I would say that you'll be perfectly okay. The issue they had with me is that I was volunteering for a company - NOT a charity. The kind of skills that I'm gaining are not found in the normal line of volunteering positions, and because of this I think the DWP felt the work I was doing should have been a paid position. (Which is strange considering that it's okay for them to send me to Poundland and do someone else's job for free!) The main thing that the JobCentre is concerned about is that your volunteering won't hinder your search for work, be an obstacle in attending any interviews or make you uncontactable should they (or a prospective employer) want to get hold of you. As for whether you need to do any volunteer work, all I will say is that it's an ideal way to make your skills 'current' rather than from a previous job some time ago. You'll gain (or enhance and update) your communication and interpersonal skills, organisational skills, cash handling experience, team-working skills and it will boost your confidence and self-esteem. In addition, after a period of time, the shop manager would be able to act as a referee when applying for jobs. Personally, and despite my experience, I would strongly recommend volunteering as a means of making your skills more recent and relevant for today's job market. Well I've heard today that they've lifted my suspension and are okay with my volunteer work! I receive no expenses or free meals etc from the company I volunteer for, so I'm not in a position to comment about what happens if you do 16 hours and receive expenses.

Just one word of warning about volunteering! I am currently volunteering for 9 hours a week as a means to gain new skills and enhance others needed for a career change. The company (similar to a4e and Ingeus) have already provided me with some tuition, and have said they'll support me (work placement) when I do a short college course next year. Because the company is not a charity, my JSA has been suspended for the past 5 weeks while DWP determine if my volunteering is okay. They are obviously checking that I'm not depriving anyone of a paid job. Ironically, the volunteering position is in the list of organisations given to us at the volunteer centre recommended by the JobcentrePlus!

So I contacted them by phone for a 'as the 8 weeks is up, how are you progressing with my complaint' chat. Initially they queried my date - until I pointed out that I had signatory proof that they received my first letter on 4th June, therefore they DIDN'T have until the 14th August to settle, the deadline had passed! It transpires that the date of my SECOND letter had been entered as the start date, and not the date they received my first letter! Again, the guy was extremely polite about the whole matter. Anyway, this morning I received a letter to say that as "an impasse has been reached... I will close this account in full and final settlement of this matter..." Their main quibble is the 'default' date as they are sticking firmly with the date that Lloyds closed the account and issued the default notice. Although there was a final cash withdrawal on my part at the end of August 2006, they are insisting that as Direct Debits were bouncing in and out of the account I was therefore acknowledging the account as mine. (don't know if that's how it works or not, considering that DDs are automatic and not physical transactions or attempted transactions by me in person). So I guess it's a result of sorts - good to have it ended, just a shame I wasn't able to get any money back.

Thank-you. I will do just that!

Okay, their 8 weeks is up and although I've had a letter saying they're investigating my complaints, there has been no further communication. Do I give them a couple more days, contact them (I'm thinking a phone call) or just write to the OFT and FOS?

Received £3370 from LloydsTSB regarding a loan from 2002 - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?392459-About-to-claim-from-LloydsTSB

Just got back from a break to find a cheque for £3370 - which is about the right amount according to my figures. After my initial call I received a follow-up call to confirm some details and that was it!

"I trust that the Lowell Group will want to deal with this matter promptly and bring it to a satisfactory conclusion within 8 weeks from the receipt of this letter in order to prevent my having to take my grievance to both the OFT and the Financial Ombudsman Service for further consideration."

Well that was unexpected!!! For some reason it occured to me that TSB would want some kind of proof of ID in order to process my claim - as my current address is different to the address I had when I had the loan. rang the PPI number to see if I should send something like a copy of my passport or if I should maybe go into the local branch and get them to copy and send it internally. To my surprise the women took all of my details and I'm now in the system being processed. When I gave her the loan number, I jokingly mentioned that they probably haven't got the details as it was over 10 years ago, but she said, "No, we have all the information here." !!! My 8 week wait has begun.

Oh well, I'll let them have their 8 weeks then.

Good idea to add the 'I do not acknowledge' - just in case! What deadline would be appropriate? I want to put 10 days - because that's the timeline between Lowell Portfolio initially contacting me, to when the letter from Lowell Financial arrived telling me that Portfolio had passed it to the debt collection branch of the Lowell family! I'm sure that 10 days is just as reasonable before I take further action.....

Thanks very much. At the time, I had a mortgage and two other credit cards, none of which had PPI because I have recurring bouts of anxiety and depression and as its the only time I have off work, I knew they were pointless having. For me to have it on the TSB loan can only mean I was 'forced' - which I was. Wish me luck! ... and thank-you again!

Is this okay? I'd really appreciate a fresh pair of eyes (and brain) and viewpoint. Dear Sir/Madam Acc/Ref No *********** I have recently discovered that the debt associated with the above reference number, is actually statute barred. I would point out that under the Limitation Act 1980 Section 5 “an action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.” I would also point out that the OFT say under their Debt Collection Guidance on statute barred debt that “it is unfair to pursue the debt if the debtor has heard nothing from the creditor during the relevant limitation period”. The last payment to the original creditor of the above debt was made over six years ago and no further acknowledgement or payment was made during that time period. Unless you can provide evidence of payment or written contact from me in the relevant period (*****dates removed******) under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, I suggest that you are no longer able to take any court action against me to recover the amount associated with the above claim number. The OFT Debt Collection Guidance states further that “continuing to press for payment after a debtor has stated that they will not be paying a debt because it is statute barred could amount to harassment contrary to section 40 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970”. I await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed and that no further contact will be made in pursuing the above debt. In addition, I believe you have further breached the OFT Debt Collection Guidelines by “stating or implying that debtors may be the subject of court action for the sum of the statute barred debt when it is known, or reasonably ought to be known, that the relevant limitation period has expired” and “...seeking to recover the debt would effectively be relying on the debtor not knowing the relevant legal provisions.” In your letter of ****** you specifically said that “further action...including legal action” may be taken against me, and on the ****** you specifically said that the further action “may include Court action”. Furthermore, the OFT considers that “businesses pursuing debtors for the repayment of debts without taking reasonable steps to verify the accuracy and adequacy of relevant data” may constitute unfair or improper practices. Had the data been checked, it would reveal that the last payment contact (and therefore the true default date) with the creditor was on *******, and not on ***** which is the date that LloydsTSB provided you with. Finally, the OFT states that “Where businesses seek to recover a debt that they know, or reasonably ought to know, is extinguished, we would be very likely to consider this an unfair or improper practice which calls fitness to hold a consumer credit licence into question.” In summary, I believe that by not checking the accuracy of the information provided to you, and the subsequent disregard of the above OFT Debt Collection guidelines, you have, partly through reliance of my ignorance of the legal rights afforded me, deceived me into paying monies to you for which you had no legal basis to receive. I am therefore requesting that the amount of £***** is repaid to me forwith. Failure to do so, will result in my taking my grievance to both the OFT and the Financial Ombudsman Service I look forward to receiving your confirmation letter that no further contact will be made in pursuing the above debt, and that the appropriate funds have been returned to my bank account.

I've received and appreciated some great advice in my other 2 threads, and this is the final piece of the jigsaw that hopefully ends my 7 year financial nightmare.! I've completed my FOS PPI questionnaire to send to LloydsTSB, but I have some queries before I send it off. As it's worth about £3500 I want to try and cover all bases so there's no surprises. First obstacle is that it's from a loan taken out in 2002, and paid early in 2004. However, even if the bank claims not to have the records - I do. In fact for some reason it's the only pre-2005 financial data I've got. If they insist they don't have the info, and can't move forward despite the info I'm sending with the questionnaire, should I ask for a 'Proof of Destruction' letter (or whatever its called)? Next, I've just had an old TSB default that was sold to Lowells become statute-barred. Presumably as TSB sold it, they have no claims on using the PPI refund to 'set off' the now statute barred default. Finally, in my covering letter, should I provide a breakdown of what I think I'm due, or should I let them come up with a figure first? Oh, and should I send it RD? Is there anything else I should be aware of?

^ It's around £300. That said, I'm tweaking the SB letter at the moment pointing out what the OFT say about pursuing statute barred debts, and pointing out that as far I'm concerned they're guilty of deception by intimating that they had every right to pursue the debt including sending agents to the house and Court action. As I was suffering from anxiety and depression (and my doctor can prove it - as can my Psychiatric Counsellor) I was in a vulnerable position when I agreed the repayment amount. The wording 'may' is every bit as intimidating as 'will' when you're mentally unwell. We'll see what they say - nothing ventured, nothing gained. Of course, I still have the option of going to the FOS - if I can be inclined, but it's probably just a case of suck it up and accept it!