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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:26   #1 (permalink)
money
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Default Alliance and Leicester/mbna.

My husband has a cc with a and l which is done through mbna.I sent a letter just over a week ago basically saying give me money back or else blah blah blah. I have just received a reply but to be honest i haven't a clue what to do next!!

The letter

Thank you for contacting us.

It is my utmost intention to resolve this matter to your satisfaction and I would appreciate if you could telephone the Customer Advocate office, on 01244 672628 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We will ensure that you receive a full response by March 12, 2006. I have enclosed a copy of our internal complaints procedure leaflet for your information


My husband will be a nightmare if he has to call, he flaps and panics and it useless 'demanding' stuff! I tend to write down bullet points for him if I know how the conversation will go ont he phone.

Has anyone else had this letter? What should I tell my husband to say ont he phone?

I hope someone can help!!
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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:26   #2 (permalink)
money
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Default Alliance and Leicester/mbna.

My husband has a cc with a and l which is done through mbna.I sent a letter just over a week ago basically saying give me money back or else blah blah blah. I have just received a reply but to be honest i haven't a clue what to do next!!

The letter

Thank you for contacting us.

It is my utmost intention to resolve this matter to your satisfaction and I would appreciate if you could telephone the Customer Advocate office, on 01244 672628 between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We will ensure that you receive a full response by March 12, 2006. I have enclosed a copy of our internal complaints procedure leaflet for your information


My husband will be a nightmare if he has to call, he flaps and panics and it useless 'demanding' stuff! I tend to write down bullet points for him if I know how the conversation will go ont he phone.

Has anyone else had this letter? What should I tell my husband to say ont he phone?

I hope someone can help!!
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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:40   #3 (permalink)
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If the phone call is difficult then I would say don't call but write instead. They have no right to demand that you call and you should assume that their phone operative is trained to exploit any uncertainty in what you say.
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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:40   #4 (permalink)
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If the phone call is difficult then I would say don't call but write instead. They have no right to demand that you call and you should assume that their phone operative is trained to exploit any uncertainty in what you say.
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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:57   #5 (permalink)
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Do you know how much you are cliaming - is it all penalty charges and associated interest?

If so then seend the letter before action.

If not then send the Data Protection Act request

Don't phone.

Basically the rule is:
If they want you to write - phone
If they want you to phone - write
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Old 22nd February 2006, 10:57   #6 (permalink)
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Do you know how much you are cliaming - is it all penalty charges and associated interest?

If so then seend the letter before action.

If not then send the Data Protection Act request

Don't phone.

Basically the rule is:
If they want you to write - phone
If they want you to phone - write
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Old 22nd February 2006, 11:07   #7 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seminole
If the phone call is difficult then I would say don't call but write instead. They have no right to demand that you call and you should assume that their phone operative is trained to exploit any uncertainty in what you say.
Absolutely correct.

In fact - if you write to them explaining that you will only enter into correspondence via the mail and they persist in phoning, then they are in breach of the Wireless Teleghraphy Act (I believe; this would need verification, but when I had a read, it was pretty unambiguous.)
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Old 22nd February 2006, 11:07   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seminole
If the phone call is difficult then I would say don't call but write instead. They have no right to demand that you call and you should assume that their phone operative is trained to exploit any uncertainty in what you say.
Absolutely correct.

In fact - if you write to them explaining that you will only enter into correspondence via the mail and they persist in phoning, then they are in breach of the Wireless Teleghraphy Act (I believe; this would need verification, but when I had a read, it was pretty unambiguous.)
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:02   #9 (permalink)
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Also, record your telephone conversation. They might well be doing the same, and if they can pursuade you to cave in they'll have evidence of it if they've recorded the call.

At the beginning, warn them that "I just have to tell you this call IS being recorded for quality control purposes."

During the call, ask them direct questions such as "Can you explain to me what these charges are, and how you break down the £38?" (or whatever it is), "What reason do you have for disobeying the law as laid down in the unfair terms in consumer act 1999 which gives me the right to negotiate liquidated damages compensation?" - really push these sorts of questions, because the more YOU KEEP THEM on the defensive, the better you can control the conversation the better it will be.

Finally if not satisfied, don't get angry and shout or swear at them. Thank them for their efforts, but tell them that "I believe as you are not prepared to change your position, and I'm not prepared to change mine, and the banking ombudsman has no powers to force compliance with a decision in arbitration, I feel that the only way forward is to settle this matter through the courts."

Last time the NatWest spoke to me, they tried to assure me that the banking ombudsman and the financial ombudsman CAN make binding rulings, but this simply isn't true. The leaflet produced by the banking ombudsman specifies they are an arbitration service ONLY, and can't force the banks to comply, and the financial ombudsman specifically excludes banks and building societies - so don't be misled by the banks about the powers these two organisations have.
 
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:02   #10 (permalink)
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Also, record your telephone conversation. They might well be doing the same, and if they can pursuade you to cave in they'll have evidence of it if they've recorded the call.

At the beginning, warn them that "I just have to tell you this call IS being recorded for quality control purposes."

During the call, ask them direct questions such as "Can you explain to me what these charges are, and how you break down the £38?" (or whatever it is), "What reason do you have for disobeying the law as laid down in the unfair terms in consumer act 1999 which gives me the right to negotiate liquidated damages compensation?" - really push these sorts of questions, because the more YOU KEEP THEM on the defensive, the better you can control the conversation the better it will be.

Finally if not satisfied, don't get angry and shout or swear at them. Thank them for their efforts, but tell them that "I believe as you are not prepared to change your position, and I'm not prepared to change mine, and the banking ombudsman has no powers to force compliance with a decision in arbitration, I feel that the only way forward is to settle this matter through the courts."

Last time the NatWest spoke to me, they tried to assure me that the banking ombudsman and the financial ombudsman CAN make binding rulings, but this simply isn't true. The leaflet produced by the banking ombudsman specifies they are an arbitration service ONLY, and can't force the banks to comply, and the financial ombudsman specifically excludes banks and building societies - so don't be misled by the banks about the powers these two organisations have.
 
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:03   #11 (permalink)
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I disagree that you need to warn them about recording.
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:03   #12 (permalink)
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I disagree that you need to warn them about recording.
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:11   #13 (permalink)
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Thanks for the help. If possible i will speak to them on the phone on behalf of my husband if they let me, he will talk to them first to confirm it. Would this be allowed?
I am writing him a list of what to say to see if he feels ok doing it, if not i will either talk or write on his behalf.

They want to satisfy my husband (ooh er), the only way to do this would be 100% of charges reimbursed, if they say no should we just say, ok then, you aren't willing to budge so i will start court proceedings? Or do I ask them to negotiate?

I just don't understand the bit of the letter that says 'we will ensure you recieve a full response by march 12th', any ideas what this means? Does it mean if I don't do anything they will write to me again?

I am not sure how much I am charging yet as i asked for a statement in the first letter, they haven't mentioned this in the reply.

I am very baffled!
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Old 22nd February 2006, 12:11   #14 (permalink)
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Thanks for the help. If possible i will speak to them on the phone on behalf of my husband if they let me, he will talk to them first to confirm it. Would this be allowed?
I am writing him a list of what to say to see if he feels ok doing it, if not i will either talk or write on his behalf.

They want to satisfy my husband (ooh er), the only way to do this would be 100% of charges reimbursed, if they say no should we just say, ok then, you aren't willing to budge so i will start court proceedings? Or do I ask them to negotiate?

I just don't understand the bit of the letter that says 'we will ensure you recieve a full response by march 12th', any ideas what this means? Does it mean if I don't do anything they will write to me again?

I am not sure how much I am charging yet as i asked for a statement in the first letter, they haven't mentioned this in the reply.

I am very baffled!
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Old 22nd February 2006, 14:04   #15 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by money
Thanks for the help. If possible i will speak to them on the phone on behalf of my husband if they let me, he will talk to them first to confirm it. Would this be allowed?
Absolutely.

I have the same thing at home with my husband. When we took his ex-employer to Employment Tribunal, I had to rehearse practically word for word so that he wouldn't get flustered when cross-examined, and in fact, I kept on muttering "slow down" while he was talking, as he would otherwise accelerate and start stuttering and lose his thread.

All you have to do if you want to call them is get your husband to do through the verification procedure, then to say "there's my wife, she'll be talking to you, as i have to (go to work, make the tea, whatever, he doesn't actuallly have to give a reason) and that's it!
Think about it, if you were his lawyer, accountant, or legal guardian for that matter, you'd be talking on his behalf all the time... As long as they know he has given you permission, they can't refuse to talk to you.

Go for it, sister

xxx
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Old 22nd February 2006, 14:04   #16 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by money
Thanks for the help. If possible i will speak to them on the phone on behalf of my husband if they let me, he will talk to them first to confirm it. Would this be allowed?
Absolutely.

I have the same thing at home with my husband. When we took his ex-employer to Employment Tribunal, I had to rehearse practically word for word so that he wouldn't get flustered when cross-examined, and in fact, I kept on muttering "slow down" while he was talking, as he would otherwise accelerate and start stuttering and lose his thread.

All you have to do if you want to call them is get your husband to do through the verification procedure, then to say "there's my wife, she'll be talking to you, as i have to (go to work, make the tea, whatever, he doesn't actuallly have to give a reason) and that's it!
Think about it, if you were his lawyer, accountant, or legal guardian for that matter, you'd be talking on his behalf all the time... As long as they know he has given you permission, they can't refuse to talk to you.

Go for it, sister

xxx
ML
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Old 22nd February 2006, 15:41   #17 (permalink)
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Well, my husband spoke to them and then they called back later and i was able to talk to the bloke. Basically he said that they are going to get all the details of charges printed off and sent to the assessment team who will then decide what to do next, we will hear an answer by March 12th. I said if they decide not to pay my money back then send me the list of charges so that can work out the 8% interest and make a claim through the courts. He said they will do that.

Just a case of sitting tight now isn't it? What are the chances of full money back before I have to start proceedings?
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Old 22nd February 2006, 15:41   #18 (permalink)
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