Red Vs Studio Cards

[redsonja]

Having been spurred on by a few other threads regarding Studio, I thought I would start mine....now at a nil balance but I know I had loads of charges as I kept paying by switch over the phone and constantly getting late charges as they used to tell me it took 3 weeks :eek: for the payment to hit the account as they were not set up for instant payment via switch.

 

Sent SAR and received statements with nice letter and confirmation they credited acc with £10....(not that I really wanted that as I have a nil balance but hey...was nice of them to not charge)

 

Started going through statements tonight and I must have complained a lot in the past to them as I have had quite a few charges reversed...anyway....just discovered they have missed 3 years worth of statements....some numpty has been cutting the statements so it only shows 2 lines which doesnt give me the rest of the year! doh! Phonecall to them tomorrow me thinks!

[harrythehawk]

Nice one Red, they buckle very easily on the Administration Charges so you will get them, just make sure you don't get fobbed off with credit or vouchers ..... unless you want them of course !!

[redsonja]

Cheers Harry, Hopefully it will be a nice easy one...just wish all the others were as easy!

[OldBear]

Go for it, Red.

 

As Harry said, Studio are paying out very easily and being very polite about it, too, which is nice.

 

From prelim to agreement to pay back took only 4 days. Getting the settlement actually correct does take them a little longer, as they do tend to get it a tad wrong. In my case an email got it fixed to my approval.

 

Good luck, keep us posted.

 

OB

[Nakered]

Hello there..

 

I want to ask studio to send me my statements but im not sure where to send my £10 and sar to??

 

Could someone let me know pleeeese:)

 

Many thanks

Mnnie

[carolbl]

Studio

Preston

PR0 2BP

Thats where I sent mine and they responded. Its the only address I have ever had for them

[redsonja]

Hey folks,

 

Has anyone had trouble trying to make sense of their statements? Studio had some years missing so they have sent me some more but the dates on the pages are all over the place and because it doesnt give a balance it is hard to tally them up. Anyone else had the same prob?

[harrythehawk]

Mine were OK and in list form and clearly showed Admin, Service, PPI etc I would give them a ring, mine came with a short covering letter from a real person offering assistance.

[redsonja]

Thanks Harry,

I have just gone through them like "Blue Peter" with scissors and sticky back plastic and finally managed to piece them together. I dont know why they print off in such a fashion and duplicate...seems crazy. The charges aren't as high as I thought but every little helps. Did anyone claim interest or just the admin charges?

[harrythehawk]

I didn't really claim other than said they were unfair in a letter querying other things and they gave them back right away with interest without having to ask for it, if you are going for the bank type charge route then I guess this will go on at court stage. At the moment I am disputing the service and PPI charges as the Admin costs (well over £300) have an impact on how other charges are levied, still waiting for them to come back on that ...... and the proper executed CCA ...... and signed for PPI ...... I love this site !!!

[redsonja]

Thanks again Harry, I shall keep an eye on your progress. Looking at my charges, I had quite a few refunded as I complained most times they charged them and they did automatically adjust the service charge so Im hopeing to get the admin charges and the interest I paid them.

Letter going off today.

[OldBear]

Red,

 

I've replied to your PM. I hope it helps a bit.

 

OB

[redsonja]

Thanks again OB.

Have done letter, its only £90 but as tescos says "Every little helps".....watch this space

[redsonja]

Came home from a few days away, to find a letter from Mrs Newton with a chq. She has refunded fees plus 8% interest so I will just accept this.

Oh if only all claims were as nice and easy as Studio Cards!

[turn82]

What are we looking to reclaim when we send 2nd letter if it admin and service charges, sorry newbie.

Kerry

[redsonja]

Kerry, The service charges are usually the interest they charge ypu. You can claim the admin charges and then they usually adjust your service charge anyway to reflect the reduction in interest.

HTH

[kazdoc]

Came home from a few days away, to find a letter from Mrs Newton with a chq. She has refunded fees plus 8% interest so I will just accept this.

Oh if only all claims were as nice and easy as Studio Cards!

 

Ok let me get this straight. Once I get statements I only claim for Admin and they will automatically refund service? Or do I ask for Admin and Service? (No PPI thank god).

Sorry, little lost X

[redsonja]

Kazdoc,

I applied for Admin charges and contractual interest at a rate of 39.8% APR. They offered all admin charges and 8% interest and I accepted. They then sent me a statement showing £10 SAR fee paid to my account and £40 adjustments in service charge (they didnt tell me about this though).

I have emailed them asking them to refund the £50 credit on my account but they havent answered so I will have to ring them.

Does this make sense?

[kazdoc]

Yes I think soooooooooooooo.

Think I will go for all admin and service charges with 8%.

If they laugh then so be it. No harm in asking

Cheers x

[redsonja]

Go careful with the service charge as this is interest that you agreed to pay when you opened your account. There is no ground on interest being unlawful.

Good luck.

[kazdoc]

Ahh that changes a few things. I'm doing it for my mum so not sure what the deal is with service charge. In that case I'll just do admin and 8%. Phew. Sorry to hijack pet, thanks for the help x

[candy1982]

Hi can anyone tell me how they worded their 2nd letter once statments have been recieved?

Kind regards

 

candy

[redsonja]

Depends what interest you are claiming. You can just send the prelim in the library and change the odd word to fit your circs.

[candy1982]

Thanks Red.

I,m finding it hard to find the template for the 2nd letter.

I ahve no idea (I,m so useless at things like this) Also how do I calculate interest tryed looking everywhere no idea I wish things were so simple.

How long is it usually taking for them to answer back with a offer and from first reply getting stsments sent out?

 

Are you wiring something like I am requesting that you refund me my administration charges that have occured over the year plus 8% interest?

Sorry I,m so rubbish.

[redsonja]

Have you sent a SAR to them or do you already know all your charges?

When you say 2nd letter, do you mean a letter after you have requested your statements?

 

This is the letter I sent:

 

 

FAO Mrs Lisa Newton

Customer Care Department

Studio

Preston

PR0 2BP

 

 

26th February 2007

 

 

Dear Mrs Newton,

 

 

Account Number xxxxxxx

 

 

Thank you for your help in dealing with my statement of account. I have now received all the relevant information for the requested dates. I would also like to thank you for crediting the “subject Access Request” fee to my account. This has put my account in credit and I shall be grateful if you would arrange for this credit to be refunded to me by cheque.

 

 

I am also writing to ask you to refund to me, the charges which you have levied from my account since January 1999.

 

 

As I am sure you are aware, it has now been confirmed that your particularly high level of penalties are considered to be unfair per se by the OFT, who reported on the 5th April 2006 and are therefore presumed to be unlawful in the absence of specific proof to the contrary.

 

 

I have noted your comments about your right to apply an administration charge but I would point out that the administration charges should only be an amount to fully cover your administration costs. If you believe these charges do cover your costs, please provide a full breakdown of these costs.

 

 

Since January 1999 I have had a large number of Administration Charges applied to my account and I have also had a large number credited back when I made a complaint about the charges at the time. There are however, still charges applied to my account that have not been refunded and I would now like to be reimbursed for them.

 

 

I have attached a schedule of charges still outstanding and I would like to point out to you that I am also claiming contractual interest (compounded daily) at a rate of 39.8% APR. This interest is claimed on the basis of consumer contract legislation, which provides that where a contract has not been individually negotiated, the party dealing with the consumer cannot insert advantageous terms into contracts where there is no comparable term in favour of the consumer. The total owing to me as at today's date is £263.08.

I ask that you refund my charges and interest (via cheque and NOT credited to my account or in vouchers) within 14 days of the above date.

 

 

I am a member of the Consumer Action Group and am aware of other claims where you have settled in a prompt and satisfactory manner and I hope this situation will be the same.

 

 

If I do not receive a refund within this timescale, I shall have no alternative but to begin a claim against you for the full amount, plus costs. I will also submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner. This will incur additional costs to yourself and I shall also claim additional contractual interest (compounded daily) until this matter is resolved.

 

 

I hope it does not need to come to this.

 

 

Thank you for your time in dealing with this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

(Excuse the size of some of the font)

Does that help?