Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
a jacuzzi with Bananarama. I have not lived in Bolton since 1986
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Motleyfool-inside info from the Banks
Extract from an article by Cliff d'Arcey:
What Financial Firms Think About You
"....
Paul Lewis (BBC Radio4 Moneybox presenter) also slated banks and credit-card issuers for their ridiculous charges for missed or late payments and unauthorised borrowing. Although a fair charge would be, say, £5 a time, companies typically charge £20 to £40 per offence, which is clearly unlawful. Indeed, since the OFT suggested that £12 was a fair price to pay, credit-card issuers have all (bar one), reduced these penalties to, you guessed it, £12!
Again, it was very telling that not one single person in the room was prepared to stand up for these extortionate charges. Indeed, it was agreed that the base cost of notifying a customer about these charges is around £1, to cover printing and postage costs. Of course, no-one would tell you, the customer, that, though!
Next in line were overdraft penalties: Paul showed how a Lloyds TSB customer going 1p overdrawn could run up £345 in charges in just three days, thanks a £30 charge plus nine charges of £35 apiece for bounced transactions. It's insane, but banks refuse to discuss this issue honestly -- they simply deny any problem exists or stick to the party line of "No comment"! the good news is that no bank will allow this issue to be tested in court or by the Financial Ombudsman Service. Every single time they are forced into a corner, they settle without admitting liability, as Neil Faulkner proved in this victorious article. So, complain to the fos or issue a court Summons to recover previous fines, because you're absolutely sure to win!"
Extract from the above mentioned Neil Faulkner article:
" An alternative way to claim: the Financial Ombudsman Service
People who have complained to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) have been successful. Chief ombudmsan Walter Merricks said recently: "Banks are writing off default charges of customers who complain to us - with the result that we have not had to issue any formal decisions in complaints of this type."
Elsewhere, he said: "We are now receiving large numbers of complaints about banking default charges. We have learned that some firms, when faced with a complaint, first respond by saying the charges are justified. If the customer presses the point and threatens to refer the matter to us, they are offered a write-off of half of the charges. If the customer issues court proceedings...or actually refers the matter to us, the whole of the charges are written off."
That's a neat summary, although sometimes people are offered 90%, not 50% to settle without a formal complaint, which may tempt you. Before you accept this though, remember that the bank has charged you unlawfully, so you are entitled a full settlement. If you have a big claim, that missing 10% will make a difference.
The Financial Ombudsman Service is free to use. Their decision is not binding, so if you're not happy you can still make a claim in court (although if you accept the FOS's decision you can't claim in the court as well). It's also likely that claims to the FOS will be settled faster and for many people with a lot less stress, so it may now be worth going through them before considering court action."
Motleyfool-inside info from the Banks
penalties: Paul showed how a Lloyds
is that no bank will allow this issue to be tested in court or by the Financial Ombudsman Service. Every single time they are forced into a corner, they settle without admitting liability, as Neil Faulkner proved in this victorious article. So, complain to the fos
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