Hi. Thanks for the responses so far. I told him yesterday to see his GP on Monday morning and let him look at his injuries. The GP will then be able to determine whether he needs it looking at further. I went into the store today and took some pictures. The 2 steps now have black and yellow hazard tape on the edges. I ot a better idea once I was there of the layout and at either side of the steps are display units. This is what he grabbed as he fell and how he cut his hand open. Speaking to him earlier, he confirmed it was the metal edging of this stand (so I have said 'maybe' he should see if he needs a tetanus jab) I spoke with the assistant manager today who took my details and I gave them mine. The manager should be ringing me tomorrow morning. I told them that a copy of the accident report would be needed and any CCTV covering that area. My FIL does not want any bother and, like I posted earlier, he is 'old school' so thinks it's just an accident. It is an accident but one that should not have happened. His hand and face are a mess and I'm just so upset. I'll see what he wants to do about it. We're not ambulance chasing or anything, however, he will be off work for a while because of his hand (he works part time as a maintenance man) and he is shook up. I feel he should at least be compensated for his small loss of earnings as he doesn't have much. Anyway, thanks again, I'll take a note of the SAR etc and see also if he'll let me deal with this on his behalf. By the way, this is not a little independent shop or anything, this is a nationwide store, which frustrates me more!

Hi. My father in law was shopping last Wednesday in Manchester City Centre and visited a book store. He was with his wife. They are both in their late 70's. During the visit, then went down 3 flights of stairs in store to the book section, but after the 3 flights of stairs, there were 2 steps that you couldn't see. My FIL fell and as he was going down, he tried to grab a stand and cut his hand open. He also smashed his face into the floor and was bleeding heavily from his nose. Staff came to help and my MIL was furious about no signs for the 2 small steps, and the staff were saying 'yeah, I know, we should have a sign'. They weren't bothered in the slightest. My MIL asked for a first aider. The store never had one! They called security who didn't really know what to do. They were trying to stop the bleeding from his hand and face with toilet roll. Then someone produced a small first aid bag and the security were arguing about what they could and couldn't apply to his injuries. The staff wrote the incident down in the accident book. They gave him a bottle of water then sent him on his way! They never once offered to call an ambulance! He left the store with his wife and both were in shock. My MIL said she was shaking like a leaf and didn't know what was going on. So he left the store with his face covered in blood, and his hand bleeding and got a bus home! He never went to hospital as he is 'old school' and everything will be okay. They never told me about this until last night. I am livid that the store let him leave like this and there was no first aider to help. I asked about photographs and they said they think someone took one of the steps but not sure. They don't have camera phones. I asked to see my FIL's hand but my MIL had just put fresh bandages on. She said she thinks it needs stitches as the cut is wide open, but he won't go to the hospital. So what can we do about this? I am disgusted in how he was treated and fobbed off. I was wondering if I could go to the store today and see the accident book. Also I'd like to take a few photos myself of the area and see if there are any warnings in place yet. I'd also like to see where CCTV is situated in store and how I can get a copy. Please advise if possible, I'm so angry right now how he was treated! Thanks

Just an update. I got a reconstituted copy as above and sent off the next letter etc. Now EOS keep ringing me asking me to pay, saying that even though there is no agreement, they will go to court for a default and will get a CCJ. Just had another phonecall now saying I need to send £1 and letter to EOS for a copy of the agreement. Told them they dont have one as I've already been in touch with Grattan. She said 'did you get the items delivered when you ordered them' I asked what that had to do with anything and she said 'well you can't expect to have good and not pay for them' and went on rabbiting about allsorts, so I put the phone down. I have never disputed the fact I owe them, I was paying off £25 per month and then they rang and stopped is as I couldn't afford more and wanted me to start on a debt management plan through a company who would charge me. I don't have much debt at all, Grattan is the main one. Really annoyed now how they can keep ringing and being rude down the phone. Any advice what step to take next please?

Sorry, I seem to be going round in circles, but I can't find where the template is for the next letter, can anyone help? Thanks

I got a copy of the CCA today and it's not a signed copy, just a 'reconstituted copy of the CCA' They have written my name and address on the top, but nothing there I have signed. Time for the next letter I think

I've sent off a registered CCA letter today, I hope that al least keeps them off my back until I can sort out a payment plan. I'm not disputing what I owe, or even trying to get out of paying for it, I just refuse to pay for a middle man.

I have an account with Grattan and have done for about 10 years and never defaulted on payments. About 12 months ago I was put on ESA as I had to give up work due to illness (tribunal next week, another thread!) .. Anyway, when I lost my job and went on benefits I contacted everyone and negotiated payments with them and have not defaulted on those either. Now Grattan have contacted me and asked for normal payments to resume (£95.00 per month) and I can't afford it. I was paying them £25 per month and just about managing. They put me through to Kensington Finance who went through all my finances and they asked if I had other debts. The only other one is Cahoot Credit card but I'm just managing to make minimum payments of approx £40 per month. The said they would consolidate them and I would be paying £85 per month in total and they would stop interest charges and fees etc. I told him I couldn't afford £85 per month and he went away and came back with £60 per month. I asked him to break down the figures and he said £20 per month to each company and £20 per month to them!!!!!!! I politely refused and said I would negotiate with the company myself. I was transferred back to Grattan and somehow copped for a right bag of a woman (sorry, she was really snotty) who told me that unless I paid £95 asap then she would add charges to may account. I told her I couldn't afford it and neither could I afford the DMP, and Grattan is the only company I have a problem with. (Outstanding debt is approx £600 and apart form my credit card, have no other debt) She said I was refusing to pay and therefore would default the account. I said I wasn't refusing to pay, I was saying that I was quite willing to pay, but only what I could afford. Basically, she just kept repeating herself over and over and I was polite throughout (even though I was tempted to call her every name under the sun, lol) So what do I do? I can afford to continue at £25 per month, but not £95. My circumstances are not going to change anytime soon, so wondered where to go from here. As it stands, she is putting a default on my account and said it would happen now as I had refused to pay (aarrgghh) and yet I'm still left unable to pay. Please advise, thanks

Ok, first the good news! I WON I have a cheque in front of me now for £597.75 which is my charges, interest and court costs. Now the tricky bit My account is £922 overdrawn, with charges continuing. So even if I pay this cheque into the account I am still overdrawn and have to go through the whole process again. I did get an OD charge taken off when it was going through the process as I rang them and told them the account was currently being invesigated, but since then I have had 3 £30 charges and interest too. So even if I pay in the cheque I got, clear the charges since the account was being investigated etc, I'm STILL overdrawn and charges continue to be added. Being on benefits I have no chance of clearing this overdraft just yet so what can I do. It seems I've beat the banker but they still have a hold on me. Any ideas, TIA

Anyone ...please!

OH NOOOOOOOO!! I never sent my court pack off! It had to be in for the 8th and I have no other excuse than I completely forgot. Have I ruined everything now??????? I can't beleive I forgot ... how dumb am I???????? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. I have 2 days to get my court pack in. Can anyone help me with this? Do I just get every letter I have sent and had sent to me (apart from those WP) and send 'photocopies' to the court or the originals. Also, should I send a cop to Cahoot (or ring and ask them if they want one to see if they are willing to make an offer?) I'm getting twitchy now but will fight this until the end. Thanks

Uh oh! Got a letter this morning and I have to go to court! The letter reads District Judge has considered the statements of the case and allocation questionnaires filed and allocated the claim to the small claims track. AND ORDERED THAT 1. This claim is allocated to the Small Claims Track 2. The Parties shall exchange the following not later than 4pm on 8th December 06 (a) The written statements of evidence of any witnesses whose evidence is relied on in support of or in defence of the claim (b) Copies of any documents which a party propose to rely on 3. The hearing of this claim will take place on 1st Feb 07 at Manchester CC and should take no longer than 2 hours. 4. It is important to comply with these directions. Failure to do so may result in the hearing being adjourned or the claim of defence being struck out. 5. he judge has considered your case is suitbale for mediation and you are therefore invited to use the free Small Claims Mediation service. The court mediator will be notified of your case. If you do wish to use this service then contact ... blah blah The court must be informed immediately if the case is settled by agreement before the hearing date. (Sorry for typos, I was typing whilst reading and copying) So where do I go from here? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Anyone?

Not heard anything yet ... Don't know if no news is good news but I'm hoping to reslove this soon. Cheers

Hi. I do have my own thread which I will stick to, but I am asking this here as I think it might be useful to others. When I first got my credit card, I was paying a percentage each month towards a payment break plan. A few years later when I came out of work I took up the payment break plan and had to send the bank proof of benefits each month. After two years they said that the plan had reached the limit and now I would have to pay the account off. I arranged to pay them £40 pcm and I have stuck to it so far. However, I notice I am still paying approx £8 pcm (give or take a few pence) towards this plan. Why am I still paying into a payment break plan when I have an arrangement to pay and are they charges I could claim back? I am posting here as a few may have come across this and there could be (hopefully) so invaluable advice given. Thanks