caro v Alliance and Leicester ***WON***

[caro]

Hello everyone. Been lurking a while, but I was only with A+L for a few months last year when I was lured by their promise of interest free overdrafts, high rates when I was in credit etc. I thought I would save a bit of money, but they didn't mention the horrendous way they administer the charges. You will see from my signature below that I have got some bigger charges to claim so I have concentrated more on them.

Still, I have had the info from my DP request and tomorrow I am sending a preliminary letter to A+L claiming £177.00.

Wish me luck!

Good Luck

Louise xxx

[caro]

Got the following from A&L this morning.

Dear Caro

I am writing in response to your recent communication and was very sorry to hear of your disappointment with the service you have received.

Thank you for taking the time to highlight your concerns, we are currently looking into the situation and will be writing to you with a more detailed response.

In the meantime, I am enclosing a leaflet which explains the steps we will take to handle your complaint.

Yours sincerely

pp Liz Larkin

I hope they don't think it is worth the hassle of "negotiating" or refusing to pay as £177.00 is nothing to them. Anyway they have another 7 days until LBA, although their procedure gives them up to 8 weeks. Like they waited that long to take the charges. I think not.

[caro]

Been a bit slow, but finally done my LBA ready to post to Liz Larkin from the Customer Contact Centre. Clocks ticking.

[caro]

Got a letter from A&L today.

Dear Caro

Sod off and leave us alone. ....trust that we will meet your expectations in future.(I have no doubt they will!!)

Yours sincerely (Ha ha).

Now the full version for anyone interested.

Thank you for your letter dated 18 May regarding charges incurred on your account which I am sorry to learn have been the cause of dissatisfaction.

We believe our charges are reasonable and competitive compared to the industry. They are clearly shown within our literature and on our website, as well as being set out on monthly current account statements. There has been no consultation between the banking industry and the Office of Fair Trading about current accounts. If there is any industry wide consultation on this matter, Alliance & Leicester will participate as appropriate.

Whilst I appreciate your dissatisfaction regarding this issue, I regret to tell you that I am unable to make any adjustments to your account.

I am very sorry that you have been disappointed with our service on this occasion and trust that we will meet your expectations in future. In accordance with regulatory requirements, I must advise that if I do not hear from you within the next eight weeks our file on this issue will be closed and I am enclosing our leaflet explaining how to progress this matter, either through our internal procedures or, if necessary, via the Financial Ombudsman Service, should you remain dissatisfied.

I do hope, however, that we have now resolved this situation and if you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Katie Ellis
Customer Services

I posted my LBA yesterday so they must have crossed in the post. I know the answer really, but just want a bit of reassurance and hand holding please. I don't need to do anything at the moment do I because if they didn't get my LBA today they will get it tomorrow. It has gone to Liz Larkin who wrote the last letter.

As a point of interest I have serious doubts that my account has even been looked at. Ms Ellis is unable to make any adjustments to my account.

OF COURSE SHE IS. IT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS!!!

I wonder if this is an automated reply.

Encouraging that the media are picking up on A&L closing claimants accounts though.

[caro]

I was planning to do my Moneyclaim on 22nd June, as they should have received LBA no later than 8th June. Given the A&L persons stance on the Moneybox programme on Saturday that they will pay everyone who starts court proceedings before they go to court, I wanted to run an idea by y'all.

1. Should I phone them up and give them the option (which they already have anyway) to settle before I do the Moneyclaim? I can point out that it well save them my claim fees, and with my claim being only £177.00 anyway it would seem stupid to almost double it as they will be paying up anyway.

2. Should I do my Moneyclaim as planned (assuming they don't pay up first), and try and get something on the form along the lines that A&L have already said they will pay up before going to court, so I regret the waste of court time in having to do claim, and basically drop A&L in the proverbial?

Any advice or suggestions are welcome. I started off tentatively looking for my money back, but following Whizzkid and NeilP's recent success with Abbey, I am inspired to be a bit more adventurous, especially as I am only after a relatively small amount.

[arkanara]

I'm not an expert on this by any lengths but after being glued to everyones experiences the general rule of thumb seems to be to stick to guide, it's almost fool proof and is well documented.

Did you say in your previous thread that A&L had a spokesperson out on the matter?

Em

[caro]

There was a programme called Moneybox on Radio 4 on Saturday, and A&L person admitting they were paying everyone who went to court, but before court case. She also stated that anyone who got refunds would have accounts closed. I think you will find a link to this and a thread in the General section.

As a rule of thumb, you are absolutely right that you should stick to the tried and tested process. However, given the radio interview and the relatively small amount I am claiming, I am willing to be a guinea pig if there would be any merit in testing the water.

You are absolutely spot on.

[arkanara]

Give it a try, i suppose you always have the tried and tested way to fall back on should they not pay up.

Keep us posted.

Em

[jimlayton]

Hi
Im In The Same Boat As You Had All The Same Letters And Responses And My Moneyclaim Filing Date Is 22/06/06 As Well
Good Luck
May The Alliance And Leicester Action Group Force Be With You
Jim

[caro]

Cheers both. Will keep you posted.

[caro]

Well times up and not a word. MCOL here we come.

[DCG]

nice one dude keep us all informed

[caro]

Still haven't got round to MCOL but I did get a letter from A&L. I haven't got it in front of me so I will paraphrase:

Dear Caro,

Now look here. We've told you to sod off once. The bank charges are fair. The OFT have not talked to the banks and we are still not going to give you your money back, so once and for all sod off and leave us alone.

Yours sincerely

P Off

A&L

All I can say to that is - No I Will not Sod Off.
Hopefully sort MCOL at the weekend.