Jump to content


  • Tweets

  • Posts

    • Well barristers would say that in the hope that motorists would go to them for advice -obviously paid advice.  The problem with appealing is at least twofold. 1] there is a real danger that some part of the appeal will point out that the person appealing [the keeper ] is also the driver.  And in a lot of cases the last thing the keeper wants when they are also the driver is that the parking company knows that. It makes it so much easier for them as the majority  of Judges do not accept that the keeper and the driver are the same person for obvious reasons. Often they are not the same person especially when it is a family car where the husband, wife and children are all insured to drive the same car. On top of that  just about every person who has a valid insurance policy is able to drive another person's vehicle. So there are many possibilities and it should be up to the parking company to prove it to some extent.  Most parking company's do not accept appeals under virtually any circumstances. But insist that you carry on and appeal to their so called impartial jury who are often anything but impartial. By turning down that second appeal, many motorists pay up because they don't know enough about PoFA to argue with those decisions which brings us to the second problem. 2] the major parking companies are mostly unscrupulous, lying cheating scrotes. So when you appeal and your reasons look as if they would have merit in Court, they then go about  concocting a Witness Statement to debunk that challenge. We feel that by leaving what we think are the strongest arguments to our Member's Witness Statements, it leaves insufficient time to be thwarted with their lies etc. And when the motorists defence is good enough to win, it should win regardless of when it is first produced.   
    • S13 (2)The creditor may not exercise the right under paragraph 4 to recover from the keeper any unpaid parking charges specified in the notice to keeper if, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day after that on which that notice was given, the creditor is given— (a)a statement signed by or on behalf of the vehicle-hire firm to the effect that at the material time the vehicle was hired to a named person under a hire agreement; (b)a copy of the hire agreement; and (c)a copy of a statement of liability signed by the hirer under that hire agreement. As  Arval has complied with the above they cannot be pursued by EC----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S14 [1]   the creditor may recover those charges (so far as they remain unpaid) from the hirer. (2)The conditions are that— (a)the creditor has within the relevant period given the hirer a notice in accordance with sub-paragraph (5) (a “notice to hirer”), together with a copy of the documents mentioned in paragraph 13(2) and the notice to keeper; (b)a period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice to hirer was given has elapsed;  As ECP did not send copies of the documents to your company and they have given 28 days instead of 21 days they have failed to comply with  the Act so you and your Company are absolved from paying. That is not to say that they won't continue asking to be paid as they do not have the faintest idea how PoFA works. 
    • Euro have got a lot wrong and have failed to comply with the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4.  According to Section 13 after ECP have written to Arval they should then send a NTH to the Hirer  which they have done.This eliminates Arval from any further pursuit by ECP. When they wrote to your company they should have sent copies of everything that they asked Arval for. This is to prove that your company agree what happened on the day of the breach. If ECP then comply with the Act they are allowed to pursue the hirer. If they fail, to comply they cannot make the hirer pay. They can pursue until they are blue in the face but the Hirer is not lawfully required to pay them and if it went to Court ECP would lose. Your company could say who was driving but the only person that can be pursued is the Hirer, there does not appear to be an extension for a driver to be pursued. Even if there was, because ECP have failed miserably to comply with the Act  they still have no chance of winning in Court. Here are the relevant Hire sections from the Act below.
    • Thank-you FTMDave for your feedback. May I take this opportunity to say that after reading numerous threads to which you are a contributor, I have great admiration for you. You really do go above and beyond in your efforts to help other people. The time you put in to help, in particular with witness statements is incredible. I am also impressed by the way in which you will defer to others with more experience should there be a particular point that you are not 100% clear on and return with answers or advice that you have sought. I wish I had the ability to help others as you do. There is another forum expert that I must also thank for his time and patience answering my questions and allowing me to come to a “penny drops” moment on one particular issue. I believe he has helped me immensely to understand and to strengthen my own case. I shall not mention who it is here at the moment just in case he would rather I didn't but I greatly appreciate the time he took working through that issue with me. I spent 20+ years of working in an industry that rules and regulations had to be strictly adhered to, indeed, exams had to be taken in order that one had to become qualified in those rules and regulations in order to carry out the duties of the post. In a way, such things as PoFA 2012 are rules and regulations that are not completely alien to me. It has been very enjoyable for me to learn these regulations and the law surrounding them. I wish I had found this forum years ago. I admit that perhaps I had been too keen to express my opinions given that I am still in the learning process. After a suitable period in this industry I became Qualified to teach the rules and regulations and I always said to those I taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question. If opinions, theories and observations are put forward, discussion can take place and as long as the result is that the student is able to clearly see where they went wrong and got to that moment where the penny drops then that is a valuable learning experience. No matter how experienced one is, there is always something to learn and if I did not know the answer to a question, I would say, I don't know the answer to that question but I will go and find out what the answer is. In any posts I have made, I have stated, “unless I am wrong” or “as far as I can see” awaiting a response telling me what I got wrong, if it was wrong. If I am wrong I am only too happy to admit it and take it as a valuable learning experience. I take the point that perhaps I should not post on other peoples threads and I shall refrain from doing so going forward. 🤐 As alluded to, circumstances can change, FTMDave made the following point that it had been boasted that no Caggers, over two years, who had sent a PPC the wrong registration snotty letter, had even been taken to court, let alone lost a court hearing .... but now they have. I too used the word "seemed" because it is true, we haven't had all the details. After perusing this forum I believe certain advice changed here after the Beavis case, I could be wrong but that is what I seem to remember reading. Could it be that after winning the above case in question, a claimant could refer back to this case and claim that a defendant had not made use of the appeal process, therefore allowing the claimant to win? Again, in this instance only, I do not know what is to be gained by not making an appeal or concealing the identity of the driver, especially if it is later admitted that the defendant was the driver and was the one to input the incorrect VRN in error. So far no one has educated me as to the reason why. But, of course, when making an appeal, it should be worded carefully so that an error in the appeal process cannot be referred back to. I thought long and hard about whether or not to post here but I wanted to bring up this point for discussion. Yes, I admit I have limited knowledge, but does that mean I should have kept silent? After I posted that I moved away from this forum slightly to find other avenues to increase my knowledge. I bought a law book and am now following certain lawyers on Youtube in the hope of arming myself with enough ammunition to use in my own case. In one video titled “7 Reasons You Will LOSE Your Court Case (and how to avoid them)” by Black Belt Barrister I believe he makes my point by saying the following, and I quote: “If you ignore the complaint in the first instance and it does eventually end up in court then it's going to look bad that you didn't co-operate in the first place. The court is not going to look kindly on you simply ignoring the company and not, let's say, availing yourself of any kind of appeal opportunities, particularly if we are talking about parking charge notices and things like that.” This point makes me think that, it is not such a bizarre judgement in the end. Only in the case of having proof of payment and inputting an incorrect VRN .... could it be worthwhile making a carefully worded appeal in the first instance? .... If the appeal fails, depending on the reason, surely this could only help if it went to court? As always, any feedback gratefully received.
    • To which official body does one make a formal complaint about a LPA fixed charge receiver? Does one make a complaint first to the company employing the appointed individuals?    Or can one complain immediately to an official body, such as nara?    I've tried researching but there doesn't seem a very clear route on how to legally hold them to account for wrongful behaviour.  It seems frustratingly complicated because they are considered to be officers of the court and held in high esteem - and the borrower is deemed liable for their actions.  Yet what does the borrower do when disclosure shows clear evidence of wrong-doing? Does anyone have any pointers please?
  • Recommended Topics

  • Our picks

    • If you are buying a used car – you need to read this survival guide.
      • 1 reply
    • Hello,

      On 15/1/24 booked appointment with Big Motoring World (BMW) to view a mini on 17/1/24 at 8pm at their Enfield dealership.  

      Car was dirty and test drive was two circuits of roundabout on entry to the showroom.  Was p/x my car and rushed by sales exec and a manager into buying the mini and a 3yr warranty that night, sale all wrapped up by 10pm.  They strongly advised me taking warranty out on car that age (2017) and confirmed it was honoured at over 500 UK registered garages.

      The next day, 18/1/24 noticed amber engine warning light on dashboard , immediately phoned BMW aftercare team to ask for it to be investigated asap at nearest garage to me. After 15 mins on hold was told only their 5 service centres across the UK can deal with car issues with earliest date for inspection in March ! Said I’m not happy with that given what sales team advised or driving car. Told an amber warning light only advisory so to drive with caution and call back when light goes red.

      I’m not happy to do this, drive the car or with the after care experience (a sign of further stresses to come) so want a refund and to return the car asap.

      Please can you advise what I need to do today to get this done. 
       

      Many thanks 
      • 81 replies
    • Housing Association property flooding. https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/438641-housing-association-property-flooding/&do=findComment&comment=5124299
      • 161 replies
    • We have finally managed to obtain the transcript of this case.

      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

      One of the points that the judge made was that the customers contract with the broker specifically refers to the courier – and it is clear that the courier knows that they are acting for a third party. There is no need to name the third party. They just have to be recognisably part of a class of person – such as a sender or a recipient of the parcel.

      Please note that a recent case against UPS failed on exactly the same issue with the judge held that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 did not apply.

      We will be getting that transcript very soon. We will look at it and we will understand how the judge made such catastrophic mistakes. It was a very poor judgement.
      We will be recommending that people do include this adverse judgement in their bundle so that when they go to county court the judge will see both sides and see the arguments against this adverse judgement.
      Also, we will be to demonstrate to the judge that we are fair-minded and that we don't mind bringing everything to the attention of the judge even if it is against our own interests.
      This is good ethical practice.

      It would be very nice if the parcel delivery companies – including EVRi – practised this kind of thing as well.

       

      OT APPROVED, 365MC637, FAROOQ, EVRi, 12.07.23 (BRENT) - J v4.pdf
        • Like

Financial ombudsman comes under fire as insider reveals litany of bad practices


style="text-align: center;">  

Thread Locked

because no one has posted on it for the last 2731 days.

If you need to add something to this thread then

 

Please click the "Report " link

 

at the bottom of one of the posts.

 

If you want to post a new story then

Please

Start your own new thread

That way you will attract more attention to your story and get more visitors and more help 

 

Thanks

Recommended Posts

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/sitesearch.do?querystring=ombudsman+whistleblower&p=tto&pf=all&bl=on

 

and was writen by Lauren Thompson - who should be congratulated for this piece

 

 

Customers with grievances about their bank are being let down by a poorly trained and slapdash ombudsman, according to a whistleblower who used to work at the service.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the independent body that settles disputes between banks and customers, lacks the expertise and resources to investigate complaints properly, the former employee alleges. Other critics, including independent financial advisers and lawyers, also accuse the ombudsman of bias in favour of the banks.

The FOS handles 170,000 cases every year and is the last hope for desperate consumers battling with the financial services industry.

Jane Sanders worked as an adjudicator at the FOS between 2006 and 2008, on £22,000 a year, and was “absolutely disgusted” at how the service is run. She says: “If adjudicators don’t meet their targets, they don’t get their bonus, so, of course, cases are going to be rushed through. My target was to close 3.5 cases every week.

 

Banks hold Ombudsman in Contempt

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Replies 305
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I for one am utterly disgusted in the way FOS has dealt with valid complaints I have sent to them.

 

They are exceptionally happy to accept illegible application forms as concrete proof the a DCA may continue to hunt one without mercy or without challenge.

 

They also told me that once a bank is "satisfied" that it is correct about a debt then a debt is no longer considered in dispute, just because a debtor considers it to be so. This is plain silly, utterly biased in favour of the lender and outrageous.

 

All this flies in the face of OFT guidelines and the law and MUST be stopped.

 

FOS is clearly acting over and above their remit as an impartial (lol) body.

 

They will "impartially" listen to your many detailed complaints and then smugly tell you that a DCA is acting quite properly/professionally in line with the internal collection procedures; i.e. ringing you against your wishes at all hours and writing baloney to you on a regular basis. They will tell you that they are NOT a legal body but they will tell you that a shark is legally- entitled to pursue you with nothing more than an unreadable application form for proof of an alleged agreement- a worthless form that may or may NOT have been accepted many years ago.

 

They have taken the side on banks and aggressive DCAs and this can only harm millions of ordinary consumers.

 

I cannot express my revulsion for this coterie. I hope that even more whistleblowers come out and expose them for what they are – a banker puppet!

 

My advice is to recreate an A4 application form that is illegible (the harder to read the better). Then roll over it with a muddy car tyre. Next send a red-letter demand to some DCA manager for a million quid and when they refuse to pay you tell them to grumble to FOS.

Now if FOS is consistent they will impartially examine the muddy application form and tell the DCA gaffer that they cannot help them as a valid and enforceable agreement obviously exists......

 

Jeez - don’t get me going on this lot...........

 

Chocolate teapots are more use to consumers.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I've just had dealings with the FOS regarding interest rate calculation only to be told that they (FOS) are not a calculation service. When pushing the matter further it was revealed that the FOS ask the financial company in question to re-calculate their figures and when the company comes back as says that their figures were accurate the FOS says OK and finds in favour of the company.

 

If anybody does decide to complain to the FOS the matter does not go before an ombudsman but to an adjudicator. If you are not satisfied with the adjudicators finding you have to request that the matter get escalated to an ombudman as I have just done.

 

Regards

 

Mike

Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO the FOS is no longer 'fit for purpose'. It is as simple as that. I know that the Tories are planning to get rid of the FSA and roll the regulators into the OFT but the best ouctome for consumers would be just to get rid of FOS.

Arrow Global/MBNA - Discontinued and paid costs

HFO/Morgan Stanley (Barclays) - Discontinued and paid costs

HSBC - Discontinued and paid costs

Nationwide - Ran for cover of stay pending OFT case 3 yrs ago

RBS/Mint - Nothing for 4 yrs after S78 request

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had a complaint in with the FOS since June and the Adjudicator phoned me on two occasions to recap my case then comes back to me and tells me that the Halifax have not done anything wrong. However, I have taken screen shots of my account everyday and have sent them several incidences where my account has been mismanaged and charges occurring as a result.

 

I received an email from this Adjudicator tonight telling me that the matter is now in the process of being considered by the Ombudsman when in fact I gave instructions on 18th November 09 to pass it over.

 

I have proven on several occasions that their website is a day behind in placing transactions to the account and this has incurred me in several charges and I've seen many other people complaining about the same thing.

 

They say that Saturday and Sunday are not banking days yet I have transactions on my account on a Sunday.

 

I have absolutely no faith at all in the FOS, the only satisfaction I have is that it cost the Halifax £500. I've now changed to NATWEST and their charges for a returned item is only £5.00 big difference to £35.00.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a call from the adjudicator two nights ago confirming that my e-mail requesting that my case be escalated to an ombudsman had been received but, says she, "is this what I really want". The fact that I am issuing a complaint against her handling of the case which she admitted was incompetent may have something to do with the call.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

If yu don't like the reply from an Ombudman you may still persue the matter in court. If you are experiencing diffiuclties in calculating interest charges why not emply an accountant to help you and charge that to the bank as costs?

 

If the bank is breaking the banking code try looking at OFT 854 it is really focussed on helping the consumer. It came out in July 2009 and should give you some ammuntion to use with the Financial Ombudsman.

 

regards

 

 

Ieuan

Edited by ieuanMr
Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a case in with the FOS. I first went to them in August 2009, my complaint was against Capital 1. Capital 1 harassed me by telephone - I had anything from 5 -15 calls per day 7 days a week. They refused to set up payments plans and on one occasion they actualy told me that I should use my mortgage money to pay them. They piled the charges on, my original debt was 800 by the time they finished I owe £1180.

 

I was appointed a case worker, who was absolutely useless. She told me that I should take responsibility for the debt. That I could not write up a debt of this amount and not expect to pay it back. She also told me that the phone calls were not excessive considering I owed them the money. I lost my temper at her and wrote a letter of complaint because of her attitude - about 5 weeks ago I got a letter saying that she no longer worked fo the FOS and I now have a case worker.

 

Don't hold out much hope though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The interest calculation can be worked out. If you have paid say regular monthly payments of £10 over a 27 month period your interest calculation would be:

 

month one = 10 x 27 x (0.08/12) where 10 is the monthly sum, 27 is the term and .08/12 is the monthly interest.

month 2 = 10 x 26 x (0.8/12)

and so on until month 1

month one is 10 x 1 x .08/12

 

The formula to calculate the lot in one sum is as follows, since the 27th term is [10 x .08/12] x 27

and the 1st term is [10 x .08/12] x 1

the the average is 27 +1 /2 = 14

 

to the total of the terms is n/2 [10 x .08/12]

= 14[10 x .08/12]

 

that is the interest for the full term at 8% now just add the principal.

 

If the sums vary every month then set up a spread sheet for all the terms starting at the full term if its 60 month then you need 60 lines

 

the first line wil be of columns

 

sum interest/month term Total

6.80 .08/12 60 x

 

then after you have calcualted all the terms add up the x column.

 

Let me know if you have any problems.

 

If there is a difference to your calcualtion and theirs send them a copy of your calculation and ask them to provide theirs.

 

If you need a compount interst it is slightly different , let me know.

 

Don't forget, you do not have to accept the Ombdsman's diescision, you can still go to court and the fact that you have been to the ombudsman should count as arbitration. The court likes to see if you have exhausted every avenue to settle before going to court.

 

The thing you must do is to explain fully why you don't agree with the Ombudman's descision and/or why you don't agree with the interst calculation.

 

regards

 

ieuan

Link to post
Share on other sites

My case with the FOS is becoming more complicated with more and more people getting involved and the all seem to draw conclusions without examining all of the relevant facts. I am beginning to wonder whether this is a tactic by the FOS to get me so frustrated that I will give the fight. One thing I would like to know however, who funds the FOS?

Link to post
Share on other sites

DO NOT get me started on the FOS - they are a complete waste of time and effort, despite the fact that I've already won two cases with them.

 

Current complaint submitted April '08 wasn't even allocated to an adjudicator until Feb '09 since when she has done nothing but ask for irrelevant information and make decisions that totally conflict with decisions in previous cases (as well as totally conflict with any statute, code of practice or industry standard, but we expect that one).

 

After complaining about the delay and over my protests, she was asked to deal with the case urgently. 5 months ago. Progress since = 0. Incidentally, I've had to agree to the complaint about the FOS being put on hold whilst she does this since they can't do both at the same time apparently.

 

I'm now just letting the FOS dig themselves into an ever deeper hole whilst I pursue things my own way. If/when that avenue bears fruit I can withdraw the complaint to the FOS and follow up the complaint about them.

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi reallymadwoman

Who did you address your complaint about the Ombudsman to? I'm seeing my MP but would be pleased to lodge several formal complaints. I've had two unsuccessful decisions (one from an Ombudsman, the other still with the Adjudicator at this stage) and one offering something but not nearly enough and riddled with flaws and cop outs. SJ

Link to post
Share on other sites

DO NOT get me started on the FOS - they are a complete waste of time and effort, despite the fact that I've already won two cases with them.

 

Current complaint submitted April '08 wasn't even allocated to an adjudicator until Feb '09 since when she has done nothing but ask for irrelevant information and make decisions that totally conflict with decisions in previous cases (as well as totally conflict with any statute, code of practice or industry standard, but we expect that one).

 

After complaining about the delay and over my protests, she was asked to deal with the case urgently. 5 months ago. Progress since = 0. Incidentally, I've had to agree to the complaint about the FOS being put on hold whilst she does this since they can't do both at the same time apparently.

 

I'm now just letting the FOS dig themselves into an ever deeper hole whilst I pursue things my own way. If/when that avenue bears fruit I can withdraw the complaint to the FOS and follow up the complaint about them.

 

ive got 4 fos people all looking at my case its a case of the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing......

so ive tried to esculate it to the omsbudsman and still waiting for a reply since march 2009....

patrickq1

what a bunch of shysters all cases should be re opened and the banks should be brought to justice but its a bit like pi**ing in the wind huh ..

Link to post
Share on other sites

My complaint against the Halifax was supposed to go to the Ombudsman 2 months ago and I had an email today to say its still waiting. I do know the staff are working really long hours, had a call at 8.30 pm one night and 4.00 pm on a Saturday afternoon, the Adjudicator told me she was working on the Sunday as well. Might help to reduce their hours if (a) they actually read the correspondence sent to them and (b) actually absorbed the information given to them in 2 phone calls, plus followed up by an email.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 Caggers

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Have we helped you ...?


×
×
  • Create New...