Hi I'm looking for some advice. I have received a solicitor's letter saying that I am in arrears on my mortgage and if no agreement can be reached then the house may be repossessed. I am querying the arrears as it includes a multitude of charges etc., When I first became unemployed I requested that the arrears be added to the end of the mortgage...capitalisation...but Platform refused..because this was something that they didn't do. I also asked if I could buy myself out of the high interest rate to a lower interest rate...and they refused. My original mortgage was for £93,000 interest only. I opted for interest only because I was stuck in a really high interest rate and planned on going onto capital and interest after the initial 3 year fixed term. Remember that I asked if I could capitalise these arrears and was refused. I just discovered today that my current mortgage payment is including the arrears amount ie the £93,000 plus arrears plus charges! My mortgage payment is £288.50 per month. I pay £290. As I am already paying a higher mortgage to pay interest on the arrears and the charges...I have said that they have effectively capitalised the mortgage by adding the arrears to my mortgage balance and increasing my mortgage payment to cover the interest on this. I have asked for complete breakdown of all charges, arrears, mortgage payments and, they added insurance to my payments too at an extra £22 per month despite giving me no option to look at different quotes. The insurance is with their own insurance company and despite paying £22 every month, plus interest on my mortgage, the insurance doesnt cover me if anything happens to my home. If Platform capitalised the arrears I would be paying no more than I am paying already....effectively paying the interest on the arrears. I have had mortgage arrears before with other mortgage lenders and they did not add the mortgage arrears onto the mortgage. They were completely separate and were paid off when the mortgage was paid off. The way I see it Platform are not treating me fairly...they are receiving the interest payments for the arrears but have refused to capitalise. Is this common practice? Any help would be great! I need some advice on how to deal with this. Gemspan xxx Can somebody give me some help please? Is there anybody around that can advise? Thank you Gemspan

Are you one of the four million Whirlpool tumble dryer owners, sold under the Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda brands, which have been affected by a fault which can cause fires? Are you still waiting for a repair, nearly a year after Whirlpool issued a safety notice? Are you still using it despite London Fire Brigade reccomending customers to stop using them immediately? Well, now a decision by the Ombudsman means that you may be able to obtain a refund from your credit card provider. Unwilling to accept a fire hazard in his home for almost 12 months, one consumer took his case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which has now ruled Nationwide must pay up. Read more

This article was I believe first published in December 2016, but has been updated as of today, 3rd April 2017. Looking at the chart, in each of the 5 quarters since 2015 - Vodafone is consistently the most complained about provider. Of course we here on CAG didnt need OFCOM to let us know this, did we ?

Got a call today, the message was made using a automated weird voice. Message was: Reward of £30 in vouchers for Black Friday - all you need to do is provide your signature and name of organisation I volunteered with - to be eligible for the vouchers. the number is 0786-***-1261 maybe belongs to someone else trying to get credit for my work placement?? Anyone else had this at all?

This is a funny one, Money Shop & PDUK now make you give a valid reason as to why you are paying your loan early?! I was browsing through something with a friend today who is paying off a small loan to Money Shop and in order to clear it, it made you give a reason as to why you were paying it off early. I wonder... Has the word gone Barmy?

I wanted to know what the new rules are with regards to withdrawing consent for the WP to share your info/contact people on your behalf/claim their fat payment for my hard work when I get a job .. as I am sure I read it had changed since last year, also coincidentally each time I attend a review meeting I get loads of spammy job/credit emails in the weeks after which seems a little timely!! Am getting increasingly fed up with the WP provider, by and large I have had a year of having to attend weekly job clubs with slow computers and the like but since I hit the year mark it seems to have ramped up big time, I have a good work history with good companies and a degree and the minute my latest advisor saw it his eyes lit up and I have been pestered left right and centre. I was upped to two job clubs a week and also appointments/training sessions/interview techniques etc on one or more additional days a week and it was getting silly and made me ill so I had two weeks off with stress symptoms. I then had more blinking appointments and changes to my job clubs and was told a few weeks back at 1pm on a Monday that I was to stay after job club that day for extra sessions looking into agencies and applying for more jobs for 2 hours each day that week (mysteriously my letter had 'got lost in the post' telling me this), I kicked up a bit of a stink as I am a single parent and said I had to pick my son up from school at 3 so those times were unsuitable, so with a bit of looking at bus timetables he relented to sessions from 1-2.30 each afternoon that week which was still pushing it as am reliant on public transport which is never the best, I attended the first and then had enough, got upset (I am on antidepressants and suffering severe anxiety at the moment relating to a thyroid condition I have just been diagnosed with) and I decided to get another doctors note for 2 weeks. During this two weeks I had a letter from them saying I had to come in during that time and I politely told him NO, the day my sick period ended there arrived a letter saying I had to attend a review appointment in 2 days time and I just knew he was going to mess me about, sure enough on the Friday afternoon at the appt he says I need to up my attendance to daily sessions of 4 hours, which means dropping my son at school, a 45 min bus journey there, then getting back in just enough time to pick him up, I protested that I had a PC at home and why did I need to do all this on their premises and he said I might 'get distracted' at home (as opposed to their noisy office of course!!), that I had appts to arrange and so on which were being neglected due to them calling me in all the time willy nilly saying they are mandatory and have to attend, and he said as I was a jobseeker I should jobseek during those hours, I have no prob doing this, my JSA agreement says 5 jobs a week and they say 10 which I do easily and have never not done, he is also pressurising me to do full time work/get a better off calculation for FT work, which my JSA flexibilities say I don't have to pursue due to being a lone parent, there is no mention of any beneficial training, and any suggestions for that or clothing for interviews have been shot down in flames, its just flaming jobsearching in their offices every day, presumably so I can't attend any interviews without them knowing and that I get fed up with the arrangement. Its not as if I am not trying to get a job, I have had about 6 interviews in the last few months but none successful, am really fed up with the situation with the WP and its making me feel worse, we are reviewing the situation tomorrow after my session and I know he is prob going to suggest the same again next week when I have 2 inset days at my sons school, I really just resent the fact that they think they can pressure me like this and assume I have no plans for the week or anything else to do, and then get a nice big payment for MY efforts at the end of it all so want to know what my rights are, unfortunately at the beginning I signed all their docs as I was being too blinking nice!! PS. Sorry this is a bit of a rant having looked at it, but felt good to vent!!

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Tonight I attempted to change my Internet and phone service provider from Talk Talk to Plusnet. This became impossible because Plusnet would not accept my debit card details without a debit card nickname. I have no idea what a debit card nickname is and I am therefore unable to provide one to Plusnet. Does anyone know what on earth is going on here? My debit card details are correct, I have money in my account and a regular guaranteed pension income. I asume I will have to look for another service provider who is happy with my debit card details and doesn't require any crazy nickname. I would also like to mention that I have been with the same bank since 1977 and have never been asked for a nickname linked my debit card or anything else. My current service provider is happy with my debit card details and requires no nickname to obtain regular payments from me. I have also paid for many other things using my debit card and have never been asked to provide a nickname.

Hi I've recently had some work done on my car which has resulted in considerable damage being caused by the company who did it. The work was to vinyl wrap parts of the car, however the person who performed the work was negligent and has caused considerable slits in all of the window seals, they no longer fit properly, and now need replacing. It was not a garage, but a specialist who does window tinting, vehicle graphics and vinyl wrap services. I have sent him photos and he is willing to "take a look" (on Friday) however there is no way they can be repaired and will require replacing. With labour the cost will be around £1000 pounds having had estimates already over the phone. The actually work itself was just over £100. (Paid by card). (The car is pretty expensive). Am I able to make a claim on my credit card for cost to repair the damage? It's unclear if they are a sole trader or not. Thanks.

Once again the letter from my work provider telling me a telephone interview has been arranged and that I must be available for it. I know I do not have to participate as I am in the support group, but it is criminal how they hound people (we look forward to seeing you again, and helping you find the right job). How can they 'see' me over the telephone. It's so exhausting keep up with all of this, failed PIP medical, lost mortgage relief form, now these people. You get to the point of just wanting it ALL to end.

We are with a home phone call provider. We were on a plan for many years where we received 1500 minutes to international destinations. This past month we received an exorbitant bill for over £500. When we called the company they said that they had sent a letter to all suscribers that the plan was being cut to 1000 minutes. I told them that we hadn't received the notification, they offered to halve the bill. Obviously we aren't happy at all as we had no notification and this is very unfair. I called consumer advice and they advised to follow the internal complaints procedure and ask for proof of postage. I did this but they just responded that they are not obliged to send post recorded delivery (they obviously misunderstood the term proof of postage). I am planning to escalate this to their 'final destination' for a deadlock letter and then take this to the ombudsman. I am afraid that they may retract their offer and we really cannot afford this. My questions are: 1. Can they withdraw their offer to discount the charge by half if I go ahead with the complaint and take this to the ombudsman? 2. Am I following the correct course of action? Many thanks.

Hi everyone and sorry to start with a problem. I wrote my car off middle of last month and my insurers paid out in 2 weeks. The accident was my fault and the police and ambulance were called as it was serious and I was rushed to the hospital but luckily nothing major. I have since tried to claim on my GAP insurance and they seemed not interested as I had to keep calling them everyday just to know what was happening with my claim. At first, it was always " its with the validations team, then with the underwritters, then back and forth" until about a week and half ago when I called and was transfered to the validations team who said I need to undergo a telephone interview with an investigator to acertain the full facts and details surrounding the claim. My question is I thought GAP pays out when the insurance policy pays out? Are they trying to delay/not pay out on my claim? What is the interview about when I have already told them what happened?

Hey all. The move from Rugby to York is happening and we should be moved within the month. Finding a job here is unlikely and York has so much to offer, so much more job opportunity etc I do have a worry. I did read that once signed to a specific Work Programme provider - it can not be changed. Here I'm with Sarina Russo and there is no Sarina Russo in York. According to this link, the only WP providers in York (north east) are Avanta and Ingeus. So, please dont tell me I will be MADE to commute a 6 hour round journey from York to Rugby because I wouldn't be allowed to change WP providers (or is the information I read about a no-change of providers incorrect?). Many thanks!

Sky offers a way of managing your account online and if you click on "My Packages" on your Sky account it gives you details of everything you have with Sky. A few months ago I went to look at the phone package to see exactly which 08 numbers are free on the package (generally 08 numbers are mostly avoided but sometimes it just isn't possible). When I went to the phone section on "My packages" the phone package was listed as "Sky Anytime" but with no details and an option to click for details, which I did. It then brought up a screen with some features of "Sky Anytime" and then a link to click for more details about "Sky Anytime". I clicked then link and was taken to a page with the details of 3 Sky Talk packages, one of which was "Sky Anytime UK"(there were no details for Sky Anytime on the page), which I assumed to be the right package. This package includes free calls to 0845 numbers and I assumed this was the package and that these numbers were now covered. They in fact are not because Sky Talk Anytime and Sky Talk Anytime UK are two separate packages and the former is no longer an option for new customers. This change happened in the last few months. So there are now a whole load of call charges to 0845 numbers for these last few months which has caused an obvious spike in the phone bill. I am requesting a refund of the 0845 numbers during this period on account that the website was misleading, Sky have offered a few months half price line rental which doesn't cover the cost. The advisers I've spoken to most recently while trying to a refund have insisted the website was not misleading and this is in fact my error alone. If anyone can offer any advice, it would be most appreciated. Thx L.

They go from bad to worse. Today I received a letter making out that I should have an appointment to see them tomorrow, as well as two more in the next 10 days. I freaked out as I have had not received anything about tomorrows. Turns out their mistake. I am on a whacking dose of medication for depression and anxiety as well as high blood pressure to name but two. I had to ring them in a fit and panic of tears - as I cannot handle this. One of the dates I have to see them I did have a docs appointment (I have cancelled and rearranged) as I am worried sick about these people. I have already had to cancel one appointment and reschedule with them, I am wondering if this is their way of getting back by increasing my appointments to two in a week (I don;t want to get paranoid but why twice in 5 working days.) I just do not know what to do, or who to turn to for help. They keep telling me they are mandated to make me see them. I feel like they are suffocating me.

I was on ESA for around 2 years, and had to attend a programme at a local training/employment provider. I attended once, filled in their assessment, and spoke to one of the members of staff - who, after being quite rude, softened up when I showed her my CV and spoke about how much I actually wanted to go back to work... but that my doctor was strongly advising me against it. She told me not come back. This suited me as I've never been so disgusted as when I went in to their offices, saw them joke about clients and their poor circumstances, and threaten them when they asked for help. I've now been working for 6 months (woo..) and they've decided to ring me, multiple times. When I asked them why I was informed that.. "You've been on our systems for 99 weeks, and the duration of our programme lasts for 104 weeks. I've been tasked with chasing you up. Thats great that you've found work, can you now give us your employment details?" I mulled it over and refused, sent them quite a strong email and requested that they cease asking me. Well, they didn't - they ignored my email and continued.. So I sent them a stronger email - threatening to report their conduct to the DWP/JCP and the ICO w/ regards to harassing me over personal data. Surprise surprise, this threat got them to respond: Even if you added a 1, or a 2, in front of that number - I'd still refuse to give them my personal data as I don't trust them. However, I've bolded one bit in particular: am I right in saying that she wants my details to claim that they've been in contact with me every 2 weeks? (When in fact, they've contacted me once in 99 weeks?) Furthermore, are they simply going to pay me for this information - so they can pass it on the DWP? The information they want is my employer, job title, employers contact details, manager and so on. They aren't getting it. It's left a bad taste in my mouth as they were a truly vile and toxic company, and one that I would love to see fall in to some hot water. I never complained because of my health, and as the incident(s) were so long ago I can't see the point in complaining now. However this latest email got to thinking that they are scared of getting complaints, to the point they'd rather pay you to STFU. Has anyone got any advice for dealing with them now? Accept the money? Complain? Forward the email(s) to DWP? Take the money as a "goodwill gesture", wait 5 weeks for them to hand my file over to the DWP, then send the documents to the DWP so they can spot any fraudulent entries in my records that have been inserted? (i.e meetings that never occurred, that I've got correspondence proving they never happened?) I feel sorry for the people attending their right now, I really do, hence why the money doesn't matter so much as ensuring these cowboys sort their act out.

Hello, i am hoping someone can recommend a good place to get a loan from? I am currently unemployed but i do own my car outright worth several thousand £, and am looking for a loan provider that will use my car as collateral. Please note i am NOT after any logbook loan type companies, but a provider that maybe you have had experience with and can recommend. I have tried the internet comparison sites but they do not allow me to enter the car to take the loan against. Thanks (apologies if this is not in the correct forum, please move if necessary).

Heard of slamming? I hadn't until this morning when I found that my number had changed and my Broadband doesn't work any more. Turns out that my phone contact has been taken over by a new provider - and no one knows who it is!! It is a nightmare trying to sort it out and when the service eventually goes back to BT, there may have to be a new number etc etc etc. Anyone know about this stuff? I called OffCom. It will take them 4 days to find out who the new provider is

Blame some of the guys posting on the Ingeus thread for this one... On the whatdotheyknow.com web site, a FoI request was made to the DWP in respect to mandation notices & sanctions issued by WP providers. Of particular interest is one of the attachments in the DWP response. The original request: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/threats_of_saction_issued_by_wor The pdf of interest: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/152662/response/376951/attach/5/WP%20JR%20Assurance%20letter%20v%20final%203.pdf Well worth reading, and I'd suggest printing out copies to use in an appeal if the WP provider's notice does not contain the Annex A wording in full.

I currently pay £31 a month for Plusnet Fibre broadband, their cheapest 40MB 40GB package. Been a customer for 2 years along with my Mum and no complaints. Been looking at other deals on the internet and I've noticed that EE do a similar deal but unlimited at the same price, Talk Talk do the same for £31.45. Virgin internet only deals are cheaper too and they're basic starter package is only £33. I'm tempted to go to Plusnet and squeeze them for something extra due to these other packages I've found, has anyone tried this with their provider and succeeded? Know it sometimes works with mobile phone companies when contracts are up for renewal.

Does anyone know what company comet used to use for their warranties before they went bust? or is it the same as it is now?

Many of you are probably aware that the new payday loan customer charter is now in place, if you fancy having a look here it is: http://www.cfa-uk.co.uk/documents/PDandSTL_Addendum_Lender.pdf Most payday loan lenders will be a member of one of the participating trade associations, this means there is now a (slightly) more obligation on your payday loan lender to play fair. These rules are in addition to the OFT guidance on debt collection. If you are unhappy with your payday loan provider (for whatever reason!) there is currently a payday loan survery which is designed to feed info to the powers that be, please take a minute to complete it - YOU could make all the difference: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/dialogue_payday_loan_survey Note that the surveys are only applicable for loans taken out after 26th Nov 2012 Here is an automated complaints letter that you can fire off to your payday loan lender http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/letter_to_complain_about_a_payday_loan

Back in August 2012 I had an early upgrade via Vodafone from my old phone to my current S3. I wasn't due an upgrade at the time, and had another 2 months to go before I became eligible for one but due to ongoing issues with my phone and having thrown a hissy and threatening to quit when my contract came to an end in January this year they relented and gave me the S3 on a new tariff. The new tariff was applied and I got my phone. All was will until Friday when I lost all service. Thinking it might just have been a glitch on the network, I waited to see if it would resolve.. it didn't. On Saturday I went to my local Vodafone shop and explained that my phone wasn't working and that I couldn't send or receive texts, make or receive calls or access mobile data. The guy went through some diagnostics, swapping SIMs and trying my SIM in another phone before concluding that the issue was account-related. He pulled up my account and found that the only registered phone at my address was the phone I have for my wife, and that my number was no longer associated with the account. In fact, my number didn't exist and had been cancelled altogether! I got on the phone to Vodafone who told me I'd have reconnection within 24 hours. Well, those came and went, so i phoned again, to be told another 24-48 hours. I'm a bit pig sick of Vodafone now; I've had past problems with them and this is the final straw. I'm now wondering what my rights are as a consumer. I agreed at the time of the upgrade to a 2-year extension on my new tariff with Vodafone back in August, but it seems to me that my original cancellation request hasn't been removed and so has over-ridden the new contract, and I'm now without any contract at all. I also have a 6-month old S3. Would I be within my rights to tell them to shove the reconnection, give me a PAC code and take my business - and the phone - elsewhere without charge? Its my view that its their fault this cancellation has been processed, and as far as their records show, my contract expired as of the approximate date of expiry of my previous contract, and not my new one which appears to have vanished. My latest bill only shows a part-month's usage and charges for my phone also. Cheers for any help and advice.

Is there any members that offer buffet service that would be happy for me to pick their brains? Ida x

Ingeus seem to think that my fortnightly signing on at the Jobcentre is separate. My contract is with the Jobcentre and not Ingeus. They (Ingeus) expect 3 jobs applied and declared to the Jobcentre and then as many jobs as they say I must apply for and declare applications to them on paper unless I want to be reported to the Jobcentre for possible sanctions. Are they allowed to force me to make many, many applications far in excess of what my Jobseeker Agreement stipulates? I always exceed the mininum requirements for activity that the Jobcentre expect of me. Has anyone made a request for info on this to DWP Central FoI Team regarding this?