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.
I have written ist letter to cahoot, to which they replied stating that no charges would be refunded. Am now in process of drafting 2nd letter, but was just wondering has anyone actually had a refund that amounts to more than a few charges refunded?
I have just received an offer for £475 of an £833 claim (see hanson v cahoot), so they will definitely pay half or more. They will always say they won't refund the charges initially in the vain hope that you will leave them alone... but don't believe them.
I've received £110 as full settlement for a few charges, for 'customer retention'. This was the result of just two DPA lettes (one with £10, which they disposed of and didn't cash) and two emails. See my thread DPA - Cahoot.
So I know you must be after a lot more, keep on at them, they will crack.
Thanks for letting me know. i am trying to get them to refund £350 in charges, have sent 2 letters to them and am now completing the small claims forms and have told them I would be doing so, they (Lee Loftus) e-mailed me to ask for them to be addressed to him...................... ..
I'm new to this group and thoroughly fed up with Cahoot. I have just started a new business and asked if they would increase my over draft limit to cover me when my customer pay late (and they do!!) they refused. Hence they have just cheged me over £100 for returning three direct debits. This has goneon on over several years though and my charges must be well into the thousands. Has anyone actually got sa significant sum back from - and did they close your account??
I have just sent my letter before action, they have until next Tuesday to respond, I received no response to my initial letter. I am trying to claim back nearly £800, I was shocked when I found out how much it was, amazing how they all add up.
Good luck with you claim, keep us posted!
Michelle
I know some people who work there.......I have it on excellent authority from staff either still there or in their redundancy period (Just been bought by Spanish Bank) they will eventually cough up. Are you writing to Coventry? Basically they have a budget every month that they have to stick to as much as poss. If they can avoid paying out charges they will, ie why they said no they wont be refunding anything in response to your first letters. The next step is to offer a portion of the amount owed in order to keep you sweet, avoid "unnecessary" cost, and keep them out of the press. If you send in your second letters they will have to refund your amounts, including the interest added etc. This is as per my friends in the COMPLAINTS dept at the Friars House building, many of the staff have had this procedure completed already, unfortunately the only people I know who bank with them are staff, so cant vouch for the rest of you but I know what it spells to me
If it was an offer in the first letter from the solicitors, I would reject the offer by either ignoring it or sending them a brief letter that you intend to proceed with the claim in court and want the full amount. They should offer more/full settlement in their next communications.
Hello I'm new here, and have just had second email replying to my preliminary letter. First was an acknowledgement, the second, a rather discouraging "no".
Here is the bulk of the text
I refer to your letter dated 2nd September 2006 regarding your cahoot Current account. I have taken ownership of your particular case in order to provide a response to the issues you have raised.
>
> We do not accept that the cases that you mention apply in this situation or that cahoot's charges are unfair under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. The object of these Regulations was not price control nor were they intended to interfere with people's freedom to agree the terms of their contracts.
>
> It is well known that banks make charges and cahoot's charges are in line with those of other banks. The terms and conditions of the account and the charges that apply are clear and fair and were provided to you at the time you opened it. You freely agreed to the terms and conditions and the charges when you opened the account. You were not under any obligation to do so and could have gone to another bank if you did not agree to the charges. Equally, you are free to move your account to another bank at any time if you do not agree with the charges.
>
> In any event, we do not agree that the charges are disproportionate. The charges are reasonable and proportionate to the administrative costs incurred by cahoot.
>
> I am therefore unable to refund the charges you've incurred fully appreciating the disappointment this may cause.
>
> If you need anything further please do not hesitate to contact me.
>
Kind regards
File an LBA (letter before action). It's largely the same as your initial letter, but you state that if they don't agree to your claim you will start court proceedings (giving them 14 days to respond again).
Take a look at the library on this site to see an example LBA.
hi - I received this response also - though the lba just says they didn't respond which they did... is this still ok to send or I do I reword to say that you haven't responded to my request for proof of these costs?
i'm about to file that lba but am inclined to write my own version. I think this might have more effect. I'd be interested to know how many people have just sent the library version and how many have written their own... and whether the effects have been any different.
I'm going to reword / compose my own letter along similar lines.
Good luck!
Well my friend who works there was visiting last night, she said cahoot are only paying out at the court application stage. Therefore if you are having problems getting your refunds keep going, they will eventually pay out, though you have to go the whole hog to get them to do so.
I have just had to send the forms to the court - it was 6 weeks ago that I first applied to the court - 2 weeks after that they asked for a 28 day extension, then offered me 50%, which I rejected.
No further offer has been recieved, so I'm continuing with the court action