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.
Hello . I have followed the Martin Lewis Money saving expert advice and so far obtained my charges info from the Alliance. Ive issued them with two letters asking for a refund and the offering to settle for a lesser amount. Each letter has been replied to but declined.
I've now started my claim with money claim online and claimed the full amount plus interest. Again I've followed the Martin Lewis info. The advice on this site now points me in the direction of the Consumer action group. I've also purchased the guide book to the small claims process. The stage I'm now at is that my claim status with money claim states that my claim has been issued on the 15th Feb 2006. It also states that the defendant has 14 days from the date they are served with the claim to reply. Does anyone know if the date they are served with the claim is the same as the date of issue?
hi, i'm not 100% sure but i think not. the dates are different. I haven't done a claim via MCOL but if it works on the same principle as via the county court then it would be a few days before the claim is deemed served on the defendant. There should be a way of you finding out. Does the MCOL site not get updated regularly so that you can find this out? Other way is to contact them and see if it has been served and when.
Thanks bp. I've emailed the MCOL with the question so I should find out from them. If not I'm hoping the small claims procedure book will help. i'll update the group as things happen. thanks.
It is deemed as served 5 days after the filed date. I also filed with MCOL on 15.02.07 and received a hard copy from the court explaining that it will be deemed served 20.02.07. The defendant has until 6th March 2007 to reply
Hi there. I have now received my acknowledgement of service. So now they have 28 days from service date to file a defence. I didn't expect to get an acknowledgement so quick.
Hi there. From reading the other threads i get the impression that there is no standard response from the A&L They seem to settle some and take others right to the end. I've started to research the next steps now as I expect to have to go to court.
I would be amazed if they actually go to court. They haven't gone to court to defend against ANYONE else. So I can't see that they would start with you. It's not like you are asking for bundles and bundles
They cannot aford to set a precident. Say they do defend and lose. They then would not be able to charge any of their customers £30.00 to bounce a dd it would be around £2.00/£4.50. Also all the previous charges could be claimed back. Not with all the aggro we have had, but with a simple letter. they really really don't want that.
Hi there. Yes i think you're correct. they don't want to go to court but i still think that they'll make me go through all the stages before paying up. I'm committed to doing just that. it's good to see others being successful. makes me all the more determined to see it through to the end.
I must admit I waivered today when they phoned and offered me £3627.40 - Well offered £1500 first, I found that really easy to say no to, but when they offered the £3627.40 was very tempted.
Have stuck it out for the whole amount though. £4275.22 as of today, I told her it is going up each day that they don't pay. She said how much would I be prepared to accept £4275.22 said I.
Anyway, lets see what happens next. She said see you in Court - yeah right
Why do they threaten and posture like this? They know they won't go to court. look at the media attention this is getting at the moment. Plus the FSO is ruling in a couple of weeks. That's going to open it up to everyone. They will pay up we've just got to hang on in there.
Hi Willpat, I have just had my account with Alliance & Leicester credited back with £50 today 23rd Februaryafter sending them a letter on Wednesday 21st February claiming refund for two £25 fines for exceeding my overdraft limit, I know this is a relatively small amount compared to you But I notified them of my intention to pursue it in the county court,.via the standard letter template If they did not give me a satisfactory reply within 14 days. This is the second time I have had to do this with A & L after reclaiming a £25 fine for the same situation previously, It appears to me that they pay up if it is a small sum involved and they know you mean business. I would add that on all three occassions I went over my limit by one day only and they also paid me back half of a £35 fine for a bounced cheque! when the funds had been available all the time over the Christmas period but I did not pursue the difference at the time
Charges are made automatically and as a rule customers just accept these as (up until now and only with the current exposure in the media by the likes of Martin Lewis) they believe the banks are in the right to chastise their transgressions.
However, it is discretionary, and sometimes (not always unfortunately) a letter or a phone-call is all it takes for them to see the sense in the situation and make amends.
I suppose the fact that they don't have a standard response to every claim just shows that they don't really know what to do to get the result they want. Fortunately we DO know what to do. I've seen on the TV today that 'Which' also have an advice site. They recommend a complaint to the FSO and no court proceedings. According to 'Which' banks have settled before any FSO investigation. There is a ruling expected in a couple of weeks. I wonder how this will impact on pending court proceedings. Any ideas anyone?
Why do they threaten and posture like this? They know they won't go to court. look at the media attention this is getting at the moment. Plus the FSO is ruling in a couple of weeks. That's going to open it up to everyone. They will pay up we've just got to hang on in there.
I suppose if the FSO rule that the penalties are unfair they will have to put a guide on what is fair? wonder if they will give a guide say £10 per charge? then we will only be able to claim the balance:?
Didn't the FO say that £12 was a charge that they would not investigate, for late payment however if it was over £12 then they would.
I read on another thread that it makes no difference to the charges claimed back from CC companies. As this is a guideline, should the company feel that charge is fair, and you don't they would then need to appear in court and justify that claim
This would mean showing how much it actually costs them. so you would need to push the banks a little harder, but they would still need to cave, if they did not want to set a president.
I may be completly wrong, but that's how I understand it anyway.