formal meeting and one of the outcomes from the meeting could bethe non-confirmation of your probation period and the termination of youremployment with the Company." I wonder whether the company should be informed that contractually the probationary period has already finished, and the time has elapsed for the probationary period to be reviewed in this way? If she is let go, I think we have clear evidence of unlawful dismissal on the grounds of discrimination and also breach of contract, but then she would be unable to get another job that entitled statutory maternity leave because she is already pregnant.

Hi, I'm writing on behalf of my partner and will be grateful for any advice received. She began work on 23 Febraury 2015, with a 6 month probationary period. This would then expire on 22 August. On 24 August she had a end of probationary period review where the probationary period was extended by 3 months, due to her falling short of sales targets (although there was an upwards trend). A couple of points here: a) My understanding is that the probationary period is passed by default if not reviewed before it expires, and b) there is no mention of provision to extend the probationary period in this time in her contract. Is this a lawful extension of the probationary period? This brings us to now, when the 3 month probationary review is due to tomorrow, 26 November. Again, even if the clock was to start ticking from the review in August, the probationary period would have expired on 23 November, so is now again passed by default? As a side plot, she has since fallen pregnant and informed work as soon as this was confirmed by the GP. This was approximately two weeks ago. Since this was discussed with her employer, the immediate response was 'we better bring your probationary period forward ', and a pipeline of work recently planned for her into the new year has been withdrawn. I am naturally concerned that her employer is considering letting her go within their interprsatation of the probationary period and I'm considering the options should this happen. I think there are a couple of things to go at - probationary period reviews after the probationary period has finished X 2, and in the worst case scenario, unlawful dismissal on the grounds of discrimination, given the change in behaviour after pregnancy was declared. Should we inform her employer that she has already passed her probationary period by default prior to her review tomorrow, and maybe influence her employer's views on what they can or can't do? Or wait to see what happens, and be prepared to fight if necessary? Any advice greatly appreciated. jK

the attachment is now showing pdf with good resolution to be able to read the text. Thanks

Hi guys, Finally managed to get to my parents' and dig out their paperwork. Please see the attached file. Does this look like anything that could be progressed? Any contributions appreciated. JK The very top of the doc says Rugby Finance Ltd. 'Credit Agreement Regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 Lender: Cedar Holdings Ltd Total Loan 27306 paid by 180 payments of 442.10 PPI 2255 repayment of 180 monthly amounts of 36.51 Cash advance 180 payments of 405.39 APR% 19.7 signed 15 May 1991. Hope this helps with any advice. Cheers, JK Thanks! Think this should show ok now...

Ok - sounds promising.... My mum has said that she has the original paperwork detailing the £100 / month PPI. I was unable to find too much regarding PPI claims against Cedar Holdings, just people in similar positions to my parents' who were unsure where to address the claim. Some people had suggested that because the loan was taken around 1994ish that she would be unable to claim. My mum had rang Lloyds and they denied accountability for the PPI. Should she go directly to the FOS? Thanks again for any advice:-)

Hi guys, I've done some googling but don't seem to find any clear guidance... My parents have details of a large loan taken out in the 90s with PPI added at £100 per month over 5 years. The loan was through Cedar Holdings who I believe have since been acquired by Lloyds / Black Horse. My parents were not in need of this PPI, this was missold. This would be a sizeable claim. Is there any avenue for redress? Would really appreciate some advice from this fantastic community! Thanks in advance for any help offered. JK

Ok thanks for the advice - I think the FOS my be the most practical route. I feel strongly that the X marked at all places on the application where I should sign do show good evidence that I was underhandedly coaxed into signing the PPI agreement, rather than making any kind of considered decision. Fingers crossed!

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I was employed at the time and did not have any medical history (well, asthma), but there were absolutely no discussions about suitability of product, needs assessment or availability of alternative products. The insurance was taken out in Feb 2001, which I appreciate is now over 10 years ago and doesn't put me in the best position. Would the advice now be to go the Financial Ombudsman, or is there a more effective route? Or given the age of my insurance, am I unlikely to have any joy. Thanks again, JK

Hi, I have been trying to claim the PPI I had on a House of Fraser Storecard through GE Capital / Santander. Today I've received a letter rejecting my claim saying that "the insurance has been clearly shown on all statements... ...and could have been cancelled or a claim made at any time", and that there is "no evidence of the miss-selling of insurance". A photocopy of the application form I filled in has been attached. There are crosses written on all the boxes I was told to sign by the Sales Assistant who processed the application, including the PPI signature box. As a naive young man at the time I duly went ahead and signed where I was told to. I definitely remember that I was not given any information about the insurance though. And it's not something I would have wanted. Would the crossed boxes by the sales-assistant be any kind of evidence of miss-selling? Please could somebody advise whether I have a case for miss-selling, and if so the best way of progressing it now given the rejection. Any help is most appreciated. Thanks in advance JK

Hi Me and my housemate moved out of our rented property on the 28th November 2009. we then moved to a new property just down the road where we paid concil tax from the move in date. The council are trying to make us pay for the month after when we wasn't living there. we have called the council numerous times to tell them this along with emailing them and contacting our landlord to ask her to sort it direct. the council asked for a copy of the tenancy agreement which i sent via post but they said they didn't receive it. I have emailed the council and copied the landlord in pleading with them to resolve as this isnt our issue. well since then the baliffs have got involved and been to our old property demanding money and the bill has gone from 185 pounds to 415 pounds. we shouldn't have any bill what so ever. Today i have emailed the council and the landlady again asking for this to be resolved between them selves, we are also sending another copy of the tenancy from the agency via recording delivery to the council tomorrow. the landlady isnt replying to us, can anyone offer any advise on what we should do next?