I'm another who has an old Flexi Loan on which the interest skyrocketed (from about 7% to 21% iirc) ultimately leading to my downfall. They also carried on charging me £30 penalties and interest while the CAB were negotiating with them. It's fair to say there's no love lost between me and Cahoot! This is my main thread: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/getting-out-debt/172922-another-please-point-me.html

What I'm wondering is:

*Is a flexi-loan a bank account, credit card or something else in terms of claiming back charges, i.e. how do I go about it and which letter do I use?

*I also want to find out if they have a valid CCA for this account. Which do I do first or can I do both at the same time? Will I have to pay £10 *and* £1 statutory fees?

Thanks in advance if you're able to help me.

Anyone?

Hi,

did both, but in seperate letters to cahoot regarding my flexi loan- cahoot seem to return the fee for CCA's - i had my fee returned around a week and a half ago, saying a CCA request is free... don't hold your breath though, i still haven't had my CCA (which was originally requested Nov 20). I sent the CCA to cahoot in coventry, but the reply returning the PO came from bradford...

Excellent, thanks. And do you know if it's a bank account or a loan or a consumer credit thingie or what? I'm guessing it makes a difference as bank charge claims are stayed at the moment (although I will try to claim hardship).

here's the link to the CCA request template:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt-issues/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html

You'll need Letter N - Ask your creditor for a copy of your credit agreement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974

for the claiming charges, you'll need the SAR request template to get your statements first:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/516-1-data-protection-act.html

taking advice from others on here, don't sign any of the letters, just print name. Remember to include the 10 pounds fee for the SAR and send both by recored post.

Thanks again. They've written to me over Christmas informing me of their intention to file a default as my agreed repayments are too low. Time to fire out the CCA request I think.

Go to the Financial Ombudsman. I have been given advice from the Ombudsman that this is a genuine complaint that they are prepared to deal with. I have written to Cahoot informing them that I intend to go to the Ombudsman. The terms to try are that you were "lured into an unsustainable debt" and that they have "taken advantage of your unsophisticated financial knowledge". The CCA protects us from companies like this - hopefully!

I'm with you. I'll wait and see what response I get from my CCA request I suppose, and then think about doing the same. I certainly agree with your analysis.

Any extra help or advice you can give on how to go about this, and on your own case, would be most welcome Also, do you know how I can find out what rates I have been charged? The oldest statement I have is from 2004 and shows 8.9%, but I think I started off lower than that. The most recent I've found is 18.9. There are gaps in my records.

your agreement shows the rates and you must write using the templates on this site for the CCA request to get your up to date statements. In my case they did not send the statement until I chased.

I've already done a CCA and I got back a signed credit agreement. I guess I'll have to do a SAR. I'm interested to know how your complaint is going and how you've worded it. Will check your thread now if I can find it

Update: I've now received my copy statements and a standard letter about the charges claims being on hold.

I will be submitting a complaint to the FSO about the unfair escalation of interest rates on this account and will put the charges claim to one side for now. I'll update this thread with any developments. I have the forms ready to go but if there's any last minute tips please let me know!

I'm watching this thread too.

I have a Cahoot flexi loan which has have been passed onto a DCA, but Cahoot are STILL chasing me AND registering defaults against my credit history.....ehhhhh????

Can they both chase me and charge me twice??

Balster - I'm sure the answer is "no" but I don't know what to suggest. Perhaps you should try creating a thread (if you haven't already) and ask for assistance?

Right, I put in a complaint to the FSO a weeks ago. Not too hopeful but worth a try. In the meantime I've been continuing with token payments and am wondering if I should cancel the standing order? Do I have to keep paying while the FSO are investigating or is this the same as the "account in dispute" situation? It's only a few quid a month.

king 123 - have you had any joy over the escalation of the interst rates? i always paid on time etc so no penaltys to reclaim, but the interest rate increases were ridiculous and love to be able to get some of it back.

Not yet no, it's still with the FSO. I'm not expecting anything to come of it but it doesn't cost me anything to try! I'll post here as soon as I get an answer either way.

Any updates on this case?

I won my case with the FSO and have been awarded a refund of the extra interest I paid. It will be applied to my debt with Cahoot, i.e. I don't get a cheque, but still it's a win.

King, I too had a copy of the original agreement, but like yourself, have been miffed at the escalation of interest.

Can you put up the words you used in your complaint to the FSO so I too can take this course?

Out of interest, no pun intended, could the same principle apply to virgin credit card?

Thanks.

Hi King123, I would also be interested in any info that you may have for me to fight Cahoot against their decision to apply exorbitant rates to my account

My approach was to be the "vulnerable consumer" and not blind them with science. I complained that the increase was unreasonable and was at the rate of a credit card not a loan, and that I was unable to shop around as I had a bad credit rating. It would be best to use your own wording, but my advice would be to tell it like it is and not try to be too clever!

My approach was to be the "vulnerable consumer" and not blind them with science. I complained that the increase was unreasonable and was at the rate of a credit card not a loan, and that I was unable to shop around as I had a bad credit rating. It would be best to use your own wording, but my advice would be to tell it like it is and not try to be too clever!

Thanks for getting back on this, Letter off to Santander first then.

After months of no mail from them, Santander having closed the Cahoot account they send me three months worth of statements.

Sleeves rolled up !

My problem with this account now is that it's still with Santander and I believe they don't do full and finals. I'm not paying anything so hopefully they'll shift it out to an external DCA soon.

Hi I have contacted Cahoot re the excessive apr etc and have asked them for all transactions,interest applied and a request to reuduce the apr to the initialrate.

awaiting response