I sent them a very strongly worded letter, giving them the reference I had been given by the Financial Ombudsman and threatenting to take them to court, talk to the media etc etc if I did not get a resolution within 7 days. And I complained in similar terms via their website. I also checked my phone records and sent them details of every call I had made showing date, time, duration and number called. On day five of the 7-day deadline I had a call from a Complaint Executive who apologised profusely and said that it was all their fault blah blah. She suggested re-instating the policy. No good as we'd taken out cover elsewhere. (I said I thought that it was illegal to have two sets of insurance for the same vehicle and she said it wouldn't matter for a short time???). So she offered a refund of approx £34 and suggested rounding-it up to £50 as a gesture of goodwill. We negotiated. I got the offer increased to £34 + £50 goodwill. She then insisted she had to refund the debit card I had used to pay the premium due to "anti-money laundering". What the heck has this got to do with money laundering I said, you cancelled the insurance... she insisted she had to refund the card. I suggested that I'd be happy to go back to the Financial Ombudsman (I understand raising a complaint costs these firms money) and suddenly she decided she could send a cheque after all. Today I received said cheque, it had been sent to the old address (how predictable) - thankfully I have a re-direct with the Post Office. What she did say was that the agents had not followed company guidelines and the matter would be taken up with their managers. She was also extremely anxious about the company's reputation. Hope this helps. bb

We took out car insurance with Admiral in April 2010 and paid the whole year up front. At the time we lived on a busy road and had to park on the road. In January we moved house. We notified Admiral that we had moved to a safer area and that the car was now parked on a driveway, behind a security gate. Thanks they said, we'll charge you approx £15 for updating our records and about £15.00 for the less secure parking and worse area...Hang on a sec we said, it’s a safer area, look at the police data base and we're now parked off road. Admiral wouldn’t budge. We then received a letter saying they wanted the [approx] £30 immediately. We telephoned and asked for a bit of time to pay as we were strapped for cash. No worries they said. Before the payment date we rang again and asked for a bit more time. Again they said no worries, we'll put an "indefinite suspension" on the time to pay. Today (4th March) we receive two letters from Admiral. Both are dated 25th February. Slightly different wording in each but both inform us that they have already cancelled the insurance as of 15th February ... so we have unwittingly been driving around uninsured for nearly 3 weeks. And, to add insult to injury, they want £16.00 from us for the privilege of having our insurance cancelled /for our having been driving about uninsured /for them stealing two months premiums from us... We telephoned Admiral, explained what had happened, and their reply was along the lines of "too bad, not bothered, your insurance is cancelled." We are, to put it mildly, absolutely livid! We’ve reported this to the Financial Ombudsman. They’ve given us a reference number and are writing to Admiral. The FO seemed to agree that this was shocking because (1) Admiral had told us they had put an "indefinite suspension" on the payment (2) they wrote to us after cancelling the insurance, leaving us uninsured for around 3 weeks (3) they want money to cancel the insurance they had specifically told us they would not cancel... Apparently we have to allow 8 weeks for Admiral to get back to us. Then we can ask the FO to investigate. Meanwhile, we have been relieved of around 2 months insurance, are expected to pay around £45.00 in "charges" and have had our insurance cancelled (which will presumably have a knock-on effect on future insurance). We have taken out insurance with another company but feel we have been totally misled / defrauded (two months premiums gone to waste) / libelled (they'll probably notify their database they cancelled our insurance / ripped-off - "charges" etc We are thinking of pursuing them through the courts for damages etc. Anyone else had this sort of trouble with their insurers?

But when I telephoned Nationwide and asked them to release the funds - I had the receipt which clearly stated "authoriser declined" and "authorisation declined" - the Nationwide told me there was nothing they could do except wait for HSBC (the train company's bank) to drop the payment request. Nationwide say they authorised the payment and that it's HSBC that's fault as they declined to accept the offered payment... the train company say they would not refuse to accept a payment... If HSBC refused to accept the payment how are they able to get the money put to one side? If the Nationwide agreed to make the payment why do I have a receipt that (a) says "authoriser declined" / "authorisation declined" and (b) has no authorisation code?

I tried opening a basic account with them but wasn't able to because they couldn't agree my date of birth with Equifax ... I'm not that bothered as I have basic accounts elsewhere but was a bit bemused... and it was a bore waiting for hours to try to open the account. OH was successful opening a basic account and got a debit card there and then. The main problem with them is that they are not clearers - everything goes through Barclays - so if you get a transfer or pay in a cheque it takes an age to credit the account.

The Nationwide have refused to allow cash withdrawals of under £100 for some time now. The good news is that you can withdraw any amount you want (provided you have the funds available) from a Post Office. The other good news is that at the Post Office it doesn't have to be in £10 multiples so if you want, say, £3.24 you can get it. The bad news is that you can only use the Post Office when it is open ie not evenings/nights/most of the weekend... I hope that using the Post Office to withdraw cash provides them (the Post Office) with a bit of income from the gready vultures at Nationwide.

I have a basic account with a debit card at Nationwide. The other day I tried to use the card to buy a train ticket. I put the card in the terminal, entered the PIN etc but the transaction was refused. I had enough in the account to cover the cost of the ticket. Now, and here's my question-- according to the Nationwide they authorised the payment but, also according to Nationwide, the train company's bank refused to accept the payment... I have looked at the receipt, it has no authorisation code on it (whereas all other transactions that have gone through OK have authorisation codes). The Nationwide is saying it's not their fault. The train company is saying it's not their fault. Meanwhile my money (the cost of the ticket) was "blocked" for several days because Nationwide had earmarked it for the payment even though the train company's bank had declined to accept it... I know it sounds bizarre but there's nought stranger than the truth! I have complained to both sides - and both have told me it's not their fault! Anyone heard of this before?

May I barge in and ask for clarification? From what you have said A (person) is being pursued for a debt which is 12 years old and which they haven't communicated about for more than six years. A has been left money through a trust fund but the trustees of the trust fund are refusing to release monies to A because of this alleged debt. Have I understood correctly? The Limitation Act is complicated. Whilst many things are statute barred after six years there are exceptions such as fraud and breach of trust.

I would do the same but, unfortunately, sometimes BT decides that someone who we're been enjoying a happy correspondence with is spam and the only way to get a message out of spam and into your mailbox is by going to the BT Yahoo! site. I have tried to get in touch with BT about this but can't find any way of contacting them about it - apart from "feedback". I've also tried Yahoo! but that just offers me AT&T and other American stuff... I feel like I am bashing my head against a brick wall!

No, cookies are not being blocked.

When I open Bt Yahoo! it suggests three names, each in a little box. Each time I click on the cross on the top right hand corner of each box. The boxes are then cleared from the screen. The next time I go on I get the same thing, sometimes suggesting people who I've already said no to (as above procedure).

Thanks for this buzby but sadly it doesn't seem to work like that - they keep on offering me the same old people that I've already said no to!

The actual petition says: "I request that the Government scraps any plans to add 50p a month tax to phone lines to subsidise further broadband roll out. It is wholly unfair to tax my phone line to pay for someone else's broadband, and it is as simple as that. It is recognised that rural areas do suffer a slower connection and higher costs, but they have fantastic views, clean air and a safer environment - its a choice people have to live in the country - and a decision they take. Please see sense, and stop this poll tax - broadband is not a vital service." I assume this city-dweller thinks than people living in the country haven't subsidised his/her fibre optic cable... and quite a few people live in isolated rural areas because that's the only place they can afford to live...as for broadband not being vital - it is possibly even more useful in the country than in the city.

Our ISP is BT. Generally we use Outlook to send, read, store our emails but we have to use BT Yahoo! Mail to check for spam etc. When we open BT Yahoo! there is a new(ish) application which offers to "connect" us with friends and family and it seems to get the names from our Outlook address book. The thing is whilst our address book contains friends, family and business some of the addresses are for people/businesses we would not want to be "friends" with and as it doesn't seem to discriminate when it offers to unite us with the people in our address book it is probably also offering our names as potential friends to, say, our landlord, ebay billing or the other side's lawyer in a court action etc. We are in touch with the people we want to be in touch with... I've looked everywhere on the BT Yahoo! site / help pages but can't find any information about turning this app off / removing it 1. Does anyone know how to turn this app off? 2. Does anyone know how to stop our names being suggested to everyone in our address book?

Here is a print out from the government's page on TDS Tenancy Deposit : Directgov How does it work? Start of a new tenancy At the beginning of a new tenancy agreement, pay your deposit to your landlord or agent as usual. Within 14 days Within 14 days, the landlord or agent is required to give you details about how your deposit is protected including: the contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme the contact details of the landlord or agent how to apply for the release of the deposit information explaining the purpose of the deposit what to do if there is a dispute about the deposit If you don’t get this information, ask your landlord or agent the simple question – ‘how is my deposit protected?’ You have a responsibility to return the property in the same condition that it was let to you, allowing for fair wear and tear. More information on the type of schemes available What if your landlord isn’t protecting your deposit? You can apply to your local county court. The court can order the landlord or agent to either repay the deposit to you or protect it in a scheme. If your landlord or agent has not protected your deposit, they will be ordered to repay three times the amount of the deposit to you. More on resolving disputes Moving Out At the end of the tenancy, check whether you are leaving the property and its contents in the condition in which it was let to you - allowing for fair wear and tear- and check that you have paid your rent and any other expenses. Then agree with your landlord or agent how much of the deposit should be returned to you. Within 10 days – you should have received the agreed amount of the deposit. Your LL is in breach of the TDS because he has not given you the required information within 14 days. Here is a further estract from the site Tenants: Tenancy deposit scheme : Directgov - Tenancy Deposit What if your landlord isn’t protecting your deposit? You can apply to your local county court. The court can order the landlord or agent to either repay the deposit to you or protect it in a scheme. If your landlord or agent has not protected your deposit, they will be ordered to repay three times the amount of the deposit to you. My advice in my earlier posts remains. Get in touch with the OR.

Many thanks BRW. I've filed the EX105 today together with a letter saying we can't provide the transcript unless it's paid for at the public expense and asking that the date it has to be filed at Court to be put back pending the decision of the judge re the EX105...All a bit chicken and egg... The court tell me it's very hard to get this paid for but it seems somewhat unfair if an appeal can't be heard because the appellant can't afford the transcript... Fingers crossed that we get it paid for.

Glad to know you haven't been duped - good luck with your search! bb

The Appeal was filed a couple of weeks ago. The appeal judge has ordered that we get the transcript...

danielr - I think it's highly unlikely that a Trustee in Bankruptcy (TiB) will have been appointed so soon into the bankruptcy. But even if a TiB has been appointed the first port of call is the Official Receiver as they will know who the TiB is. It is possible that the tenancy is safe but it may not be. For example if:- * the property is mortgaged but the mortgage isn't being paid * the mortgage doesn't permit sub-letting and those are just two reasons why it may not be safe (but that immediately spring to mind). If the bankrupt did anything shortly before the bankruptcy - transfer of property, sale of assets for a low price etc - it can be voided and that is why it would be helpful if the OP could answer the questions raised in my earlier post. If we don't know a bit more about this we're unlikely to be able to give good advice.

It would be very unusual to rent a property and have all the utility bills paid but then again maybe it's been divided out from the main property and the landlord hasn't installed new meters for the rental part? Or is it a room within a larger property? Personally I'd be wary of this type of arrangement because it would probably mean I'd have no control over when the property was heated and the temperature it was heated to, ditto hot water. Deposits are required to pay for damage to property when the tenancy ends. I think you landlord is probably asking for a normal deposit but you should check with him that this is the case. You need to ask the landlord how much deposit he wants and you need to know that it is being paid into a Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). You can find out about this on Tenancy Deposit : Directgov I would ask the Landlord to give you a copy of the lease so that you can have a good look at it. Ask the landlord if he's had previous tenants. Did he have any problems with them? Why did they leave? Search the landlord on the internet and see if anything comes up about him. It may be that when you look deeper it's just too good to be true - in which case walk away... Good luck!

Is an estate /letting agent involved? If so they may be passing your rent to the OR. If you're paying rent directly to the Landlord then you need to get in touch with the OR to find out the position. TO find out who the OR is - go to The London Gazette London Gazette Home Page and type in your landlord's name. The details of his bankruptcy should come up together with the details of the Official Receiver appointed (there are also Edinburgh and Belfast editions of the Gazette). If the bankrupt hasn't declared this property to the OR then he will be in trouble if it belongs to him - but it is possible that the bankrupt's spouse / partner owns the property in which case it's nothing to do with the OR. If I were you I'd get in touch with the OR immediately and make sure that the OR is aware that you are renting the property and make sure that you are paying the rent to the correct person. You should also check that your deposit has been lodged with a Tenany Deposit Scheme, you should have received notification from your landlord that this has been done, who with and a reference number. With that information you can check that your deposit is secure. Keep us in the picture and let us know if you need any more help. bb

I am appealing a county court judgment and have just received an Order that says I must supply a transcript of the hearing under appeal by 8th January. I have telephoned the Court that ordered the transcript and have been told to fill out an EX105 “request that the cost of transcripts be paid at public expense”. I will file it tomorrow (Friday 17th December). This application will then have to be considered by a judge. The Court is shutting on the evening of 23rd December and does not re-open until 4th January. * It is quite possible that the EX105 application will not be considered before the Christmas break. * In the unlikely event that EX105 is considered before Christmas the resulting Order may not be sent out until after the break. * In the unlikely event that the Order is sent out before Christmas the transcription services will probably be closed. It seems to me highly unlikely that I will know if I can even get the transcript at the public expense by 8th January, let alone the actual transcript. What do you do if you cannot comply with the date given on an Order? Particularly bearing in mind that the delay is due to the Court having to make a ruling?

There is no sheet saying what condition it was in. I have no photos taken that day and I totally understand why people would take their camcorder to the garage... another lesson learned I suppose. We're going to drop in on the garage tomorrow for another go but OH reckons we must try not to fall out with them as they, and their neighbour, have been reliable and cheap to date... I can follow the logic but don't agree with it!

Good morning. Our car is 6 years old. When we bought it it was immaculate but during the time we have had it we have had two small accidents which we have not repaired as we did not want to claim on our insurance and did not want to be without a car during the repairs. The accidents caused - dent and scratching of wheel arch - small dents in both offside doors A few weeks ago someone reversed into the rear of our car whilst it was parked. We saw it happen, they accepted liability etc. We sent two quotes to their insurers and one was accepted. Our car was in the garage for 5 days having the work done to the rear and, at our expense, the wheel arch was sorted. The dents on the doors are small but as we couldn't afford to get everything fixed. I have photos of the car showing those dents (barely visible). When we were approaching the garage to collect the car we saw the repair man talking to his neighbour (also a garage repair) and looking at the off side of our car. The long and the short of it is the car has been damaged again on the two offside doors, but this time deep dents and a scratch right through the paintwork. We pointed this out to the garage and they denied responsibility, saying the car had come in with this dent/scratch. This simply is not true. Should we go to the insurers and tell them that the car has been damaged? Should we "have it out" with the garage? What can we do?

Huh, sounds similar to my treatment from HSBC. I have an agreed o/d but have gone slightly over. HSBC wrote to me in July and I wrote back saying I'd pay £100 pm. They ignored my letter and passed it to a DCA. The DCA wrote saying you have to pay in full and you have to pay NOW. I wrote to HSBC again and asked why they had ignored my letter offering to pay £100. This time they wrote back and said the offer wasn't acceptable and that I had to deal with the DCA. The DCA then wrote to say it' been trying to verify that I live where I say and that it's been trying to obtain my telephone number and are very upset that my phone number is ex-directory! Personally I'm going to persevere and keep writing to HSBC, next time I'll mention the outrageous charges... and I'm not about to telephone the DCA and give them my phone number

Can we have a section to report misbehaviour by civil courts and court staff? It seems to OH and me that dishonestly is rife in our civil courts. We've talked to other people - lay and professional - and they have all had bad experiences: some legal professionals have openly admitted to knowing this happens. I think it would be interesting to compile a list of offenders.