reidnet, Thats kind of what I was thinking, think it sounds like a valid reason to claim! Anyway, the claim doesn't have to start right away, as I took the loan out in Oct 01 I take it I can leave it until Oct 07?? I did a calculation at 8% that was not compound and the interest took the value up to £3200. If I use the borrowing rate.......not sure what that was now but I presume it MUST be in the agreement!! I am looking at another sizeable claim:) Thanks for your help and if you can suggest a good preadsheet to use I would appreciate the advice........and of course start my own thread! Gooders

Guys, Firstly apologies for the slight hijack!!! I am wondering when we talk about burden of proof if when I took out the loan I was told I would need PPI, the documents were faxed to me with that box already ticked. Would this not prove that Lloyds insisted that I take the PPI to get the loan? I am in the middle of 2 claims for bank charges with Lloyds plus I have since extended the loan and not taken PPI and also battling the Honours Student Loans, so this will be next on my hit list! Not sure if I should rock the boat too much. I think the value of the PPI was £43 p/m and the loan was taken out in Oct 2001. If I do decide to go for it, I will start my own thread (promise) but is there a spreadsheet to calculate interest? or is it a basic 8% ala small claims??

Snoops, Thanks, at least someone gets my humour even tho its not HBOS!!! How about this for a letter to Benny Higgins Gooders Benny Higgins Halifax Plc 5 March 07 Mr Higgins, Please see attached a recent missive between myself and the branch manager at XXXXX. I am writing to you to hopefully make more senior management aware of my plight and the way I have been treated over recent months. (letter from previous post http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general/64672-account-closed-without-notification.html attached) In my line of work I am charged with my integrity and forfill this duty with pride in my service. It is therfore I feel it my duty to inform you that someone in the HBOS organisation has commited an act of theft in relation to my account. The Collins English Dictionary describes the noun theft as such: 1. the dishonest taking of property belonging to another person with the intention of depriving the owner permanently of its possession I know the use of such words can be emotive in some institutions and as such I would like to explain my reasons for choosing to use such language. 1) "the dishonest taking of property" Noone from HBOS informed me that this money was to be withdrawn from my account. Noone from HBOS saught my permission to transfer or indeed 'withdraw in cash' monies from my account. This action has been conducted in opposition to the Banking Code Article 7.5. Therefore I believe that this was an unfair and dishonest action by the compnay you represent. 2) "belonging to another person". The money IS MINE and was in no way owed to your company neither did your company have any claim whatsoever on these funds. 3) "the intention of depriving the owner permanently of its possession" I personally informed officers of your company of the mistake on Jan 20 2007. I was promised that someone would be in touch, in writing, to explain the problem and that a new account would be set up for my money to be deposited. This sir has never happened. Out of goodwill on my part I allowed you company a full calander month to rectify your 'error' before once again drawing the failure to provide adequate information to me to the manager of XXXXX branch. I was assured that I would be contacted within 7 days by telephone with a full explanation and that this would be backed up in writing as soon as possible. I have now been waiting 16 days and still nothing. I again through my goodwill gave you notice of my requirements in writing to the manager of XXXXX branch. I can only contend that after 90 days from the date MY money was withdrawn and having provided information to correct your error 50 days ago that your company and its officers have no intention of returning my funds. This combined with points 2 & 3 leads me to be confident in the utilisation of such emotive language. I do not consider that my relationship with HBOS has broken down and I have shown by the lengths I am willing to sort this matter that I wish our relationship in the form of the provision of a current account to continue. However, I feel that if this, MY latest attempt, to solve the situation does not bring adequate compensation for my costs, the dishonest closure of my account, the theft of my money and compensation for my time and effort I will have little choice but to bring the matter to the attention of official bodies. I would like to start an open and honest dialogue with you or an equivalently graded manager within your company as to how we proceed. I am willing to start by providing you with what I believe I am entitled to. 1) A full and open apology in writing and personnaly signed by an executive officer of your company. 2) A full explanation as to system processes that lead to this 'situation' 3) Compansation to the value of £250 following the closure of my account without fair notice and contrary to Article 7.5 of the banking code. Altenatively I would be happy for the FOS to review this matter and decide on a fair compensation level. 4) The full amount withdrawn from my account without my authorisation. 5) £300 in compensation for having to take 2 days off work to attend HBOS branch to attend to this matter. I was instructed to attend the branch by your telephone customer service agents (please see the details in my previous letter). 6) £100 for transportation costs for 4 single journeys taken between XXXX and XXXXXX branch in order to attend your branch and resolve this matter. Again, I was told I must attend the branch in person by your telephone customer service agents. 7) £50 Costs both personal and fiscal in bringing this matter to your attention by writing and by telephone. 8) A adequate 'goodwill' payment to reimburse me for the suffering and stress the action of your company's officers have caused me personnally. 9) A report of the company's actions/policies so that such instances cannot happen to others in the future and how these were not followed in my example. 10) The money to be credited into a newly assigned account at HBOS, or if not acceptable, credited into an account of my choice. 11) all payments made without conditions. from the start I have wished to settle this amicably and re-itterate that it is my intention to keep in this vain. However, please do not mistake my resolve in this matter as I am willing, if we cannot come to an agreement, to involve the Banking Code Standards Board, Financial Ombudsman Service, local constabulary and Consumer Action Groups (this includes national television Consumer Rights programmes that have already contacted about this matter). Ultimatley I am prepared to start court action against your company if we cannot come to an accord. I will expect a personal response within 14 days thereafter, I will presume that you still have no intention of refunding my money and compensating me for the situation your company's actions placed me in. Yours yadda yadda God the red mist rose again and I couldnt stop myself writing!!!!! I am fully aware that they will baulk at my "suggested" compensation points but hey I am offering to open negotiations. I do feel that I could argue Costs etc if required. The only thing I am thinking about is, if I grouped this together with my request for refunded charges, there may be less chance of them fighting my claims as they would also have to fight the charges (which we all know they won't!!!) Could kill 2 birds with one stone????? Forgive any spelling mistakes, my internal dictionary is the first to go when the mist rises!!!

Are these guys the same as SLC? Does anyone have a better address for them other than the : Selectapost 30 Rotherham S97 3ZY As I have sent them a recorded SAR & CCA request but cannot get the royal mail website to track it! Any help greatly appreciated Gooders

rmoody70 I am aware that accounts closed in retaliation for claiming charges are being awarded @£200 by FOS. The thing is and please feel free to read my original thread http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general/64672-account-closed-without-notification.html I will probably group this together with any claim for unfair charges once I receive the SAR. Once I have this, charges, FOS complaint(award?), interest, costs for my time & effort and a good deal of eating humble pie will be required before I leave this alone. All this for a very minimal amount!!! I will reveal that once everything has been settled, will be interesting to see what kind of % this is going to cost them! Gooders BTW SAR for Halifax due on 1 Apr ....... is it just me or is that so very apt??

Snoops, Well posted a little rant in my fairly well practised sarcastic tone! Lets see if there is any response!!! Now to compose something to good old Benny Higgins.........8-)

Emma Why can't something be done about the arrears? Surely these are disproportionate charges too?

Hey all, Just a thought om how to continue, does any one have or know how to get the address of the head-honcho of Halifax? Im thining a personal approach may bring dome fadter redults! Gooders

dx100uk, thanks for the reading material, will get into it! Joa, Hey, we all have to fly a desk from time to time!! thanks for the continued support!

Thanks Jos & progenic Im not sure of running the 2 complaints concurrently and I think Progenic is right, there is nothing they can do now to deny what they did. By the way my old address on the account was my parents house and guess what.....nothing their either! Think I will wait for the SAR then hand my LBA into the wonderful AMngr who promised to phone me within 7 days 2 weeks ago!!!! Will update when I get the info. Again thanks for the help:-) Joa, Quite like te fly-boy title, may even think about changing my log on

progenic, tanks for the response, I will make one thing clear.... I will not forget this! The way they have handled this whole thing has made me so mad that even tho we are talking a small amount of money I wont just drop this!! I hadn't started action on reclaiming charges before this happened but I sure as hell am now!!! At the moment I am thinking that I should wait for the SAR to come back and then group any or all claims together what do you think? Or should I lodge the complaint with the FOS get their decision and possible comp then go for the charges????

Joa, Sorry Joa, green isnt my colour, i fly a bit higher. Hmmm, how do I explain that.... Lets just say it wasn't at all enjoyable! Thanks for your advice I had thought of going the FOS route but held off because I am sure there are charges on this account too and wanted to combine the 2 claims. Still not sure if this is the right thing to do Now its been 2 weeks since the promise of a pnone call and 6 weeks since they said they would write. I have a distinct impression they are ignoring me!!! Anyone know a better ISA I can move my money to????

Bally35, I am aware of the dormant account procedures and would have been open to the suggestion of "close or use the account" if they had bothered to ask! However the principle is: 1) I updated the address on the account in Sept 06 2) the only correspondance they sent was 2 x statements telling me on 5 Dec 06 I had money in the account and on 6 Dec 06 that this money had been withdrawn as "cash" and the account was closed 3) I informed them of their error on 17 Jan 07 and I have yet to hear anything from them! 4) oh and I was accused of owing them money for a credit card that I have never held (their first attempt of an explanation for removing the money) So they had my address and still went against the banking code, I inccured expense from their "inept" telephone cust services by being told I MUST go into my nearest branch! I have now had to do this twice. I was told 2 weeks ago that the assistant manager at my branch would call me within 7 days.... still waiting for that gem!!! So thankyou for the advice but it is for exactly those reasons, and the principle, that I am fighting for what is rightfully mine!

Ladybird, I termed it as a holding account basically it was an account I kept with a little money in it so as not to be a new customer with HBOS if I wanted to do anything else with them. Which I did in the September by investing some money with them (and updated my details on the 'closed' account - so they new I hadn't died!!!) Thanks, Im glad its not just me that feels like this. I would have been more than happy to close the account if they had asked. They didn't and to come home and find this, I was immediately worried about identy theft etc. Not the most relaxing thing to come back to but as said, I feel I have bent over backwards to point out their error and sort this out and NOTHING!!! Thats why I am keen to pursue costs for my involvement! As a thought I have sent an SAR for this account (had it as a student so more than likely a few charges). Should I wait and group everything together or deal with them seperatley? Any thoughts??? Gooders

Return2sender, Amount is not the point IMO it doesn't matter if it was £10 or £1million, they did not make any attempt to contact me to say they were closing the account and since 6 Dec 06 MY money has been in THEIR pockets!!! I last used the account 2 years ago and was keeping the money in there so I wasn't a new customer. They knew all my details as I had just updated my contact details after a posting AND invested £2000+ in the September.

Blue & Snoops, Thanks so much for yoyur advice, it is such a comfort knowing that people think I am on the right line!! Will def give them the 14 days and send an LBA. I will also look into the local media, still trawling the internet on info but what I would really like to do is get the good old boys in blue involved ( a bit drastic I know but the red mist is rising each day this goes on!!!). Having said that, I will probably just stick with the courts claim my expenses on top of the (very) minimal account balance! cheers again, will update when HBOS ignore me some more. Gooders

All, I think that I have posted my request in the wrong section, my specific problem is with Halifax so would probably be better placed here:confused: . I f anyone can take the time to look at the following link and suggest ANY advice i would really appreciate it!!! http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general/64672-account-closed-without-notification.html Gooders

Quiet here................

Hey, Does anyone know if these guys are the same people. I sent off my SAR to a 'Selectapost' address in Rotherham and although it was recorded delivery still has not been delivered (thinking about it now Selectapost is prob like some kind of PO Box:mad: ) Either way my loans were all the old style and I would really like to see the charging info on the accounts as having repaid over £3000 they say I still have 4+ to pay!!!! Alternatively does anyone have a better address for them???? Many thanks Gooders

Claire, I belive the best way to proceed is to send a letter accepting this as part payment but ensuring that you will continue with your claim until the full amount is paid. This means that although they have paid you a 'goodwill gesture' the money outstanding between your balance and theirs is still getting interest. sample letters are here http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/25716-rejecting-offers.html Hope this helps Gooders

Help please! Even if its just to say i am doing th e right thing!!!!!!!!

Just to let you know this was the letter I posted on 19 Feb to confirm conversation & request full refund and compensation. What do you think? Gooders Halifax Plc 17 February 2007 Request for return of monies withdrawn without authorization and compensation for costs Dear Sir/Madam, ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXX My request I am writing to confirm the conversation I had at your branch with ‘XXXX’ and ask you to refund to me monies that were withdrawn from my account by representatives of your company without notice and contrary to Article 7.5 of the Banking Code. I would like to take a moment of your time to explain the lengths that I have already gone to whilst trying to amicably settle this matter. I am employed as a XXXXXXXXX and on 14 January 2007 I returned to XXXXXXX from active service in Afghanistan. On my arrival I found 2 statements from Halifax Plc informing me that my account was now closed and that the money in the account was withdrawn as a ‘cash transaction’ on 6 December 2006. I was immediately concerned as on the date of this ‘cash transaction’ I was in Kandahar and had not visited the Kandahar branch of Halifax that day! My concerns were also raised as shortly before my deployment I had invested over £XXXX in a Halifax ISA and had updated my contact details with your staff. I immediately contacted your telephone helpline. After being on the phone for over 30 minutes and being charged for the privilege, I was informed that the call centre could not help me and that I must go to my nearest branch to gain an explanation. Having returned from deployment you can imagine my boss’s consternation when I requested a day off so soon after returning to work to sort this matter out. You will be pleased to note that he however, was understanding. On arriving at your branch I spoke to a customer service representative who was extremely helpful. I would like to commend your staff as they attentively looked after my needs during my time in your branch. I was however; disappointed to learn that my trip was in vain as I was told “ the call centre should not have referred you to the branch as they have access to the same information as I have”. Notch one up to experience and take the transport cost on the chin! My disappointment turned to dismay as I stood for over 1 hour as your representative in the branch had to go through the same elongated telephone helpline that had previously failed me. Unfortunately she was cut off 3 times, passed to several different departments, told I owed the money in debt to my last credit card bill (I have never held a credit card with the Halifax!!!) and eventually put on hold then cut off for the 4th and final time. It is at this point that she brought the matter to the attention of more senior staff. On her return some 15 minutes later I was told that the account had been closed and that the money had been moved to a ‘holding pot’. I was assured that a letter would be sent to me and that the money would be re-credited into a newly set up account. Content, yet slightly concerned over Halifax’s inability to contact their customers, I left anticipating an apology and refund of my money. I waited. And waited. And waited…… Finally it was too much and having spent time researching my options in what an acquaintance called “tantamount to theft” I could wait no longer and called the ‘Helpline’. Again a long hold and the inevitable report that I would need to go into my branch to sort the problem out. It was then I had to return to my Boss and again ask for more time off to pursue this ‘problem’. So it was that I returned to your branch on 17 February 2007 and again explained the problem. Both the initial Customer Service Representative and ‘XXXX’ saw to me quickly and efficiently. ‘XXXX’ spent some time investigating my ‘problem’ and returned to explain that a letter had been written ‘by head office’ but he could not find out any more details because the account was closed. This ‘letter’ has never been received. I must commend ‘XXXX’ for dealing with an aggrieved customer in a sympathetic and professional manner and his admittance that the actions were against the banking code and that there were no notes of refund on the system gave me confidence I was being treated in an honest and open manner. He assured me that a letter would be written directly and that he personally would call me to confirm what action had been taken, and all within a 7 day timeframe. Having taken the opportunity to explain, albeit in written format, the events of the past 2+ months and having taken the time over a month ago to bring this matter to your attention I still have not had my money refunded and have incurred costs on 2 separate occasions by pro-actively attempting to adjust your initial error. I believe this is unfair and would like to enter into sincere dialogue about this matter and I am writing this letter to you on the assumption that you will prefer to do this than merely respond with standard letters and leaflets. I will give you 14 days to reply to me accepting that an error was made, offering a full explanation as to process whereupon this error came about, enter into dialogue about or offer compensation, or ‘goodwill’ payment for my costs in resolving this matter without conditions and letting me know a date by which I will receive payment. If you do not respond, or you do not respond positively, within this time period, I shall send you a letter before action giving you a further 14 days in which to reflect. I will also make approaches to the Banking Code Standards Board, Financial Ombudsman Service (who recently fined the Alliance & Leicester for closing an account) and Consumer Action Groups including national television Consumer Rights programmes. Further, I believe that these targets are more than sufficient for a large company such as yours with dedicated staff and departments. After that, there will be no further communication from me and I shall issue a claim at the expiry of the second deadline. Yours faithfully, Now just need to see what they say !!!!

Well, I went into the branch again on Sat 17 Feb and went through a slightly less time consuming process this time. Apparently after my initial meeting with the HBOS staff and their promise that they would send a letter providing me with a full explanation....one was sent by "Head Office" nothing received though!!! Anyway, I explained the situation once more and gave them my time limit for a response. I was assured that this would be completed within 7 calander days ... and guess what.....!!!! NOTHING!!!! So to recap.... 1) closed my account against 7.5 of Banking Code on 6 Dec 06 2) Withdrew the money as CASH on the same day 3) Informed my local branch of their error on 20 Jan on return to UK (was incorrectly advised by telephone that I MUST take this matter to the branch) 4) Waited for a month 5) repeated my complaint to the branch 17 Feb 07 - was told that a letter HAD been sent (None was received) 6) when questioned the assistant manager admitted the banks actions had been against the banking code and that the explanation letter had NOT included a refund of my money!!! 7) Gave them 7 days to furnish me with a reply/full explanation/costs & refund 8) wrote letter (in next post to try and quicken the process away from minor management branch staff) 9) 7 days are up tomorrow What now???? Police???? LBA???? Help me please!!!!

Apparently all 1.7 million of us that signed the petition have got/will get the following response by TB Thank you for taking the time to register your views about road pricing on the Downing Street website. This petition was posted shortly before we published the Eddington Study, an independent review of Britain's transport network. This study set out long-term challenges and options for our transport network. It made clear that congestion is a major problem to which there is no easy answer. One aspect of the study was highlighting how road pricing could provide a solution to these problems and that advances in technology put these plans within our reach. Of course it would be ten years or more before any national scheme was technologically, never mind politically, feasible. That is the backdrop to this issue. As my response makes clear, this is not about imposing "stealth taxes" or introducing "Big Brother" surveillance. This is a complex subject, which cannot be resolved without a thorough investigation of all the options, combined with a full and frank debate about the choices we face at a local and national level. That's why I hope this detailed response will address your concerns and set out how we intend to take this issue forward. I see this email as the beginning, not the end of the debate, and the links below provide an opportunity for you to take it further. But let me be clear straight away: we have not made any decision about national road pricing. Indeed we are simply not yet in a position to do so. We are, for now, working with some local authorities that are interested in establishing local schemes to help address local congestion problems. Pricing is not being forced on any area, but any schemes would teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme. And funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas. One thing I suspect we can all agree is that congestion is bad. It's bad for business because it disrupts the delivery of goods and services. It affects people's quality of life. And it is bad for the environment. That is why tackling congestion is a key priority for any Government. Congestion is predicted to increase by 25% by 2015. This is being driven by economic prosperity. There are 6 million more vehicles on the road now than in 1997, and predictions are that this trend will continue. Part of the solution is to improve public transport, and to make the most of the existing road network. We have more than doubled investment since 1997, spending £2.5 billion this year on buses and over £4 billion on trains - helping to explain why more people are using them than for decades. And we're committed to sustaining this investment, with over £140 billion of investment planned between now and 2015. We're also putting a great deal of effort into improving traffic flows - for example, over 1000 Highways Agency Traffic Officers now help to keep motorway traffic moving. But all the evidence shows that improving public transport and tackling traffic bottlenecks will not by themselves prevent congestion getting worse. So we have a difficult choice to make about how we tackle the expected increase in congestion. This is a challenge that all political leaders have to face up to, and not just in the UK. For example, road pricing schemes are already in operation in Italy, Norway and Singapore, and others, such as the Netherlands, are developing schemes. Towns and cities across the world are looking at road pricing as a means of addressing congestion. One option would be to allow congestion to grow unchecked. Given the forecast growth in traffic, doing nothing would mean that journeys within and between cities would take longer, and be less reliable. I think that would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment. And the costs on us all will be real - congestion could cost an extra £22 billion in wasted time in England by 2025, of which £10-12 billion would be the direct cost on businesses. A second option would be to try to build our way out of congestion. We could, of course, add new lanes to our motorways, widen roads in our congested city centres, and build new routes across the countryside. Certainly in some places new capacity will be part of the story. That is why we are widening the M25, M1 and M62. But I think people agree that we cannot simply build more and more roads, particularly when the evidence suggests that traffic quickly grows to fill any new capacity. Tackling congestion in this way would also be extremely costly, requiring substantial sums to be diverted from other services such as education and health, or increases in taxes. If I tell you that one mile of new motorway costs as much as £30m, you'll have an idea of the sums this approach would entail. That is why I believe that at least we need to explore the contribution road pricing can make to tackling congestion. It would not be in anyone's interests, especially those of motorists, to slam the door shut on road pricing without exploring it further. It has been calculated that a national scheme - as part of a wider package of measures - could cut congestion significantly through small changes in our overall travel patterns. But any technology used would have to give definite guarantees about privacy being protected - as it should be. Existing technologies, such as mobile phones and pay-as-you-drive insurance schemes, may well be able to play a role here, by ensuring that the Government doesn't hold information about where vehicles have been. But there may also be opportunities presented by developments in new technology. Just as new medical technology is changing the NHS, so there will be changes in the transport sector. Our aim is to relieve traffic jams, not create a "Big Brother" society. I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a "stealth tax" on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion. Clearly if we decided to move towards a system of national road pricing, there could be a case for moving away from the current system of motoring taxation. This could mean that those who use their car less, or can travel at less congested times, in less congested areas, for example in rural areas, would benefit from lower motoring costs overall. Those who travel longer distances at peak times and in more congested areas would pay more. But those are decisions for the future. At this stage, when no firm decision has been taken as to whether we will move towards a national scheme, stories about possible costs are simply not credible, since they depend on so many variables yet to be investigated, never mind decided. Before we take any decisions about a national pricing scheme, we know that we have to have a system that works. A system that respects our privacy as individuals. A system that is fair. I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet. That is why we are not rushing headlong into a national road pricing scheme. Before we take any decisions there would be further consultations. The public will, of course, have their say, as will Parliament. We want to continue this debate, so that we can build a consensus around the best way to reduce congestion, protect the environment and support our businesses. If you want to find out more, please visit the attached links to more detailed information, and which also give opportunities to engage in further debate. Yours sincerely, Tony Blair So still not getting that warm and fluffy feeling from the response:-| tho Gooders

Forgive my ignorance but does that mean that with the warrant issued the boys will be sent in or can they drag their heels some more?