Thanks for the advice, I finally got my refund!! Protx jumped into action when I told them I'd reported this to the police; they emailed me straight back saying they'd told protx to refund me. Sure enough it was there in my account the next morning. Hope everyone else manages to get there's soon as I'd be surprised if gamesgadgets keeps trading much longer.

This company is a complete nightmare!! There have been forum threads on Amazon, Protx Support & Money Saving Expert with dozens of people reporting items not delivered or refunded after being paid for weeks ago. A few of us had reported them to Trading Standards, The Police & Watchdog. I had been told off Sharon at Gamesgadgetsuk that I will get a refund and I'm still waiting now. What's really annoyed me is that as from this morning when I logged in to the forum on Amazon (where most of the complainants seem to be) the thread has been removed by Amazon! Plus the thread on Protx is blocked so no one can add to it!! Neither thread contained threatening or abusive text so has obviously been pulled so it wont adversley affect either gamesgadgets or protx's income! Whatever happened to free speech? Seems its ok to defraud people out of their hard earned cash & kids xmas presents but it's not ok for the victims of this to speak out!! Wish I'd suggested everyone on the amazon/ protx sites moved their discussion over to CAG; seems like this is the last place on the net where free speech & justice is actually encouraged. Might start a new thread on amazon now to get people over to CAG about this as it seems to me like gamesgadgets & protx are trying to divide & conquer.

Re: Next/ London Scottish default I've put in a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office along with copies of all correspondance with London Scottish Bank & Robinson Way Re: Littlewoods Shop Direct Group Received a reply today which reads I refer to your letter requesting access under the Data Protection Act 1998, for information which is held on file by the company. You have requested information held on our database relating to your account. A full investigation has been carried out, your concerns have been assessed & I confirm the findings as follows; Both of the accounts held above were opened on 23rd January 2001. Unfortunately, our database records only extend back to September 2001. As the accounts were sold to an external debt collecting agency in May 2001, we are unable to supply you with any information. I apologise that I cannot provide you with all the data requested but I hope that my explanation meets with your satisfaction. Yours Sincerely Liam Lloyd Data Protection Unit Am I right in thinking that this is a good response as Littlewoods should not be passing information about me to credit reference agencies if they have no record of any credit agreement, debt or default notification? They mention 2 accounts, yet only one is marked with a default on my credit reports; the other one being satisfied. This makes me doubtful as to their having any information at all about my accounts on file. My question now is do I approach this on the grounds of them not having information to substantiate debt or default therefore default is not valid as has not been executed correctly? Or.. should I take the approach about them acting illegally by passing unsubstantiated information to credit reference agencies when I do not have an account/ agreement with them? Incidently- I have no recollection of any debt collection agency contacting me about this £34 alleged debt. This letter doesn't even mention the name of any such collection agency. Surely if the 'debt' now belongs to collection agency it should bethe debt collection agencywho inform credit reference agencies? Or should I approach Credit Reference Agencies & point out to them that they should not be passing innacurate/ unsubstantiated information onto other parties? Any suggestions please then I can do my homework & put a reply together... or borrow a template if anyone is kind enough to point me in the right direction?!

Thanks Paul, I've already got the ICO complaints form so I'll get copies of everything together and send it in tomorrow. Hopefully this will get them moving

Reply re; Next Directory default, this time from Robinson, Way & Company: I note that you have sent a SAR for information under the Data Protection Act. I understand that this was initially sent on 14th September 2007 by recorded delivery, however having checked our files, we do not appear to have recieved your request. In order that we may assist you further could you please supply us with details of your signed proof of delivery along with confirmation that you have paid the £10 fee for this information, & that this has been cashed. Thank-you for your co-operation in this matter & I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further you can contact me on my direct number 0161-830 2469. Yours Sincerely Hayley Felton Complaints & Compliance Manager I am of the opinion that they are timewasting & if anything I am now further from getting the SAR information than I was a couple of weeks ago when London Scottish Bank replied: at least they said they'd send it even if it was going to be another 40 days!! Dont see the point in sending them the delivery reciept & I still dont have confirmation re; postal order being cashed. I dont see why its relevant for me to provide proof of the postal order being cashed anyway, am I right in saying that I can prove it was sent to them so its not my fault if they've not cashed it? Which would be the quicker route now; court or the Information Commissioners Office? My patience with these people has now run out, I just want the info from them so I can negotiate settlement IF they agree to remove the default Any suggestions on my next course of action?

I'll give that a go thanks.

hi jonny, i've been having my own issues with gamesgadgetsuk & started a new thread about it yesterday. They're saying they'll refund me but i'm not convinced; i've read similar experiences on amazon forum, protx forum & money saving expert. any info anyone's got about the company please post it or pm it for me as I dont intend to sit back & wait on this Someone posted on amazon that they have admin in manchester but all the addresses i have are 2 in milton keynes & 1 in london- would love to know if they're in manchester as its nearer me & i stand a good chance of getting it back if its local any help appreciated also does anyone have a phone number for protx so i can ask them if a refund is in their system yet?

Thanks so much, I'll let you know if I get anywhere

I ordered 2 nintendo ds lites from gamesgadgetsuk.com & paid using my debit card via protx (secure payment server) I have had no confirmation of order or dispatch notification from the sellers & have since read reports from other customers about not recieving goods or refund (amazon forums) The gamesgadgetsuk customer helpline just rings out or is engaged & emails seem to go ignored. In short this appears to be a [problem] website, has anyone else had any dealings with them or has any advice? I plan to find out the directors/ secretary's name from companies house as I will at least then get a contact from there; if anyone else has details about the companies operators the information would be greatfully recieved Please feel free to message me on here or privately

didn't get the letter posted as I wasnt sure if it was right then some fool crashed in to my car over the wk end so now it's gone past the 7 days anyway; what am I supposed to write back to next- any suggestions? Also littlewoods shop direct haven't responded so I need to start the proceedings against them, however I am really confused... I read the Data Protection Act & can see it's section 7 that they are in breach of but do I have to cite subsections too? someone, anyone please give me a little guidance I'm struggling to find what I need here...does anyone have any links that may help?

Ok, I've put a reply together myself as I can't find anything relevant to 'borrow' from anyone else on here.... Thursday 22 November 2007 Reference: 613322350 Dear Ms Bradburn Thank-you for your letter dated 21st November 2007. Your letter states that London Scottish Bank plc has no record of receiving any previous communication from myself regarding my Subect Access Request under the Data Protection Act 1998. I have proof of delivery for said Subect Access Request which has been signed by a recipient at the London Scottish Bank, 24 Mount St, Manchester. Signed proof of delivery is admissable in a Court of Law as evidence of receipt. The 40 day period in which London Scottish Bank had in which to provide the requested data began on receipt of my Subect Access Request dated 14th September 2007. The 40 day period has already expired and you are now in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998. I shall not extend the timescale for you to comply with this request & may I respectfully remind you that the 40 day period is set by law and is not subect to negotiation or dismissal due to administrative errors or inefficiency within your company. Should I not receive the data requested by 26th November 2007 I will seek a court order obliging you to do so together with damages at the discretion of the Court. Yours Sincerely I've not mentioned the Information Comissioner; should I have done? Also, am I barking up the wrong tree by still threatening court action even though they have said they'll provide the SAR data? I know it's a bit last minute.com but I could really use some help on this so that I get it right to post out tomorrow.

Finally a response from London Scottish Bank (Next Directory).... We are in reciept of your letter dated 18.11.07 regarding your Data Protection Act Subect Access Request. In line with the requirements of the Act, we will action this request within 40 days of 18th November. As you indicate in this correspondance, you have requested this information from us previously. However to date we have no record of recieving any previous communication from you. As part of our investigation however, we will endeavour to establish why this information has not previously been supplied. If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me direct on 0161 830 2545 Yours Sincerely Linda Bradburn Customer Care Manager Firstly they are caught out; for once I can't complain about Royal Mail- I have the electronic reciept of delivery so I can't see how they can dispute reciept of SAR. Secondly; they would be acting outside of the Act if they sent data without having recieved a SAR. The letter before action I sent on 18.11.07 is clearly not a SAR, I can't believe they are in the habit of sending SAR data without the £10 payment either. Incidently I sent this with the SAR in the form of postal order (cant even get a cheque book due to this default), I am going to write to the post office to see if/ when it's been cashed but I believe this takes a few weeks. There is no way I am giving them more time; this was legally requested on 14th September & they are telling me they'll provide it by the end of December? Hmm- cant imagine them accepting one of their customers taking twice as long to provide a payment. Will put a reply together tonight & post it on here but (as ever!) any pointers from anyone are gladly appreciated! The 7 day notice period I gave them in the letter before action expires next Monday 26.11.07. As they will not recieve my reply to their above letter until the same Monday 26.11.07 it is doubtful that they will meet this deadline. Any thoughts? Also as I now have a contact name should future correspondance be addressed directly to this person or should it remain general? Thanks from Cat

I have prepared my letters to post to London Scottish Bank (Next Directory) and Littlewoods Shop Direct. I have used Alanfromderby's template 3 to tell them if they do not satisfy my subect access request within 7 days I will begin legal proceedings without further notice. Haven't mentioned complaint to information commisioner although I will lodge a complaint there if no response within 7 days of the creditors recieving this latest letter. Hopefully I will get something back as I already feel as though I'm banging my head against a brick wall & I've only just begun...

It's now 54 days since the SARs were recieved by next & shop direct financial services. I have taken the advice from lookinforinfo onboard & have not written any reminder letters or initiated any furter action as of yet. I am now doubtful that anything will materialise from next or SDFS if I leave this with them so I think it's time to prepare my next move... I will look through the template library for guidance & as usual will post a draft on here for any useful comments from you guys (I'd be lost without the help!), does anyone have any pointers on appropriate templates for my situation? I don't plan to send anything out until the end of next week which will take their non-compliance to 3 weeks past the SAR deadline.

hi was wondering if you've got any further with this? i recently started my own attemts to get default removed by next & would appreciate any input http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/legalities/114086-dont-want-settle-unless.html

hi could you tell me where to find out about online dispute with equifax as i'm getting nowhere with next directory yet, many thanks cat

hi, i'm by no means an expert at this but if you sent a subect access request with the £10 fee then by law they have to provide all data that they hold on you. this would include copy of original default notice. if they cant provide this then you are in a better position to argue that it was never recieved. good luck!

Hi again! I've had no response from the SAR's I sent off despite the 40 day reply period ending, was wondering what your thoughts are as to if it's worth sending a reminder letter or is it better just to go straight to legal proceedings & complaint to information commissioners office? Any suggestions much appreciated! Thanks from cat

Well the 40 days is up & no data has been recieved from next directory. From what I've read on other threads a lot of people seem to write to the creditors telling them they have a further 7 days to provide the data before a complaint will be made to the information commissioners office. Is this necessary to issue a further warning? Looking at other people's dealings with next directory defaults I doubt a further letter will spur them into action. However I don't want to be hasty in issuing complaint to information commissioner in case this will reflect badly on how they deal with my complaint. Any advice? Also I note that at this stage legal proceedings may be started, I'm not clear as to my starting point with legal proceedings in this case & would appreciate any direction. I've looked at other threads but want to be sure about the procedure before I begin anything. littlewoods did write to me saying they'd located my account numbers 2 weeks ago & are collating the data so I expect they'll send something eventually. I will send them a letter giving them a further 7 days to reply before I complain to info. commissioners office & begin legal proceedings. as usual any suggestions are much appreciated!

Thanks Ali but I think they're long gone. I was wondering if anyone knows if the post office has similar till system as large shops do- at some shops they can trace your cash purchase if you can give them the time, date & place of purchase- anybody know about this?

Hi, on behalf of my friend, What happened was she recieved a bill for over £600 'unpaid' rent from the council for a ten week period around may-july this year. She's a council tennant& she always pays her rent & council tax at the same time weekly at the post office.Straight away she knew it was a council error as she's never missed a payment. However she's mislaid 3 rent reciepts from that period each one for 1 weeks rent payment of £60. She sent copies of all her other reciepts for the rent they were saying was unpaid & recieved no letter just an amended bill. Basically they accepted that she has paid the weeks where she was able to provide copies of reciepts during that 10wk period but still want payment for the 3 weeks where she hasn't provided copies of reciepts. There have been no problems with the council tax that she paid at the same time. I think they have paid the money into the wrong account but they won't enter into any discussion with her as to why the payments they've mysteriously acknowledgeed on production of reiepts have turned up. I think she may be able to trace the payment back through the post office counters. Any suggestions would be really appreciated- she's a single mum working hard & never pays anything late despite not earning much & the council are being no help. Thanks from cat on behalf of sarah

I'm naturally suspicious of having phone conversations with banks etc. for the same reasons plus they never seem to follow up on what they promise on the phone anyway. Although I want this default off it's not as important as getting rid of the next directory one as that will be stuck on my record until 2010 if I don't get rid of it. Don't suppose it'll do any harm waiting for them both to get back to me with the SAR info. even if it is another 3 weeks.

Am posting on behalf of my friend.. I have recieved a rent statement from the housing saying I haven't paid the rent on at least two occasions. I know this is un-true as I haven't missed any payments,the problem being I have stupidly mis-laid the receipts.Is there any other way of sorting this or will I have to pay the payments twice?

I'll phone them on Monday to see if it speeds things up. With regards to the 40 days they have to fulfill SAR is it 40 working days?

Hi Paul, So glad you proof read that letter for me, unfortunatly it was 2002 not 2001 as I had written. Lucky for me I've been snowed under at work so I had chance to correct it before I posted it out today. Thanks from Cat