thanks Andy

Well, interesting development - when the Solicitors submitted the case again back in Sept 2022 they entered it for an 'expedite'. This was actually accepted by the LR people so initiates a guaranteed processing time of 10 days, apparently. This was, of course, far exceeded, so a snotty letter has been sent reminding them of what they are committed to and the case has now been processed, done and dusted. We just got the good news

Hi all, (please move if not the right section for this) Summary: Current house was purchased in Sept 2020, but the change has not been filed with the Land Registry. As above, we moved into our current house in Sept 2020, and tabled a remortage to secure a better 5-year fixed rate for 18-months after, when we saw how the economy was going. The money for this was secured (booked) 3-4 months ago and will expire early Jan 2023 if we don't progress the option. The paper work has all been filed over the last couple of months to progress this, but we have come up against a snag - the Land Registry does not show we are the current owners, but the propertty IS registered - so the mortgage company have put things on hold. It appears the paperwork was never submitted to the LR by our Solicitors we used to carry out the conveyancing of the sale of the house. We have approached them (the Solicitors) to correct, and they have admitted this is the case (something to do with a person leaving bla bla), but that the documents were '...originally submitted in 2020 but were incorrect, resulting in pushback from the LR that wasn't answered for 2 years...', and that they will resubmit for us. Sounds like Bull to be honest. Today, having contacted the Land Registry directly they have confirmed that they cannot see a submission from 2020, but can see one from Sept 2022... which is just sitting in the queue. Timeline for processing is around 6 months at the moment. We will see if we can push this independently, but we have no way of knowing if this has been submitted 'correctly'. Clearly, we are worried that: a) our immediate financial outlay will substantially increase (roughly £800 a month to give you an idea) if this does not go through prudently. b) we may lose the fixed rate we secured, and be subject to the current market conditions, leading to a long-term increase in financial outlay. We physically have the deeds - I believe the originals - as property established in 1955 upon creation of a new road in Richmond Upon Thames. So, what I would like advice on is: 1. what should our next steps be..? Clearly, the most hopeful course of action would be for the ex-solicitors to have submitted the change correctly and the application go through cleanly (property is already registered), leading to use being able to complete the remortgage shortly. But if not..? How do we keep the pressure on..? 2. do we have any financial recourse due to the Solicitor's apparently ineptitude, for either the potential increase in outlay, or the emotional stress, or the time wasted on our behalf etc ..? 3. can me make the Solicitors hurt long term in any way - Ombudsmen etc... so that then get the message to be better in the future...? I am aware that Solicitors operate in a highly technical regulated environment, so this kind of administrative sloppiness should not go un-noticed. Both of us are successful career professionals in our respective fields of operation, and expect to get what we pay for - 100%. We have never tolerated professional incompetence. If there is the opportunity, at what point should we do this ^^ - obviously trying not to impact (1) 4. Are there any documents that we can present in lieu of the Land Register to the remortgage company that they should 'accept' as satisfactory proof of ownership. Thanks in advance. Sure I've missed some vital piece of info, so just ask if anything needs clarification. Rich

Hi all, firstly I'm posting on behalf of my step son & GF, as they are unsure of how to respond to/progress with their currently situation. Background BF / GF living with GF's parents. GF becomes pregnant. Both 'kicked out' - asked to find alternative accommodation. Accepted as 'Homeless' by the Local Authority, and that they have a 'priority need'. Currently in emergency Council-owned accommodation (pretty decent actually) in the centre of town. GF doesn't drive, BF has small mbike only. BF employed locally. GF was in college locally before pregnancy but now not. They have made applications to the Local Authority allocation scheme for housing, placed an interest bid on a property they were matched with, within the local area. Upon visiting, found it in poor condition, at the far end of a maze-type newish estate, and around 1.5 miles outside of the town centre. Please see attached the Local Authority letter, informing them that if they reject this property then the Council will discharge their obligation to house them. Since this letter has been received there has been a significant change of circumstances - BIRTH. GF has giving birth at 27 weeks ! A lovely baby girl, who is doing really well - as is mum GF & daughter are in a NICU approx 90 mins away from home town and will be for a substantial length of time. Clearly there will be a significantly increased requirement for local hospital interaction in the short term. Issue: BF & GF want to reject the visited property, but are worried the Council will them wash its hands of their housing requirement. Their reasoning is mainly that the location will leave GF isolated from amenities and her support network. Clearly the latter is now more important than it was at the start of the application, due to the significant change in circumstances. So, how do they proceed...? I'm presuming they should write to the Housing Advice and Homeless Manager specified on the attached letter, but what should they say..? Is there something standard available, or should they just blurt it all out and hope for the best..? Can the Local Authority really remove them from their care following such a change in circumstances....? Look forward to your comments... CLST1 2018-06-05.pdf

OK I appreciate I'm quite late to the event, but I had opportunity to dig out all my old credit card statements yesterday, and it set me thinking about PPI. I cannot honestly remember EVER being sold PPI, and I'm pretty sure I would have turned it down if it was offered. I can't see any reference to PPI on any of my statements - no 2nd charges, no 2nd interest statements etc. How else would I know if I have it...? Yes I appreciate this may be a totally stupid question haha. Do I have to put in what may be a speculative claim anyway...? Cheers for your kind assistance. R.

Just dug out the original paperwork from the loft. My error - the job cost twice as much as I was thinking, as I had some extra work done on top. So the 3 payments were 50% deposit, final payment, and then and extra final payment in error, which was refunded. Cheers for the assistance and sorry for wasting your time.

It's just over 2 grand from memory..... Personally, I can't believe I didn't notice it at the time !!! Looking at the statements there were shed loads of transactions though - I was putting between 4 & 10 grand on the credit card every month - and the multiple charging covered 2 statements periods (just).

10 years ago I upgraded my kitchen, and purchased some granite work surfaces. Due to other issues I was going through my credit card statements back from 2004 and noticed the transaction as it was substantial. I had forgotten about it but I noticed they had taken the payment out 3 times, which rang certain memory bells in my head ! I checked through more statement, saw a refund once, but not twice !!! It's all there in the statements obviously, can't be argued with So, as the company is still trading, although it's a franchise model, and I'm fairly sure I was dealing with them before franchises became prolific, do I have any legal standing to recover monies...? Is the burden of proof on me to show without a doubt that they didn't refund a 2nd time, or is the burden of proof on them to show they did...? Cheers Rich.

Did some calcs from my statements and on one of the cards they had over £300k going through the account over the last 10 years.

Plead to MBNA not to default and sell on the account, but rather give me 6 months for my situation to improve so that I can start making amends.

Thanks all. Do you still think it's worth trying to get a £1 agreement...? Can it hurt in any way...? Is there anything I SHOULDN'T say in my pleading letter....?

Will look up CCA. You mean for the original signed agreements IIRC...?

Never seen any on any statements, so not pursued it. Digging them out later anyway, so will double check.

Additions: I will dig out all my old bills and calculate exactly how much money has gone though MBNA on these 2 accounts, and throw that in to the pleading letter. At one time I was putting 3-4K a month n these and paying it off every month. Should I mention the orgins of these accounts do you think...? One was a N&P building society card, that I got because it was the first to offer a photocard option. I am unsure how many companies it went though before it got to MBNA but I'm sure Abbey National was involved somewhere. The other was a Homebase credit card they used to give vouchers depending on spend levels. This was sold to MBNA at some point along the line. Do you think they will actually have the original signed agreements....? Does it make a difference if they don't...?

Hi, hope this is in the right place It is with some sadness that I feel the need to post here. I don't like debt (who does!) but circumstances over the last year have come to a point where my credit card debts have built so that I have been unable to cover the minimum. ...and I now am in desparate need of help before things get really serious. So, details: MBNA 1: £19k owing - no payments for 5 or 6 months MBNA 2: £5k owing - no payments for 4 or 5 months A few months ago after being hounded with phone calls I did a family budget statement for them, along with a request to suspend charges, and they responded by actually freezing the charges. They also concluded that I could not afford a formal payment plan. As I have been unable to secure significant employment we moved out of our previous rented property to find cheaper accomodation, so I am currently looking closer to home for employment. I hope to secure this over the next 3 months, and then want to attempt to replay some of this debt, rather than going bankrupt. Notice: "to remedy your breach we must receive payment of £2,800 (ish) by 20th Dec 2014. If the action required by this notice is take before the date shown no further enforcement action will be taken in respect of this breach. If you do not take the action required by this notice before the date shown then the further action set out below may be taken against you. On or after the date shown, your account will be closed, your credit agreement terminated and we may sell your debt to a third party company which may decide to bring court proceedings to recover the amount owed by you under the agreement. If we terminate the agreement your full balance will become payable immediately" I am unable to pay this, as all finances MUST be diverted to rent/council tax etc. So, what to do...? My first instinct is do offer a £1 per month agreement via a pleading letter, indicating that I want to repay this when my circumstances improve - say in 6 months time. Surely it has to be in the best interests of both parties not to escalate this right...? I must have run well over £150k through them since having these cards, so they must think twice about it hopefully. I'm going to give them a new budget planner statement for the new address too, as they don't know about that yet. 'll respond to them tomorrow via their digital portal as time is short ! Am I on the right track...? Please help !! Cheers

Cheers for the links. Assuming this is a correct overpayment calculation, and a notification was sent out at the time all good and proper, any ideas why something this substantial would suddently pop out of the woodwork like this after this many years...? (bearing in mind there is already an active overpayment being recovered via her benefits) Just been throught the cycle of HMRC numbers again, starting with 0345 300 3900 which requires you to state what you are calling about. Stating "benefit overpayment" refers you to an automated announcement, mentioning leaflet WTC8 and referring you to a " Tax Credit Payment Helpline" if you require to discuss or dispute, - 0845 302 1429. 0845 302 1429 is automated. Hitting option 3 to 'discuss or dispute' informs you that you can't do that from this number, and refers you back to 0345 300 3900. Most unhelpful. Complaint in the offing I think regardless.

Cheers Brigadier. I suspected as much unfortunately. This was my first thought, and if it had been from 2 or 3 years past I would just be telling her to pay it without question. However, due to the following, we are not inclined to pay it without more justification: 1. she has had every kind of error on her tax statements that you can possibly think of, therefore HMRC have a significant track record of information correction with her; 2. she already is having an overpayment recovered, therefore why should one from 7 yrs ago suddenly 'reappear'; 3. her partner from back then has just received the same demand and also knows nothing about it; 4. nothing has changed recently to prompt a recalculation going back that far. Ta, good background info. We initially spoke with someone on the payment line, as this was the contact number on the threatening letter...but as you say, all they could do was take payment. She gave us the 0345 300 3900 number as put us through (which was nice). This was automated, and gave us no option to speak with someone. We ended up repeatedly being refered to leaflet WTC8, and to another helpline that was equally automated. We tried this twice, on speaker, with me listenting. I am good at helplines and in the telecoms industry - tolerant and persistent - even I gave up frustrated. My interactions with HMRC about my personal tax have always been positive. Could you point me in the right direction to do this please, as all I have seen so far is an option to send a letter to a Preston address in WTC8. "Non-human" in this case refers to an automated announcement, or interactive servce, where there is 0% interaction with a human being. No staff were harmed during the writing of this post Cheers all Rich

Hi, hope someone can advise on the best course of action, because so far, we have got nowhere with the HMRC telephone numbers, having been doing laps round departments as one refers back to the previous....but no one can help, except to take payment obviously. The situation My other half of 3 years, received a letter from the HMRC dated 22nd April 2014, stating that she had an outstanding debt of £750.23. According to the very brief detail on the back this was due to an overpayment of Working Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit dating from May 2007. This is the absolute FIRST she has heard about it. Her other half from then has also received a letter. They have been in contact and he knows nothing of it either. He has also heard nothing from them prevously. The letter she has received is quite threatening, quoting the usual 'contact us and make payment in full or we'll refer you to a DCA' etc. I'll see if I can upload it after I've written this post. ********************** My inital research, consisting mainly of browsing the HMRC webbie and looking at some of the webpages that the auto-announcements make on the HMRC telephone number eg WTC8, make me concerned that there is no way of challenging this. This, got me particularly worried: You can only dispute recovery of an overpayment that happened in the tax year the notice or letter relates to. You will not normally be able to dispute overpayments from earlier tax years. Quite how we're supposed to dispute a debt from 2007, IN 2007 when we were only informed about it in 2014 is beyond me !! So far we have called the initial number of 0300 200 3881, and spoke to a human. All she could do was take payment...but did restate the DCA threat. She referred us to 0345 300 3900 when we requested a breakdown and some justification. This is all automatic menus, and refer to the leaflet WTC8 for an explanation.. .and the leaflet refers back to the telephone number if you want to challenge. The last announcement also refers to 0845 302 1429, that was also unhelpful and not staffed by humans. No possibility for any further information - just a payment service. So I gues all we can do is write a letter. Old school. ******************* Any advice, or templates about...? Can I send the usual DCA warning letter withdrawing any rights to enter my property...? We DO NOT acknowedge this debt, and this is the first contact about it, so is it covered by the 6 year rule...? Thanks for your help in advance. Rich I've posted in the HMRC section, but thought I would post here too to see whether the same Statute Barred rule applies. Full thread in Work,social & community/Benefits & HMRC / HMRC Summary £750 debt letter popped on the doorstep last week, relating to alleged Child/Working tax credit overpayment from MAY 2007. This is the first time my other half has been contacted about it, and the first time she has been made aware that there was a debt. Obviously she disputes it is owing, but the HMRC are being decidedly unhelpful. Is it technically Statute Barred...? You guys have been so helpful in the past (about Motormile & others) I just wondered if you had any other advice...? Rich Addition. My other half ALREADY has small deductions for an overpayment from last year via her tax credits...implying that HMRC is on top of her benefit situation. Quite why this debt has now popped out from 2007 implies a significant change in something. I just wish HMRC would talk to us about it.

Roger roger. Wilco.

Update: obviously heard nothing in response to my letter. But, my other half has just had one for the same amount, from bpo collections. Letter says: "with effect from 18th September 2012 BCW Group Ltd sold the aforementioned account to Motormile Finance UK Ltd. BPO Collections has been instructed to contact you etc etc." Obviously this is all crap, as the text is more-or-less identical to the previous letter...just with BPO substuituted for Transcom. See post #1. Kindly though the letter has been 'signed' by Graham Rankin, Managing Director...so I shall send exactly the same letter as before directly to him.

I am sending a hybrid. Decided not to sign it or to reveal that surname has changed so only used Christian name. Sarah Hayward Head of Collection Transcom Worldwide (UK) Ltd Limewood House Limewood Way Leeds LS14 1AB TWW ref: xxxxxxx, Client Ref: Bxxxxxxxx Dear Ms Hayward, I refer to your letter dated 19th February 2013 in which you allegethat I owe a debt for £xxxx originally for an account with Motormile Finance UK ltd. Please note I do not acknowledge any debt to TWW (UK) Ltd or any company you may claim to represent. As I am very much aware of my credit history I have concluded that this isalleged debt is Statute Barred and I will not therefore make any payment, or offer of payment, in regard to the alleged debt. I am fully aware of the OFT Guidance 2003 updated November 2012 and thesections regarding statute barred debt, and would remind you that if you contest my statement, the onus of proof that the alleged debt is not statute barred, lies entirely with TWW (UK) Ltd and/or the original credit agency, and they must provide unequivocal proof of any such claim. I would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance, that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable and in not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt,that you are using deceptive and unfair methods. Furthermore ignoring and disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical & psychological harassment. I would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my liability for the debt in question, and await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to Trading Standards and also inform the Office of Fair Trading of your actions. Please also be advised that I will only communicate with you in writing, which is my right. Should it be your intention to arrange a “doorstep call” as is threatened in your letter, please be advised that under OFT rules you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment withyou. Furthermore, there is only an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & ShortLtd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.). Therefore take note that I revoke this license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me atmy property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action will be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance. Yours sincerely xxxxxxxxx (UNSIGNED ON LEGAL ADVICE)

Probably fair, but too late to be debating that fact now. I still believe it's phishing and it's not impacting our lives in the slightest. Personally I'd love an DCA to turn up on the doorstep

We received a follow-up more 'formal' payment require-type letter in Feb, and once again it was ignored, as out credit record shows no sign of any unpaid debt. Our conclusion is still that any outstanding debt that exists (if at all) is statute barred, and that these letters are a phishing exercise. Just debating whether to send the letter in post #5 of this thread to for completeness. Rich

Ok so a standard 'prove it' letter will not count as written acknowledgment then....? Well my other half doesn't recognise any of the company names listed, but the only name she thinks she remembers from her past is 'Provident'....which from searching a few days ago may have some connection to the company listed on the letter simply as 'Greenwood'. Obviously this could be a dfferent Greenwood ! Next stage: 1) investigate her credit report 2) fire off 'prove it' letter after confirmation that it won't count towards the 6 year rule.

So it looks like my other half has received a fairly standard Transcom letter on behalf of Motormile. My instinct was to fire off a 'prove it' letter, but I'd just thought I'd ask you guys 'n' girls your opinion in case different actions may be better. Anyway, here's a synopsis of the letter: re: Motormile Finance UK Ltd A/C No: xxxxxxxxx Quote ref: xxxxxxx Amount due: £xxxx.xx Banner: RECEIPT OF PAYMENT Dear Miss (old married name) With effect from 18th September 2012, BCW Group Ltd sold the above detailed account to our client Motormile Finance UK Ltd [MMF]. We have been instructed by Motormile Finance UK Ltd to collect the outstanding balance. The balance outstanding under the agreement is £xxxx.xx. It will now be reported to and recorded by the credit reference agencies as a debt which is outstanding to Motormile and not as a debt which is outstanding to Greenwood. Motormile Finance has appointed Transcom Worldwide UK Ltd to administer you account on their behalf. You should now make payments under the agreement by calling us on 0844 7422064. Our client will accept a suitable repayment plan, if you are experiencing financial difficulties please contact us immediately for assistance. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the ownership or administration of your credit agreement, please contact us, as above. Your sincerely Generic Squiggle So, I gave the other half a good grilling after doing some research on what this alleged debt might be, as she has had some outstanding bills when I met her. She remembered that she had had a 'payday' type loan a few years back when she lived somewere else (a few houses back), but not with any of the companies listed in the letter. This was a weekly doorstep type collection loan, and she informed the agent in writing when she moved. She thinks she had paid it off but can't be 100%sure, and won't have any paperwork. The timescale is around 2005-2006, and as far as she can remember the last contact she had was around Christmas 2006. Questions: 1) as the timescale is around the 6 year mark I am hesitant to fire off a 'prove it' letter... but rather hang out for a couple of months just to get some clear air. Good idea....? 2) what exactly defines the 6 year period....? Would a standard 'prove it' letter and the ensuing communications, using the wording available on this site, restart the 6 year period (if liability was not admited obviously)...? 3) if a debt really has previously been reported to the CRAs (as Greenwood), she wouldn't have been able to get a credit card recently would she...? Cheers for the assistance people Rich