Hi, we are with Anglian. We paid £120 this month off our water bill. Some of this is from our previous address. We have been here since dec 06. I called anglian as we had a threatogram in the letterbox and it stated that they will call again. I called them and explained and the person on the other end was very aggressive, I asked about the payments we had made and why this bill wasnt coming down, anyway, conversation went on, threatened with DCA's, I said threaten all you like as this is being recorded and alos should they turn up and we live off the road, they will be trespassing as they havent got my permission to come onto my property, and besides, my 2 doggies wouldnt like strangers walking onto their territory! Was asked all sorts, can I read, can i tell if the phone is working as they have accused us of being in denial. After 3 years in our previous address, they read the meter ONCE. In the time they have been here, no one has read the meter to my knowledge. We are being sent another payment book as the previous plan of £60 a month was cancelled. We really can't afford £120 a month to pay this off, I would like some help on where to go from here as they are really aggressive and am thinking of complaining regarding their telephone manners and attitude...or lack of. Thanken you.... Chasin'

Hi, Same thing happened with my range rover not long ago, engine power was lost and loss of efficiency in brakes. Most modern cars rely on auxillary servo power (as was said in previous posts) for power steering and brakes. We have just bought a Reanult Scenic on a 54 plate with 27k on the clock, I opened the bonnet and could just make out the alternator. It will be going to the garage for a service and let them take the responsability. My other car, An sierra xr4x4, is serviced by myself as the last time it had an MOT, the guy put it on a rolling road for a 2wd and it nearly went through his workshop...if only he read the V5 or the computer description stating ALL WHEEL DRIVE..anyway, sorry for going off tangent.. I would impoly that the garage has a duty of care and the damage should be repaired by them if they carried out a service or supplied you with it in the first instance..

Hi all, right, just had post. Letter from Cabot stating I owe £214.50 from a previious halifax bank account. All the money on this account is in dispute as i closed the account down a few years ago. I have also been given CCJ on this account in 2005 as I got a copy of my credit report a few weeks ago. Obviously I am not going to call them! Also received a threatogram from Lowells this morning. Again, I am going to send off CCA's to all the dca's and see what happens. Just needed some advice about this one as it has a ccj on the account... what is my next move. .thanks, great advice received already on the forums..keep it up..

Well, suffice to say I am looking around!

My fiance and I had the chance to go elsewhere for our car, in the end, welcome cut us a good deal as I was ready to walk out of the door and go back to a dealership wher I may add, I sotted a nice VW! as I said, we are happy in our car and although we are still waiting on a few things from welcome car finance, we have no real complaints, they even waived the deposit on our car... all in all we are happy. As to loans, I can't comment as we haven't any loans, excluding mortgage, our car is on finance (who's isnt?!) no credit cards. I have a link cash card for my banks (1 parachute account, 1 main) and am slowly but surely sorting out my own finances... .life is for living....

As I work in FE and HE within the mechanical engineering sector (also a mech eng undergrad, snowed under with assignments!) I also have previous experience as a vehicle tech for XXXtroen! I would always ask for the old parts to be in the car when I collect it after a service or do a little trick, for those of you who are not familiar with mechanicals (no wish to be sexist as I work with a female mech engineer!) get a UV pen, and mark the date or your name on the oil filter/air filter, then check it when you get the car back, you'd be suprised!!

Hi all, well, had meeting yesterday morning, UCU rep came with me, basically the return to work forms had been doctored by line manager as I had the genuine copy of all of them! Messages are not being passed on as I did call in and the director wasn't aware of this as i bought our phone bill in with the number on the day I was diagnosed by gp! I was told that for a period of 4 months I was under sickness monitoring...

Plus, always always, TEST DRIVE THE CAR!

Also the suspension springs should always be changed in pairs anyway. We have bought a car and a few minor defects were spotted whilst I carried out my own PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection). I advise anyone to carry out this, all doors open, boot, bonnet, lights on dip, hazards on, and try absolutely every switch/knob in the car...

The only thing I will have is the fact that I know I did attend my GP and it is on my record, problem is money is a bit tight and I cant afford the fee for the doctor's letter to confirm that I did attend. I will tell the hearing that they can contact my gp if they want it confirmed, or let them pay for the letter as I dont see why I should cough up for documents which will prove my genuine reason for non attendance for a week.

Erm, No!..I don't want to disclose what I am going to later rely on in my own hearing! Duh!

It is a final formal meeting under EEP. Says also I need to include names of witnesses and documents I intend to use. Cant I refuse disclosure as it isn't a court hearing only an internal matter with my emoloyer, surely they have no righht under data protection?

I can voutch for that as well, 10% isnt that bad.

I have that at the moment, a lot of favouritism and in house dodgy politics.

Hi Paulgmb, no it doesnt state that. Cant be too specific incase they watch these boards/forums. It is called EEP. Effective Employment procedure, it does however say in the policy that it can lead to instnat dismissal with rights to appeal. They do this a lot here, bully you into quitting or being a yes man/woman..basicaly, my face doesnt fit.

Spoke to the rep at work and am meeting him monday evening. He has said it could lead to instant dismissal, but if I go to my GP and get a letter to verify my reasons why I was off ill then that could constitute a good defence, which can then lead me to further action by ET.

The doctor asked me where I worked, I said in a college and am in contact with students. He advised me to stay off a week and self certify. If he wont give me a letter for my employer to verify this, where do I stand? I really am in a foul mood with my employer as I believe it is their intention to get rid of me and replace me with another member of staff who has had time off and has appalling time keeping. I have called a colleague this evening and he has said that not too hand in my notice as he doesnt want me to leave we work in the same area together and get on ok. I dont want to leave but will if I am forced too, I would rather get sacked and take them to the cleaners.....

My contract is 37 hrs a week. I finish at 4 on fridays to collect my daughter but take 30 mins lunch on fridays instead of 1 hour to make up for it. See earlier post, i am not a happy bunny..

I do have a copy of the sickness procedure, the union is well aware of the meetings that have taken place, basically, we as employees are not allowed more than 3 periods off in any 12 month period. After the last meeting, I was told that for the next 4 months I could not go off sick. My daughter came home and was ill, noticed chicken pox on the friday, on the saturday I had it. Went to dosc on monday, he confirmed it and said to self cert for that week. Not heard anything until this evening, i basically feel as if I am being forced out...can I be dimissed on the spot? Is so what r my rights?...been there nearly 2 years...

anyone?

Ok here goes, joined employer in may 06. Everything going well, not the best paid job but hey, pays the bills. 6 months later, things change, new starter comes in and changes everything. I go off sick for a day. blah blah...get home this evening and find a letter for me from employer....goes along the lines meeting next week for sickness absence and is held under final procedures.. Basically was off for a week with chickenpox (from my daughter who was also off) went to GP, he confirmed it, told me min 5 working days, so was off a week..went back hear nothing until this evening by letter...just joined union online. Should I hand in my notice on Friday as have 2 months notice plus 15 days holiday owed or go to hearing, they have dismissed on the spot and escorted off the premises...hearing is 23rd.

It was a previous debt that my partner had and was put on this address not long after we moved in. All we recieved was notification in the post.

Found out this morning my other half is paying £110 (!) a month to a dca for a debt. I insisted she cancel this dd and doesnt call them to explain, just to cca them instead as I have told her they have to prove the debt is valid. Am I correct in doing this as it leaving my partner struggling at the end of the month.. Is there anything else I can do as it came out in a conversation about mortgages, someone has put a £8000 voluntary charge on our house not long after we moved here (Dec 06) I have just this morning opened a h..c basic acc. as N....wide took £120 off me on 10th March 08 leaving me brassic till pay day. Also after these charges back as it is MY money,,,Grrrr..never mind, they werent bothered that I was leaving them this morning. Nor am I...tbh. Am getting there but will take some time, still better than in 2003/4 when we couldnt afford a car so I cycled top work and more or less ate toast n baked beans for a month....

In any letter never admit liability, I personally wouldnt offer any payment. It is up to them to prove you owe the debt in the fist instance.

We will, most of our issues are dealt with now. I have been in my job for 2 years in may so about time I sorted myself out as my partner has dealt with hers but my finances helped her.