King's Interhigh/ACT letter of claim now claimform - online schooling fees

[Bellarose]

Hi,

hope someone is able to give me some advice regarding an online school.

payment was stopped. 

Teaching was of a poor quality, software problems preventing my daughter from joining the lessons. 

Terrible communication, teachers didn't bother getting back to emails.

Overall not happy with the services provided. 

I signed the online contract in September 2021 but the payments were being made by my ex partner, they acknowledge this. 

As payment for the next term wasn't made they blocked her account and as a consequence unable to join the lessons.  Also, they have kept the £500 deposit. 

They have been hounding me for payment but I have explained that I do not have the funds to pay as it was my ex partners responsibility but also taking into the account the poor teaching etc.

Please note that at the time I signed the contract it was called Interhigh but has since changed to Kings Interhigh,  not sure is this has any relevance. 

I now have ACT credit management sending me threatening letters and phone calls. 

Is anyone able to advise how I should proceed?

Thank you 

[Bellarose]

Yes, from reading King's Interhigh reviews there have been other parents with similar issues.

 

The sum is £1,517.05.  This amount is for the remaining months left on the contract but she didn't attend any of the remaining classes due to being blocked.   

 

Unfortunately all emails about any problems etc were made using the online platform which we no longer have access to due to non payment.  My daughter would email teachers and not receive a reply other times when files would be blank she'd be told not to worry etc. Unable to join classes due to software issues etc 

 

Yes, from reading King's Interhigh reviews there have been other parents with similar issues.

 

The sum is £1,517.05.  This amount is for the remaining months left on the contract but she didn't attend any of the remaining classes due to being blocked.   

 

Unfortunately all emails about any problems etc were made using the online platform which we no longer have access to due to non payment.  My daughter would email teachers and not receive a reply other times when files would be blank she'd be told not to worry etc. Unable to join classes due to software issues etc 

[Bellarose]

Thank you for your reply. 

The money was due to be paid in advance but as soon as they didn't receive the money they blocked her account.

I did explain that it was my ex partners responsibility to make the payments, I provided them with his contact details etc which they confirmed receipt  but instead they are chasing me,

I assume it's because I signed the contract. 

[Bellarose]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I am so worried about bailiffs turning up at the house when my daughter is here & also a CCJ.  This is the last communication received from ACT...

 

NOTICE BEFORE TRANSFER TO OUR LEGAL LIAISON DEPARTMENT

Client: Reddam House Berkshire Limited T/a Kings Interhigh
Our Reference: '..............
Amount Due: £1,517.05

We have written to you on several occasions regarding the above debt.

Despite our communications, you have failed to discharge the balance owed to our client. Therefore, we have been left no alternative but to recommend that our client instigate Court action against you.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF YOU FAIL TO PAY
Your file may be passed to our Legal Liaison Department and a Claim could be issued through the County Court. At such point, our clients’ claim will include the principle sum, court fees and chargeable interest. These documents could then be served upon you by the County Court in the form of a Claim Form. Should you fail to act upon receipt of the Claim Form, our client may proceed to enter a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you.

County Court Judgments are registered with the Credit Reference Agency. Your credit rating could be affected if you have a CCJ against you. A CCJ will appear on your credit report for 6 years, even if it is paid.

We would urge you to contact our team to discuss payment options and avoid legal action. Please call us on 0203 1500 150.

HOW TO PAY
Payment can be made by a credit or debit card over the telephone or via our website: www.actcredit.com. Alternatively, you may send a cheque payable to “ACT Credit Management Ltd” to the below address. You can also pay by bank transfer: Bank Name: Santander – Account Number: 41193555 – Sort Code: 09-06-66. Please ensure your reference number is quoted on all payments: T008427.
 

[Bellarose]

Thank you again for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.  My only concern is that I have emailed King's Interhigh but they have said that I have to contact ACT & set up a payment plan.

This is the last communication received from them. I have deleted contact details 

 

Good afternoon,

 

We have been investigating your account which has caused the delay in a reply so please accept our apologies for the delay.

 

We have indeed instructed ACT to act on our behalf on your account due to the non payment and we can intervene as you say to pull the account from them but this can only be done if payment is received for the outstanding amount.

We chased both you and Mr  for payment but did not receive anything after several tries which left us with little option other than to proceed with passing the account over to ACT and as you are the person who signed the contract you are liable for the payments.

 

We are more than open to setting up a repayment plan suitable to you but we cannot simply cancel the outstanding amount.

 

Please reach out to ACT and we can avoid any court proceedings if an agreement can be reached.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

[Bellarose]

I wish I would have found this page earlier!

 

I've spent sleepless nights trying to work out how I'm suppose to sort this out. 

 

Am I right in saying that even if they were to file a claim through the county court I would get the opportunity to attend court & defend my case? 

Edited November 4, 2022 by dx100uk
unnecessary previous post quote removed

[Bellarose]

we know what we said earlier

 

Thank you again.  I wouldn't even know where to start in terms of getting the £500 deposit back,  I don't have the legal understanding of how it all works or how I would approach and word it correctly but yes you're very right they do this to make sure you pay up! 

[Bellarose]

Thank you. I think I will struggle to find the contact details of the other parents as it's an online school & I didn't get to meet any of them.  I am just going by the reviews that I have read. If I were able to access the online portal I'd be able to take screenshots etc 

[Bellarose]

Would it be ok if I were to email the accounts dpt & ask them for a breakdown of the money they say I owe? Also, what has happened with the £500 deposit?

[Bellarose]

thank you

 

The total amount they say I owe is as follows; 

 

Fees - £2017.05 - £500 deposit = £1517.05

 

Suppose I should be grateful that they are using the £500 deposit to deduct from the total amount!! 

[Bellarose]

Yes it was the yearly contract as that was the cheapest option.  The other option you were able to cancel at anytime but a lot more expensive.  It's the fees from March onwards, my daughter was blocked anyway 

[Bellarose]

Hi, today alone I have received 3 missed calls from ACT credit management, they're getting very desperate.   Can I ask if Kings Interhigh decide to raise a court case would I get a chance to attend court ? 

[Bellarose]

thank you

[Bellarose]

Evening I have receive a letter from ACT today with a Financial Statement to complete and a bunch of other forms.  Is this normal practice, should I just ignore?

[Bellarose]

we know what we said earlier,

 

yes of course I will try to do it now 

 

 

 

2023-01-13 ACT Letter of Claim.pdf

[Bellarose]

Hi,

 

I received a letter in the post today with all the relevant documents 

ACT.pdf

[Bellarose]

Afternoon all, just got home to be greeted with a letter from Kings Interhigh.  I thought they had gone away but I suppose that was wishful thinking!! I have attached the docs received. 

Am I right in saying that I now have to fill in the defence and counterclaim form?

 

full claimform medway court.pdf

[Bellarose]

Which Court have you received the claim from ? Medway claims court

MCOL Northampton N1 ?

Manual Claim CCMCC (Salford) ?

New beta WWW.MONEYCLAIMS.SERVICE.GOV.UK ?

Name of the Claimant ? Reddam House Berkshire Ltd T/a Kings Interhigh

How many defendant's  joint or self ? 1

Date of issue –  No issue date

 

Particulars of Claim

What is the claim for – 

Tuition Fees

 

What is the total value of the claim? £1815.53
 

Have you received prior notice of a claim being issued pursuant to paragraph 3 of the PAPDC (Pre Action Protocol) ? NO
 

Have you changed your address since the time at which the debt referred to in the claim was allegedly incurred? NO
 

Did you inform the claimant of your change of address? N/A

Is the claim for - a Bank Account (Overdraft) or credit card or loan or catalogue or mobile phone account? NO

When did you enter into the original agreement before or after April 2007 ? AFTER
 

Do you recall how you entered into the agreement...On line /In branch/By post ? ELECTRONICALLY
 

Is the debt showing on your credit reference files (Experian/Equifax /Etc...) ? UNKNOWN
 

Has the claim been issued by the original creditor or was the account assigned and it is the Debt purchaser who has issued the claim. DEBT PURCHASER
 

Were you aware the account had been assigned – did you receive a Notice of Assignment? NO. ONLY AWARE ONCE I RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM ACT CREDIT MANAGEMENT LTD 
 

Did you receive a Default Notice from the original creditor? NO. ONLY RECEIVED EMAILS STATING THAT UNLESS PAYMENT WAS MADE THE SYSTEM WOULD RESTRICT ACCESS
 

Have you been receiving statutory notices headed “Notice of Sums in Arrears”  or " Notice of Arrears "– at least once a year ? NO
 

Why did you cease payments? POOR QUALITY OF TEACHING.  TROUBLE ACCESSING LESSONS AND POOR COMMUNICATION 
 

What was the date of your last payment? 16/2/2022
 

Was there a dispute with the original creditor that remains unresolved? YES
 

Did you communicate any financial problems to the original creditor and make any attempt to enter into a debt management plan? I COMMUNICATED THAT I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE PAYMENTS AS IT WAS MY EX PARTNER THAT WAS MAKING THE PAYMENTS 
 

 

[Bellarose]

 The right hand side of the Claim form N1 has a sticker over the top with a reference number.  There's a stamp with date of service 17th July 2023.  I have attached docs earlier

 

 

 

 

 

[Bellarose]

thank you,  I take I need to reply back with acknowledgment of service? It doesn't leave me a lot of time to prepare my case though as I only received the letter yesterday 

[Bellarose]

Thank you for the help.

I'm just filling out the Acknowledgement of service form.  Where it says -Address to which documents about this claim should be sent (including reference if appropriate), I take it this is my address?

 

 

[Bellarose]

Hi, of course 

 

N9a AOS manual Form.pdf

[Bellarose]

Morning, 

The deadline for the AOS is the 4th of August. 

Does it make any difference if I send it before? 

Also, from what I read I can email the docs, should I avoid this and send recorded delivery instead?

Thank you in advance 

[Bellarose]

Can someone please help me? 

I have been so caught up with day-to-day life trying to juggle a multitude of different things that I totally forgot about this. 

I submitted the AOS on the 26th of July but forgot about the defence. 

I have been looking through previous posts as I'm lost with it all now and am unsure what I needed to send although I might be too late now.

When should I be receiving a date for the hearing? 

Thank you in advance 

[Bellarose]

thank you, yes I've got the email it's ccmccustomerenquiries@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

 

enquiries@medway.countycourt.gsi.gov.uk