Wonga Complaint - Success

[kat2015]

Hi

 

I sent my complaint to FOS on 10th Jan and received a standard reply dated 14th Jan saying they had received it and they aimed to respond within 6 weeks. I received another letter dated 11th Feb saying they had contacted Wonga to ask for the information they had about my complaint and then it would be passed to an adjudicator to investigate. I received a letter from the adjudicator assigned to my case also dated 11th Feb. Before I received these letters I received an e-mail from Wonga on 9th Feb with an offer. Don't know if this was coincidence or not.

 

I didn't send details of the loans I had to the Ombudsman. I had gone through my bank statements at totted up the amount I borrowed against the amount paid back and just worked out a rough figure of what I expected back. When I received the e-mail from Wonga they listed all the loans I had and the amount of interest paid which was spot on.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Kat - if you haven't heard by then end of the week its worth giving them a call to make sure they received it.

 

I have now started the process with the other pay day loans I had. I sent e-mails a week ago. Mr Lender already come back with an offer even though they said they didn't agree they were irresponsible.

 

Thankyou I will give them a call friday if still not heard from them. I have a flexcredit account with quickquid which I had to take out to pay off wonga one month. Ive nearly repaid it now but might be worth giving it a go

 

Will keep you updated

[kat2015]

Thankyou I will give them a call friday if still not heard from them. I have a flexcredit account with quickquid which I had to take out to pay off wonga one month. Ive nearly repaid it now but might be worth giving it a go

 

Will keep you updated

 

I have received a final response from wonga today, basically they are not upholding the complaint on the grounds that they 'have seen no evidence that the loans were not affordable to me'. Im a bit flabbergasted as they admitted that the loans were unaffordable to me in their email dated 10th october where they stated I would not have been given a loan under their affordability checks. Ive passed thos to the ombudsman but arent holding out much hope!

[kat2015]

I have received a final response from wonga today, basically they are not upholding the complaint on the grounds that they 'have seen no evidence that the loans were not affordable to me'. Im a bit flabbergasted as they admitted that the loans were unaffordable to me in their email dated 10th october where they stated I would not have been given a loan under their affordability checks. Ive passed thos to the ombudsman but arent holding out much hope!

 

I have called the financial ombudsman who confirmed they have received my complaint and it has been passed to an adjudicator. They asked me for copies of all correspondence with wonga and my wonga statements of the loans taken which I have provided. They have said it can take up to 6 weeks before I will hear anything but I am very happy with how supportive and none judgemental they were

[Dreambrother]

Hi

 

I sent my complaint to FOS on 10th Jan and received a standard reply dated 14th Jan saying they had received it and they aimed to respond within 6 weeks. I received another letter dated 11th Feb saying they had contacted Wonga to ask for the information they had about my complaint and then it would be passed to an adjudicator to investigate. I received a letter from the adjudicator assigned to my case also dated 11th Feb. Before I received these letters I received an e-mail from Wonga on 9th Feb with an offer. Don't know if this was coincidence or not.

 

I didn't send details of the loans I had to the Ombudsman. I had gone through my bank statements at totted up the amount I borrowed against the amount paid back and just worked out a rough figure of what I expected back. When I received the e-mail from Wonga they listed all the loans I had and the amount of interest paid which was spot on.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Kat - if you haven't heard by then end of the week its worth giving them a call to make sure they received it.

 

I have now started the process with the other pay day loans I had. I sent e-mails a week ago. Mr Lender already come back with an offer even though they said they didn't agree they were irresponsible.

 

What did Mr Lender offer you if you don't mind me asking? 50% of interest paid as goodwill offer?

[JEC1965]

What did Mr Lender offer you if you don't mind me asking? 50% of interest paid as goodwill offer?

 

Yes, they offered £150 as gesture of goodwill even though they didn't agree they acted irresponsibly. This equated to about 50% of interest paid. I have already received the money. They were the smallest of all the payday loans I had so I didn't want to argue. I only had 2 loans with them although second one was rolled over a few times. I didn't really want to refer it to Ombudsman and have to wait a year for a decision. I am waiting for responses from a few others that I had had for quite a few years and rolled over many times. Keep you posted.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed for Kat2015 and hope you get a a positive outcome from FOS.

[Dreambrother]

Yes, they offered £150 as gesture of goodwill even though they didn't agree they acted irresponsibly. This equated to about 50% of interest paid. I have already received the money. They were the smallest of all the payday loans I had so I didn't want to argue. I only had 2 loans with them although second one was rolled over a few times. I didn't really want to refer it to Ombudsman and have to wait a year for a decision. I am waiting for responses from a few others that I had had for quite a few years and rolled over many times. Keep you posted.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed for Kat2015 and hope you get a a positive outcome from FOS.

 

Well done - FYI I managed to get 50% of interest paid refunded by both PDUK and Payday Express even though they didn't agree they acted irresponsibly.

[JEC1965]

Well done - FYI I managed to get 50% of interest paid refunded by both PDUK and Payday Express even though they didn't agree they acted irresponsibly.

 

That's good to know Dreambrother. They are both on my hit list. Emailed them on 16th Feb just waiting for a response. I paid over 4k in interest between them.

[JEC1965]

Well done - FYI I managed to get 50% of interest paid refunded by both PDUK and Payday Express even though they didn't agree they acted irresponsibly.

 

Hi dreambrother

 

Quick question on your offer from Payday express. Did they offer you 50% of the interest paid or the toal paid.

 

I have received a response to my complaint and while they don't accept any liability they are willing to offer 25% of total amount paid. only trouble is they offered £525 but i paid £5k including interest. I am inclined to refuse it and go back to them and request how they came to that figure.

[Dreambrother]

Hi

 

I sent my complaint to FOS on 10th Jan and received a standard reply dated 14th Jan saying they had received it and they aimed to respond within 6 weeks. I received another letter dated 11th Feb saying they had contacted Wonga to ask for the information they had about my complaint and then it would be passed to an adjudicator to investigate. I received a letter from the adjudicator assigned to my case also dated 11th Feb. Before I received these letters I received an e-mail from Wonga on 9th Feb with an offer. Don't know if this was coincidence or not.

 

I think it was a coincidence because FOS wrote back to me last week and said they are investigating my complaint with Wonga and will have a response for me in the next 12 weeks!!

[JEC1965]

Hi Dreambrother.

 

Think you may have missed my question on Payday Express. did you get 50% of interest or 50% of amount paid??

[Dreambrother]

Hi Dreambrother.

 

Think you may have missed my question on Payday Express. did you get 50% of interest or 50% of amount paid??

 

Sorry didn't see the question until now - they refunded 50% of the interest, Payday Express and PDUK are owned by the same company so the response and offers were identical.

 

16 weeks and counting and I'm still waiting for Wonga's final response....

[JEC1965]

Sorry didn't see the question until now - they refunded 50% of the interest, Payday Express and PDUK are owned by the same company so the response and offers were identical.

 

16 weeks and counting and I'm still waiting for Wonga's final response....

 

Thanks. The letter definately says 25%of total paid and their offer is nowhere near that. I have emailed them for clarification. See what they say. I had 10 payday loans at the time and they bombarded.me with texts offering further funds. They more or less said they did not have any control over my other loans and that was my responsibility.surely that is the point of a credit check to see what other financial obligations I had.

 

I had to wait about 16 weeks for Wonga to respond so shouldn't be long now.

[graham1973]

I complained back in October for the very same reasons and they gave me £1200 last week.

 

 

Worth a go I would say

[JEC1965]

I complained back in October for the very same reasons and they gave me £1200 last week.

 

 

Worth a go I would say

 

That's great news Graham1973.

 

I had clarification from Payday Express that their offer is 25% of interest not total paid as their letter stated. I am referring it to the Ombudsman.

They don't seem consistent with their offers. I've seen on here they have offered some people 50%?? Think they are taking the mickey with 25%. Although they stated they did not accept irresponsible lending. You don't offer someone £500 if you've done nothing wrong.

I have not received a response from Mem yet who I believe are part of the same company.

 

I know it will take longer and its not forced to go my way but I think I have a very strong case for irresponsible lending and its the principal of it now.

[efergie82]

Reading through o was thinking of doing the same as both myself and my partner over the last 5 years have had ALOT of payday loans, although i have paid them all back now i had alot of charges through default ect. I wondered though what i need to do this as i dont have the bank account i used anymore so have no access to statments ect to show payments made. Any help would be greatly received

[maroondevo52]

I wondered though what i need to do this as i dont have the bank account i used anymore so have no access to statments ect to show payments made. Any help would be greatly received

 

Hi,

 

Send your Bank a Subject Access Request with your details including address where you lived when you opened the account , they should be able to find all your details and statements ect.

[Kevin_D]

Excellent news! Jec, could you send me a few pointers on going about contacting Wonga and claiming back the interest? Thanks.

[kat2015]

Just an update- as you know i had a final respnse from wonga stating the did not uphold my complain as there was no evidence the loansa were unaffordable (even though they sent me an email on 10th october stating they were unaffordable doh!).I have finally been contacted by the financial ombudsman today. They apologised for the delay but stated that they have been waiting for my records from Wonga, who have not been very forthcoming. The chap was really pleasant and reassuring, as I am embarrased by the payday loans I have taken out. He said it is very clear from my records that the loans were unaffordable, and my pattern of borrowing should have flagged up alerts in october 2011 so he will be contacting wonga informally first to request a full refund of interest and charges, plus 8%, and that my credit file is ammended to remove the loans which were unaffordable. At this stage he is trying to keep it informal, but when I asked what would happen if they did not comply, he stated he would make it formal, but that basiaclly they havent got leg to stand on. He agreed that they have admitted the loans were unaffordable in their email to me on 10th october, so they have admitted liability. He said it may take several weeks but is confident of a positive outcome.

[JEC1965]

Hi Kevin.

 

I started by going through my bank statements and noting every loan I received and every payment made. I loaned from them every month for 3 years so it was a hefty sum. Regularly deferred the loan or paid in full an re-loaned the same day. I also had a lot of other loans with other payday lenders at the time. I then e-mailed a formal complaint stating irresponsible lending due to the number of loans I had and the fact I had so many other loans. They have 8 weeks to respond. I had no response so sent the complaint to the Ombudsman and within a week of them writing to Wonga I received an offer.

[JEC1965]

Kat2015 - that's brilliant news. Just shows you should never give up.

[the tinkerman]

Hi

 

when you contacted the Ombudsman did you do have to fill a form in.

 

Tinks

[kat2015]

Hi

 

when you contacted the Ombudsman did you do have to fill a form in.

 

Tinks

 

 

Hi. Yes there is a form to fill in. Its available online, but I believe if you call them they can complete it over the phone. I didn't want to call them in person at first as I was embarrassed, but I needn't have been as the chap I spoke to was really nice

[the tinkerman]

Thanks Tinks

[Kevin_D]

Hi Kevin.

 

I started by going through my bank statements and noting every loan I received and every payment made. I loaned from them every month for 3 years so it was a hefty sum. Regularly deferred the loan or paid in full an re-loaned the same day. I also had a lot of other loans with other payday lenders at the time. I then e-mailed a formal complaint stating irresponsible lending due to the number of loans I had and the fact I had so many other loans. They have 8 weeks to respond. I had no response so sent the complaint to the Ombudsman and within a week of them writing to Wonga I received an offer.

 

Thanks for that. I'll prepare a letter (was it a letter or e-mail you sent?) and get it sent away

[mrst1982]

Just an update- as you know i had a final respnse from wonga stating the did not uphold my complain as there was no evidence the loansa were unaffordable (even though they sent me an email on 10th october stating they were unaffordable doh!).I have finally been contacted by the financial ombudsman today. They apologised for the delay but stated that they have been waiting for my records from Wonga, who have not been very forthcoming. The chap was really pleasant and reassuring, as I am embarrased by the payday loans I have taken out. He said it is very clear from my records that the loans were unaffordable, and my pattern of borrowing should have flagged up alerts in october 2011 so he will be contacting wonga informally first to request a full refund of interest and charges, plus 8%, and that my credit file is ammended to remove the loans which were unaffordable. At this stage he is trying to keep it informal, but when I asked what would happen if they did not comply, he stated he would make it formal, but that basiaclly they havent got leg to stand on. He agreed that they have admitted the loans were unaffordable in their email to me on 10th october, so they have admitted liability. He said it may take several weeks but is confident of a positive outcome.

 

 

Looks like I'm about 2 weeks ahead of you. Everything you say above is the same as what's been happening to me the last few months. My adjudicator also ruled in my favour and contacted wonga 'informally' to refund all my interest and charges from previous loans. They had 2 weeks to respond. They did not. My file was then passed to an ombudsman. They have given both myself and wonga a further week to review or add anymore before they make a final decision (the week is up on monday) which is binding on wonga either way (hopefully in my favour again)

Have a feeling wonga will drag this out to the death!!

 

Good luck x