There is usually a canx charge. £26 isn't bad. Some charge £50.

Me too. The blackbirds are being especially bossy! They have worked out how to get a drink from next door's water feature whilst everything is frozen/snow covered too.

Tis brilliant - Damien in true colours ... red eyes

Sorry, it is her white kitten, Caspar, which should have been named Damien cos it is truly evil. Tills will have to post a photo of him! Ta Jan

Good luck with the search Tills (and everyone assisting, you might be looking for elephants for a long time!). What about Damien anyway? Someone clever could make his eyes red for you then he would really look the part ............. Jan

Signed. Liked post by BRW. As he says everyone hates bankers so anything we do must be aimed at them for max publicity! Would be happy to write to MP too. Jan

Tis a nightmare - and why ALL legal firms have document management programs. So we know they're lying when they say they can't find things or can't trace them back (as you already know!) .....

Hi Steve Sorry I can't help with agreements - hopefully someone will come along soon who can! Jan

No, not worth risking it! We still got loads snow and I am very grateful for my wellies

Lots and lots of snow in Cheshire - and still coming down!! Good luck to anyone having to go to work/get home today! Jan

Seen them before on e-mail. Worth another look though!!

Yes, thanks for info. Should have known it always takes them years to bring something into force! Badhorse, here is letter that is a good starting point - just amend firsst couple of paras accordingly ie you didn't request it. Send recorded delivery, think they have to reply within 40 days, if its a No, then go FOS. Can't see you losing as you still have your copy with unticked box. Dear Sir/Madam Re: Account / Policy number: 123456789 I have been looking at my agreement with you, reference above and have noted that I purchased Payment Protection Insurance from you. I am now of the belief that I was mis-sold this policy for the following reasons: 1. Employment Status: Due to being self employed when I took out the policy. 2. Responsibilities When Underwriting a Policy of Insurance: On each occasion, when the details of a loan were discussed your sales advisors failed to check my personal circumstances at the time of the sale, which they are under obligation to do when underwriting a Policy of Insurance. If they had done so, they would have realised that the PPI policies were useless to me. At no time was any attempt made to ascertain if the product provided was fit for purpose, suitable for my needs or if indeed it was required at all. 3. Alternative Insurance Cover: Your sales advisors in each case failed to ask me if I had any alternative arrangements for insurance cover. My employer has a generous illness package which would cover a period of sickness as follows: 6 months full pay followed by 6 months half pay. I would also be entitled to a generous redundancy package and a substantial payment would be made in the event of my death in service (more than suffice to clear the balance of the loan). 4. Failure to Supply Important Information with Regard to Significant Policy Exclusions: I was most definitely not informed that the PPI policies could contain certain exclusions which could affect me and my ability to claim on the policies if I should need to. Additionally I was never told that Pre Existing Medical Conditions could invalidate my policy and I was never asked if I had any Pre Existing Medical Conditions despite your advisors being aware I was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension. One element of this pension includes back injury which I know is an exclusion in PPI Policies. I also believe that I would also be excluded on at least one other existing condition. 5. Widespread PPI Mis-Selling:I am now aware of the widespread mis-selling of PPI by some financial institutions, following recent media coverage and recent OFT, FSA and Competition Commission investigations and inquiries regarding the mis-selling of PPI. I believe this is borne out by Point 3 above. I am also aware that the question of PPI cover is the subject of an ongoing inquiry by the Competition Commissioner 6. Wholly Inappropriate PPI Selling - Employee Bonuses: I understand that some employees are paid higher bonuses if they get prospective creditors to take out PPI with loans. How can the best interests of the customer possibly be met, if there is a clear conflict of interest between your responsibilities to me, and the drive of your employees to sell Payment Protection Insurance whether it is suitable or not in order to receive bonuses? 7. True Nature of Single Premium PPI Not Explained: No explanation was forthcoming from any advisor on any occasion on the full extent of single premium PPI policies or the fact that they would offer little or no refund if the loan was settled early or if the insurance was cancelled. The statements you have forwarded on accounts xxx and xxx, show no element of any refund of PPI or PPI interest when the accounts were refinanced or settled. There was also no explanation that the cost of the PPI premium would be added to the total cost of credit and interest added for the full term of the agreement. I believe this practice is unlawful. 8. Unfair attachment of PPI with no competition involvement: I now believe that the single premium PPI policies attached to the loan accounts were both extremely unfair and totally unreasonable and offered me very little, if any protection value whatsoever. Furthermore I believe in light of the preliminary finding by the Competition Commission that the PPI was unfairly attached as there was no opportunity for me to seek competitive Insurance. I am therefore requesting a full refund of all costs including all single PPI premiums that have been paid, the interest added to these premiums and the PPI proportion of the direct debit payments, that I have paid over the life of the account agreement. What I expect from you is justification that the policy was suitable for me based on my circumstances and an explanation as to how your suitability criteria works. If you cannot justify this to my satisfaction I request a full refund of all premiums paid to date as well as interest on these payments. Furthermore as I believe I have been unlawfully deprived of this money, I also expect the repayment of the interest at the Statutory Interest rate of 8% to be applied to of each of the single premiums and the PPI proportion of the direct debit payments. In respect of cancellation of a policy may I draw your attention to the following reports from the FSA, namely, 'The sale of payment protection insurance - results of thematic work, November 2005' & 'The Sale of Payment Protection Insurance - results of follow-up thematic work, October 2006'' that state "When consumers cancel the PPI without repaying the loan, some firms will need to reissue the loan without the PPI. Firms should ensure they treat their customers fairly in relation to the terms on which they reissue the loan.". This means that any new loan is on the same or better terms and does not detriment me in any way and that this is to be done without making a new search on my credit file. I expect a swift response to this letter within 14 days, containing either your full justification or notice that you will be refunding these payments. If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will issue another letter notifying you of my intention to take further action if the matter is not resolved within a further 14 days. After this limit has passed I will be either contacting the Financial Ombudsman to investigate my complaint or issuing court proceedings. Yours faithfully

I can't either - have a feeling it was only this year though. Think I saw it on FSA website.

Sounds like you need to get the PPI reclaim letter off - sooner the better. Start the "official" reclaim process and if they argue you can go to FSA or Court. If they have any sense though they'll just pay out, even if they just take it off any arrears. Have you got a reclaim letter? Jan

Snowing again ...

Thanks Caro. True about curry - and I have a feeling that place isn't cheap. We'll have to see what people want to do when it goes to the voting stage! Jan

Hiya Just send the letter as is because you were self-employed. Don't put figures in. See what the bank offer you and then post it up. The premiums you paid every month already included contractual interest. And yes, you ask for 8% on top, but it says that in your letter. You just need to cut & paste the letter into Word or similar, read it through and make sure it all applies to you (probably does) date it, address it etc and send it off recorded delivery. Then when you get a response, post again. They should be offering you all premiums paid (which include contractual interest) and then 8% on top. So, don't worry about the figures yet, let the bank work them out for you. Good luck Jan

Maybe we do need the title changing .... Indian looks OK if that's what people want to do. It won't be too far from Jurys (Great Bridgewater St) either which is where people seem to stay on these meets.

That is lovely - its a shame it can't be like that for everyone. Maybe people will learn though, its taken my friend years to realise she hates xmas and always did and its not worth the stress! Its not just xmas though, she has other problems too. Christmas just accentuates everything. Jan

I won't, I noticed the link had gone. It seems like a good advertising campaign though - would be a shame if Pepiwotsit got all the publicity. Jan

Did anyone join this campaign?? Cos the pic of the policeman baring his chest I just got will certainly grab attention ............ Jan

Here you go then: Dear Sir/Madam Re: Account / Policy number: 123456789 I have been looking at my agreement with you, reference above and have noted that I purchased Payment Protection Insurance from you. I am now of the belief that I was mis-sold this policy for the following reasons: 1. Employment Status: Due to being self employed when I took out the policy. 2. Responsibilities When Underwriting a Policy of Insurance: On each occasion, when the details of a loan were discussed your sales advisors failed to check my personal circumstances at the time of the sale, which they are under obligation to do when underwriting a Policy of Insurance. If they had done so, they would have realised that the PPI policies were useless to me. At no time was any attempt made to ascertain if the product provided was fit for purpose, suitable for my needs or if indeed it was required at all. 3. Alternative Insurance Cover: Your sales advisors in each case failed to ask me if I had any alternative arrangements for insurance cover. My employer has a generous illness package which would cover a period of sickness as follows: 6 months full pay followed by 6 months half pay. I would also be entitled to a generous redundancy package and a substantial payment would be made in the event of my death in service (more than suffice to clear the balance of the loan). 4. Failure to Supply Important Information with Regard to Significant Policy Exclusions: I was most definitely not informed that the PPI policies could contain certain exclusions which could affect me and my ability to claim on the policies if I should need to. Additionally I was never told that Pre Existing Medical Conditions could invalidate my policy and I was never asked if I had any Pre Existing Medical Conditions despite your advisors being aware I was in receipt of a War Disablement Pension. One element of this pension includes back injury which I know is an exclusion in PPI Policies. I also believe that I would also be excluded on at least one other existing condition. 5. Widespread PPI Mis-Selling:I am now aware of the widespread mis-selling of PPI by some financial institutions, following recent media coverage and recent OFT, FSA and Competition Commission investigations and inquiries regarding the mis-selling of PPI. I believe this is borne out by Point 3 above. I am also aware that the question of PPI cover is the subject of an ongoing inquiry by the Competition Commissioner 6. Wholly Inappropriate PPI Selling - Employee Bonuses: I understand that some employees are paid higher bonuses if they get prospective creditors to take out PPI with loans. How can the best interests of the customer possibly be met, if there is a clear conflict of interest between your responsibilities to me, and the drive of your employees to sell Payment Protection Insurance whether it is suitable or not in order to receive bonuses? 7. True Nature of Single Premium PPI Not Explained: No explanation was forthcoming from any advisor on any occasion on the full extent of single premium PPI policies or the fact that they would offer little or no refund if the loan was settled early or if the insurance was cancelled. The statements you have forwarded on accounts xxx and xxx, show no element of any refund of PPI or PPI interest when the accounts were refinanced or settled. There was also no explanation that the cost of the PPI premium would be added to the total cost of credit and interest added for the full term of the agreement. I believe this practice is unlawful. 8. Unfair attachment of PPI with no competition involvement: I now believe that the single premium PPI policies attached to the loan accounts were both extremely unfair and totally unreasonable and offered me very little, if any protection value whatsoever. Furthermore I believe in light of the preliminary finding by the Competition Commission that the PPI was unfairly attached as there was no opportunity for me to seek competitive Insurance. I am therefore requesting a full refund of all costs including all single PPI premiums that have been paid, the interest added to these premiums and the PPI proportion of the direct debit payments, that I have paid over the life of the account agreement. What I expect from you is justification that the policy was suitable for me based on my circumstances and an explanation as to how your suitability criteria works. If you cannot justify this to my satisfaction I request a full refund of all premiums paid to date as well as interest on these payments. Furthermore as I believe I have been unlawfully deprived of this money, I also expect the repayment of the interest at the Statutory Interest rate of 8% to be applied to of each of the single premiums and the PPI proportion of the direct debit payments. In respect of cancellation of a policy may I draw your attention to the following reports from the FSA, namely, 'The sale of payment protection insurance - results of thematic work, November 2005' & 'The Sale of Payment Protection Insurance - results of follow-up thematic work, October 2006'' that state "When consumers cancel the PPI without repaying the loan, some firms will need to reissue the loan without the PPI. Firms should ensure they treat their customers fairly in relation to the terms on which they reissue the loan.". This means that any new loan is on the same or better terms and does not detriment me in any way and that this is to be done without making a new search on my credit file. I expect a swift response to this letter within 14 days, containing either your full justification or notice that you will be refunding these payments. If I do not receive a satisfactory response I will issue another letter notifying you of my intention to take further action if the matter is not resolved within a further 14 days. After this limit has passed I will be either contacting the Financial Ombudsman to investigate my complaint or issuing court proceedings. Yours faithfully

As far as I know you can claim it back but AA will probably come on and confirm later. He might know more about Goldfish/Lloyds. My claim was with a different bank. You got a reclaim letter? If not I can post one which is a good starting point. It has AA's para's in it but no figures. Just see what bank comes back with. Should be premiums paid (which should also include contractual interest paid) plus 8%. Jan

Yes, pretty sure you can still claim it back. You got account nos?