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Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
I have several claims more than 6 years ago
none have yet been tested though
I trust that no bank will want to test the law's interpretation in court
Others have done this successfully, so I have nothing to lose
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
I second that
Whatever you do DO NOT use MCOL - go to your local court (ok you can download the form) but picking up a lovely blue & white N1, using the pdf thingy on here to fill it in is soooo much more satisfying
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
To bring the story up to date....
I filed through MCOL in August..... ish and the claim got stayed
but I sent a pleading letter and got my fee back
Now I am just about to re-issue using a good POC/N1 through my local court
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
Today 3rd january 2008 I received very short letter from Martineau Johnson saying that they are considering the claim etc
But the claim issued on 12th Dec said they have til 31st Dec to reply
Presumably they still have more time in hand to issue defence etc
28 days from date of service ??? is approx 15th Jan
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
I cannot believe it.... !!!!!!!!!!
got letter from court today.... they have stayed my Lloyds business account claim until after test case
I thought business claims were going through normally
the letter mentions matters of legal principle and UTCCR
WHAT NEXT ????
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
Blackpool county court.... letter dated 8th Feb, sent out on 12th Feb, received 14th Feb
......a test case has been issued in the high court between OFT and certain banks with a view to determining issues of legal principle in relation to the recovery of charges made on bank current accounts and the applicability of the unfair terms in consumer contracts regulations and other legislation to such charges....
It is ordered that...
1. this claim is stayed until further order with a view to awating the final decision in the test case ( which shall be interpreted as the outcome of any appeal the first instance decision)
2. The defendant shall within 28 days of the final decision in the test case file at court and serve on the claimant..... a case summary setting out the the effect of that decision.... and.... their proposed directions in this claim
3. Upon receipt of the documents set out above the file be refered to DJ
4. Either party may apply at any time by application on notice in accordance with the civil procedure rules 1998 part 23 to lift the stay
5. because this order has been made by the court without considering representations from the parties, the parties have the right to apply to have the order set aside, varied or stayed. A party wishing to make an application must send or deliver the application to the court ( with any fee) to arrive within 7 days of service of this order
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
All my documents say... business claim many times
and I am claimant......XXXXXXXXXXX (A business account)
The judge must have seen it was a business account ???
not a normal account
In my POC I didn't mention UTCCR
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
Originally Posted by lancasterchelsea
The judge must have seen it was a business account ???
not a normal account
You're assuming he/she read it.
Paragraph 5 gives you the opportunity to apply for the stay to be setaside. There are a number of references you can make in your application, all of which are quite definite and explicit. However, some applications have been denied so, if you decide to appeal, prepare to be disappointed.
Is this a live account and are you still being debited with charges?
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
No the account is not current, it was closed in 1998
As an engineer it always puzzles me that faced with one set of facts and arguments.....judges can decide in a variety of ways, or am I just naive
Isn't the OFT "instruction" on business claims definitive ??
I appealed against a stay with RBS/business account in Setember and was successful..( same court , different judge) . RBS's solicitors also asked for stay lifted
My letter for stay removal included....
no UTCCR involved
not a consumer claim
OFT test not a precedent.... not relevant to this case
test case will last a year... human rights act/ unfair
master of rolls says..don't automatically stay
oft letter re business cases
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
Trouble is, those facts and arguments are not binding on a court. The OFT instruction might well be definitive as far as you, me and our banks are concerned but few judges seem to want to stick their necks out and allow any case to proceed at the moment. There is as yet no precedent available to judges in respect of the unlawfulness of default charges, so they would rather lump all cases together until they know where the Test Case is heading If your judge did read the POC properly, he/she will have been further deterred by the fact that all the charges relate to pre-six years, which is even more problematic for all parties.
However, I do think you should slap in an application to remove the stay. Even if the judge didn’t actually see the claim, or saw it but didn’t read it properly, he/she will have to read your application. You have previously been successful in the same court, so use that in your submission, as well as reiterating all the points in the stay removal letter.
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
Thanks very much for your help Els
The RBS business claim is now concluded
A preliminary hearing was set for beginning of Jan
but RBS were very desperate to reach a settlement before that date
Their solicitors phoned me constantly and I settled on all charges, interest, interest on interest and S69... total £2105. I used ExcelEnts spreadsheet
It really cheered me up because I had spent 10 months getting nowhere
I also have another 8 claims .... 3 started (business and credit card) and 5 waiting to start. Grand total about £20k plus
I will put in a request for stay lifted as you suggest
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
I handed in the stay letter on 15th Feb.
It created quite a fuss. The court office staff are very good, but wouldn't accept the letter at first. Apparently now you have to fill in some form accompanied by your letter... at a cost of £75. I pressed them, and they said they would hand it to the judge (no charge)
I asked one of the staff who is very helpful why business claims are being stayed and she wouldn't say
I said that another judge at the same court had lifted my business claim stay a few months ago..... she wouldn't be drawn.
I've got several business and credit card claims ready to start but don't want to waste money if they will be stayed
Re: lancasterchelsea v. Lloyds/business (1995-1998)
That doesn't surprise me. Some courts/judges are resistant to letters from the parties and insist on a form N244 being submitted.
However, I do think you should slap in an application to remove the stay. Even if the judge didn’t actually see the claim, or saw it but didn’t read it properly, he/she will have to read your application.
By that I meant formal application and I apologise for not making it clearer.
Anyway, well done for insisting that they take your letter. Let's hope the judge at least allows you a hearing to plead your case for a stay removal.