Centrica/CST claimform - Industrial Training Bond

[FTMDave]

Good grief.  CST Law are the enemy.  They won't help you.  CAG however will.

 

Please upload the form you have to fill in.

 

And write here what you put in your defence.

 

 

[FTMDave]

I see you were being harassed by Credit Style.  Well CST Law are simply Credit Style.  They're not a real firm of solicitors.  Credit Style admit this on their website.

 

We really need to see what you wrote in your defence.  If you've admitted or partially admitted to owing the money it could be bad news.

 

I see Andy has indicated how to fill the current form in.

 

 

[FTMDave]

What bit didn't you understand of

 

On 30/11/2021 at 15:01, FTMDave said:

Good grief.  CST Law are the enemy. 

and

 

23 hours ago, FTMDave said:

I see you were being harassed by Credit Style.  Well CST Law are simply Credit Style.  They're not a real firm of solicitors.  Credit Style admit this on their website.

Instead of wasting time with a debt collection agency get the court form filed and then think about the arguments you'll need to fight this claim.

[FTMDave]

Have a look at these three threads.  IIRC it's not they're ahead of you, more in parallel with you.

 

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/419587-centricacst-claimform-industrial-training-bond/#comment-5028753

 

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/439918-centricacst-manual-claimform-scottish-gas-training-bond/#comment-5127871

 

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/437728-centrica-cst-reclaiming-training-bonds-as-overpaid-wages/#comment-5121350

 

I think the big question you need to answer is - do you accept you owe this money?  Because on the one hand the answer seems to be no and you file a defence to their claim, on the other hand the answer seems to be yes as you look to do a deal with them.  This half way house is getting you nowhere and you need to decide.

[FTMDave]

Sorry if we seem to be bombarding you with questions, but there is a reason.

 

Before you got the court claim, did you receive a letter with

   Letter Before Claim, or

   Letter of Claim, or

   Letter Before Action in the heading?

 

I don't mean the usual threatening letters DCAs send out, I mean a proper notification of intention to start a court case.

[FTMDave]

Given Centrica had been useless at replying to your efforts to compromise I'd hoped to build up a pattern of such behaviour.  Judges don't take kindly to court cases being started without an attempt at finding a solution first.

 

But you're not helping us to help you.  How can you be "not 100% sure" if you received a Letter of Claim or not, or not have a copy of your defence?  You're being sued for 13 and a half grand.  It's not a matter of if it gets to court, the court claim has already started.  Not keeping legal correspondence or a copy of a legal defence is madness.

[FTMDave]

I was about to post but dx has explained it much better than I could have.

 

Try to understand who you are dealing with.  CST Law to all intents & purposes don't really exist.  They are not a real firm of solicitors.  They have no existence independent of Credit Style.  Credit Style even admit this on their website  https://www.creditstyle.co.uk/services/legal-collection/

 

So you're dealing really with Credit Style.  Who are debt collectors.  Says it all really.  As dx says they will lie & lie & lie again to get their money.  You've been had.  If you feel negotiating a settlement would have been appropriate then, as dx says, Centrica should have been your target.

 

More tomorrow when I'm more awake.

 

 

[FTMDave]

Yes, it does.

 

Which court is quoted?  Yours or Centrica's?

[FTMDave]

As it's at your court, if the hearing is in person rather than on-line Centrica will be stuck with all the hassle of travelling.

 

What will now happen is what is stated in the letter from the court -

2 hours ago, smooth said:

Details of the judge's directions will be sent to you in a notice of allocation.

If you read any thread with "claimform" in the title you can gen up on the different stages of the court procedure.

[FTMDave]

Am I the only one who reads the WS as saying the OP was overpaid two weeks' salary totalling £766 (para 6)?

 

In (para 7) it is emphasised again the total amount is £766.

 

The suddenly (para 15) the amount mushrooms to £12,698 with no explanation.

 

Hasn't the idiot who prepared this WS scored a big own goal here?

[FTMDave]

1 hour ago, smooth said:

is it worth me seeking legal advice? i have family legal protection on my home insurance which can be used for employment disputes etc

You are already getting legal advice here.  Caggers like Andyorch and dx are vastly experienced in these matters.

[FTMDave]

Open.

[FTMDave]

The judge will certainly be influenced by how you answer - otherwise there may as well not be a hearing!

 

In the past before court hearings I've asked a friend to pretend to be the claimant's/prosecution's representative and to give me a hard time, so I was sure I had my story straight and could answer well.

 

I doubt the P60s are that relevant.  The judge will in interested in whether at any point you agreed to pay British Gas this money.

[FTMDave]

Great words dx.