Hi Hedgey Many thanks for the response, the nearest court to me is Uxbridge in Middlesex - do you know of any cases there and does it make a difference? Steph

Hi there everyone, Haven't been online lately - still missing my dad and feeling sorry for myself and still trying to pick myself up. I sent a letter back rejecting the 'goodwill offer' with their acceptance form attached unsigned and wrote on it 'please read attached letter'. I recieved a resonse from them within a week returning the acceptance form and stating there was no letter attached. I wrote a stiff letter back returning the form once again stating the original letter was definately attached and that you could see the staples where they had removed the letter and they obviously lost it. Anyway I did get another response saying they were reviewing my complaint etc... Yesterday I received the standard letter about the stay and putting my case on hold pending the outcome of the test case or I can accept their original offer. They are also saying that if I decide to proceed to court stage they will ask for a stay. Now I dont know what to do - if this test case takes a whole year to resolve and they keep adding their monthly charge to my account the overdraft is going to build up. What is everyone else doing in this situation? Anyone please help.... Thanks Steph

Thanks Hedgy, I think if you were not helping me I would just quit and accept - not much fight left in me. Cheers Steph

Hi there I would be ever so grateful if anyone could advise on my latest posting because I need to get this letter in the post asap. Thanks Steph

Hi Hedgey Many thanks for trying to help me - I am very grateful. I have put a letter together which is a combination of the LBA and rejection letter 4. I have highlighted the additional para's in pink to adapt to my individual case - can you a quick read and let me know if it is okay to send or if I should just be sending the standard LBA letter - but just thought I ought to acknowledge their initial offer. In the first paragraph the amount requested includes the interest and the last three months they have charged - is this okay? Sorry, tried to post letter as attachment but somehow went wrong, so that I don't make this mistake again have done a cut and paste. Once again thanks for the help Steph 8th July 2007 Customer Relations Manager NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC Ground Floor National Westminster House 225 Shenley Road Borehamwood WD6 1TE Dear Mr Higley Re: Account No. ????????????. Response to settlement offer. Thank you for your letter dated 22 May 2007. I respectfully decline your offer of settlement. I have enclosed an updated schedule of the charges, which includes the 3 months charges that you have levied on my account since my preliminary request for payment. I request, one final time, that you return to me all charges imposed on this account, totalling £1462.25. In order to avoid Litigation against you, I am prepared to temporarily accept the sum offered as partial settlement on the clear understanding that the remainder is paid within the next 14 days. Failure to comply with this request will result in legal action against you for full recovery. I disagree with your claim that you have provided me with free banking services as for quite some time during the time I’ve held this account with you I have been charged a service fee every month. When I telephoned to discuss this issue with your ‘customer services’ department, they said it was because I had received ‘extra benefits’ on the account although they were not able to explain what ‘benefits’. You have stated that you believe the charges you levy are for providing services and not penalties or charges for default and you are also stating your charges are fair, reasonable and transparent. As requested in my previous letter of 30th March 2007 please provide a breakdown of how these charges are calculated. You have indeed continued to apply charges to my account since my initial request for payment I have included these charges in my updated schedule, as I am not willing to accept them. Additionally you have entered a default notice against my credit record. This default occurred merely in respect of unlawful charges levied by you or was the result of impecuniosity caused directly by the taking by you of penalty charges which you had applied unlawfully to my account. In addition to full payment of the sum mentioned above I require that you remove the default entry from the register. Please note that mere correction or amendment to the entry will not be acceptable. If you do not accept my conditions for acceptance, or you do not respond within 14 days, I shall return the payment to you. For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to stress that I do not accept your offer under the terms stated in your letter. I trust this clarifies my position. Yours faithfully

Hi there, Thanks for the reply. Yes I have already spoken to the funeral director and he didn't think I would be entitled to anything. If I was on Benefit I would be able to claim the whole funeral cost - laughable I think. Steph

Hi there, Just wondering if anyone can help! My father died of lung cancer 5 weeks ago and I have tried to investigate the possibility of getting a funeral payment/grant or some other financial help. I have been advised by DWP that as his next of kin I will not get any help because I work full time and not on any benefits. He had his own council flat which the rent was paid until he passed away but came to live with me when diagnosed with illness. He was repatriated back to Ireland to be buried. Someone did mention that I might be able to get some sort of tax benefit becuase of the contribution he paid during his working life. He was on Pension Credit for the last two years. Any advice appreciated. Steph

Hi People Thank you all for the replies so far on this thread but I feel I need a bit more advice. Getting a bit frustated now because I have about a week to accept or reject the offer. Not sure these are conditions in the offer letter but they mentioned the following in the letter. I will summarise the paragraphs to try and keep them short. This is for a Current Plus Account. Para. 2. Terms and Conditions etc. Para 3. Provision of free banking services etc. - When I telephoned them last week and said this was not the case because they were charging £6 pm service fee which I then became the advantage gold they said this was because I had additional benefits on the account - I'm Confused. Para 4. Additional service provided to a/c holders being able to increase overdraft limit or arranging loans etc. Para 5. They believe the charges levied are for providing services and they are not penalties or charges for default. Furthermore we believe the charges are fair, reasonable and transparent. - Shall I ask them to provide a breakdown of how the charges are calculated? Para 6. Gesture of goodwill offer of £841.23 paid direct into the account. Para 7. Request to accept this offer and complete the acceptance form or telephone to discuss the offer. - They don't seem to be geared or that interested up for being asked questions over the phone. Para 8. Future charges will be applied to the a/c in line with published tarriff and in accordance with my agreement with them. If I am not willing to accept the charges then they will consider if they are prepared to continue providing existing bank facilities and offer me a simple account that does not offer borrowing facilities etc. - This is fine because I don't want to bank with them after this. The rest of the letter looks pretty standard rubbish. I think I will send a letter with the partial acceptance but not sure which one to use. Because the 14 days expired in mid April due to nursing my dad I am not sure what to put in that part of the letter. Due to my recent circumstances I didn't send LBA only the prelim letter. Shall I mention the additional charge in my reply. Please help, really fed up now and not coping very well. Thank you to all. Steph

Hi there Many thanks for all the support from you guys - confidence not good at the moment as just lost my dad. The claim I submitted was for period covering 29 Dec 2000 - 30 March 2007. I was thinking maybe the offer was not the full amount because it was 6 years and three months. Would it be worth writing and say that I accept the offer as partial payment but ask them the explain the shortfall in the offer? Also three months charges have now gone onto the account since the claim was submitted. Perhaps I should have put pressure on them before the offer arrived in the post but was nursing my dad with cancer which obviously took priority over this mess. Appreciate any help!! Steph

Hi All I started a claim with Natwest at the end of March. The claim was for £1086.64 in charges etc. plus £266.73 interest. giving a total £1353.37. On the 22 May they have made an offer in writing of £841.23 as a gesture of goodwill stating I have previously received free banking. They are saying that the charges are fair and transparent. This offer has been made as a full and final settlement. Since I started the claim they have continued to add the monthly £28.00 charge for April, May and June - is it fair for me to request these charges to be refunded as well. Not sure wether to accept the offer or not, they have offered £245 less than the original claim - please help. Many Thanks Steph

Hi there Still quite new to this forum and have spent hours reading different threads and although really interesting its all a bit mind blowing. My partner has an a/c with Barclaycard and has acrued a balance of just over £3,000. This is partly due to being out of work because a of a stress related skin disorder. Some of the balance is due to late payment and over the limit charges then interest on top. He has been paying £3.95 pm for something called credit protection insurance - but have heard different version of exactly what this is. He was also also paying £20 pm which covers your payments in the event of unemployment. I was advised by Barclaycard Insurance in Dublin this is what he should be claiming for. After going through this lengthy process of making the claim I was advised at the begining of this week that he was not covered because the policy was cancelled aparantley in Jan 05. I have tried to locate a copy of this Credit Protection Insurance on B/Card website but without success - does any one know what this is? On Sunday evening I received a telephone call from 'Mercers' who are part of B/Card saying the a/c had been referred to them and they were demand a payment. I managed to buy some time explaining that I was waiting for B/Card to send me his statements back to 2003 which I have requested (sent by Recorded Delivery on 14/2). - Still not received. They said they are calling me tomorrow (Friday) to request a mimimum payment of £40 which will then enable them to send the a/c back to B/Card otherwise they are going to proceedings to send the baliffs. With only one wage coming into the house, I just don't have the money at the moment - don't know what to say to 'Mercers' tomorrow. I am the third party acting on his behalf - can I do the claim charges on his behalf but from me or does the claim have to be in his name - thats if I ever get the statements!! Sorry this is a bit long winded but appreciate any advice as this whole saga is getting me down. Thanks Steph

Hi Dave Just thought I respond to this thread, absolutely disgusting the way you are being treated. I work for a local council and have spent many years housing people, some of them in similar situations to you. It's fair to say that the landlord wants his property back - fair enough. The council will always advise you not to leave until the baliffs are almost on the door step - if you do leave before then that's how they brand you as intentionally homeless which means they can then say they dont have a duty to you. The landlord cannot legally force you to pay these charges to you for the cost of evicting you and he knows this!!! The council will accommodate you in temporary accommodation when you are actually homeless on the day or just before, they certainly do have a duty to house you and you will then fall into a 'priority need categorty'. Depending on what schemes Bristol are running they may try to get you to accept permanent accommodation in the private sector - do not go down this route again. Stand your ground and tell them you want Housing Association or Council - private renting is normally more expensive and some landlords dont take responsibility of repairs etc. You need to contact social services and tell them you want an occupational therapist who can then do a 'needs led assessment' for you and your daughter. What type of disability does your child have? Does the property need to be adapted for her needs? Sounds like this could work out in your favour - dont let the council or your existing landlord bully you (people like this really annoy me) Regards Steph

Hi there, A few days ago I was doing a search on Nat West head office address to write a complaint letter and by chance stumbled across the 'consumer action website'. There is so much stuff on here it's mind blowing and also where do you start!! Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had experience of challenge Barlcaycard on their extortionate credit card charges for late payment and over credit charges which happen when they keep adding onto it. Any help would be appreciated, feel free to ask questions. Regards Steph