Some years back my partner had an overdraft facility with the Woolwich for £250.00 I think, following this the facility was increased to £500 without him asking for this, further to this kept increasing without acknowledment from him. The overdraft now stands at £6500.00 and certainly not getting paid off a monthly fee is charged I would hate to think how much the monhtly payments have come to. Anyway my point is could this be changed into a loan that does get paid off eventually and can he take this as irressponsible lending? Any advice would greatly be appreciated.Mashmallow

Thanks you so much site team I will do that, that will really get up their goat

Thank you ever so much site team I will inform the court - how do I claim for the charges when I have no records to hand.Please help, also is there a standard letter to reclaim?regards,Just for info Spratts was the original solicitors who took us to court and now passed it over to Shoosmiths

Any advice please, Had a paersonal loan with Lombards, fell into arrears, taken to court, payment of £20 was agreed by DJ at the time, at the same time a charging order was placed on the property which we did not know. Now the debt has been passed on the Shoosh.. they are asking for and I/E form to be completed in order for them to review payments, Every time they phone I shout a load of abuse and then they ring again next day. I told them if they wanted anything more to take it back to court but they carry on calling continually. I am sure they have no right to know our income when the DJ has already agreed we pay 20.00 per month. Please tell me if I am wrong or right and how to deal with these people.

Hi Guys,Please could you advise, my son is claiming JSA at present - they have now put him on a back to work scheme. Here is the problem he is awaiting an appointment from the mental health, he has had an assessment done already and got an appointment with a doctor on the 15th March. He has not attended all his appointments and now they are reviewing his claim for JSA. He has alot of personal issues, being, does not go out, got no enery, depressed and moody all times, loses his temper frequently, does not eat well, continually complaining about the world and it's mother. He has had drug issues and now is deperate to seek help. He is in no position to work at present, on tope of all this the council gave him, a flat which is beyond livable and going through solictiors now because of the disrepair and living conditions. They don't know his background but expect him to still act normal and go/look for work. What can he do about this until he gets sorted out with the mental health? Please can anymore give me some advise. Me as his mother is going through hell with him.Many thanksMashmallow

Hi Stu,Thanks for your prompt reply Just needed clarification, this is sending him mad. These issues have been going on since the end of April and the latest resolve to this problem which is suggested by the estate amanger and his buddy surveyor is he uses a dehumidifyer for a few days to dry out the water and also incurr cost of electricity to my son. He reckoned he could not smell anything and left with a further appointment to be confirmed with him and his buddy. Of course you know what my son said to him. He is staying with me right now with all his belongings just left on his bedroom floor, his cupboards and sofa bed and mini oven is left in the flat to rot. Guess what also he has taken his property there and brough it back on three occasions because they made him feel that he was the one with the problem. Anyway I will pass this advise on to him which will give him hope in fighting these clowns, even our Mp is not doing much good right now.I appreciate your helpMashmallow

My son was offered a bedsit after 4 years of waiting on the bidding list. When he went to look at the bedsit he notice a potent smell of damp and mould only to be told be the estate officer that the smell was probably caused through flooding from the top flat, so he thought nothing more and accepted the proprty. After a week the smell was constant and also caused his new sofa bed which is black material turning white and smelling of the damp/mould, also his cloths and every item in the property, hence the complaints to the council after 4 visits by plumbers, surveyors a leak was discovered coming from the bath, this was then repaired and my son was told that the bathroom floor has to be screeded and all the timber frame replaced. After two weeks the screeded floor was not drying and wet patches were visible and hence further water found between the wall and the floor.Since this there have been 10 further visits by the same surveyor, estate officers x 2, plumbers x 4 and still the problem has not been resolved. Apparently both the estate officers cannot find any problem or even smell the odour. He has moved most of his belonging out to avoid further damage and he is not staying there at present. He does not know what further action he can take towards the council to give him somewhere livable. he is totally stressed and depressed at present. He has even written to the Mp for assistance and all the council do is keep sending the same surveyor and a plumber.Any advise would greatly be appreciated.Many thanksMashmallow

Thanks for that information I am so please to hear it. They sent me a statement it looks like they have charged interest on the brokers fee and also the adminfee and added it twice. Also we took this loan out when I had a full time job we both signed the agrrement and they sent two seperate cheques, one to me and one to my partner, the property the loan is secured on has not got my name onit. When I told them I was out of work and could they reduce the payment they kicked up a big fuss, I even thought of going bankrupt but he is now struggling to pay it on his wage alone, really don't know what to do, I am 56 and the job front is looking a no no, cannot get any benefit and not entitled to my pension yet, bascially I am finished financially. I went to the CCCS who I found were not very useful and even that did not justify my plea to swift, total b------s. As I said not very clued up on these kind of matters but I went on a website and calculated the amount of the loan and interest applied for information if anyone could have a quick look on what has been applied and if I am right in thinking this is the case of an agreement that just is not correct. Sorry to waffle but I do need some direction to who I contact firstly before I go any further, here is the breakdown of the loan signed for by both of us:- Total amount of the loan is £16,750 the agreement states £15,000 (difference of 1750.00 which is the brokers fee and admin fee) Interest charged £11843.60 Broker fee £1300.00 Admin fee £ 450.00 Arrears paid to mortgage company £1403.88 Total charge for credit: £13593.60 which was halved when paid out.

I contacted Swift today and requested a statement of all charges etc applied. After reading a few threads I am led to the belief that Swift One has only been fined and the other companies like Swift Advances have not been dealt with? Therefore all their unjust activities does not apply, or have I got this all wrong. I am not very clued up with the financial world so hopefully someone will put me right. Thanks Mashmallow

I will send the letter off asap and willlet you know what their reply is. Many many thanks for your support and long live CAG. Regards, Mashmallow XXX

I thank you so much for this information, they should be jailed for what they have done to people fining them is not good enough they paid their fine from our money. What do you think I should do to make sure all the wrongfull charges they have applied are deducted from our account. Let me know what you think, I would be very grateful. Thanks Mashmallow:smile:

Re: This is interesting I wrote to Swift and complained about their charges and the way they behave and blaintantly told them they are being investigated because of their lies and behaviour. My letter was forwarded to the complaints department and within a few days I got a four page letter back from Reece Goodey: To my surprise and shock my loan for £15,000 which is signed for and have copies of, is not longer £15,000 despite written in black and white on the agreement and signed by all parties has turned out tobet £16,750.00 which was the completed loan as stated in their letter received yesterday. Am I totally stupid to think I have messed up or is Swift Advances really taking the p--s. I would like you guys that are dealing with these monkeys tell me please. Apparently they now tell you that they do not charge for anything other than a late payment fee of £64.00. Billy b------t stories again. I can download the letter they sent for others to read and also my agreement for reference if anyone is interested. I am writing back to them today and also complaining to Debbie Kitchener if it helps.Your comments would be greatly appreciated, I want to fight these monkeys legally but not sure where to start.Regards,Mashmallow

I wrote to Swift and complained about their charges and the way they behave and blaintantly told them they are being investigated because of their lies and behaviour. My letter was forwarded to the complaints department and within a few days I got a four page letter back from Reece Goodey: To my surprise and shock my loan for £15,000 which is signed for and have copies of is not longer £15,000 but £16,750.00 which was the completed loan. Am I totally stupid to think I have messed up or is Swift Advances really taking the p--s. I would like you guys that are dealing with these monkeys tell me please. Apparently they now tell you that they do not charge for anything other than a late payment fee of £64.00. Billy b------t stories again. I can download the letter they sent for others to read and also my agreement for reference if anyone is interested. I am writing back to them today and also complaining to Debbie Kitchener if it helps.Your comments would be greatly appreciated, I want to fight these monkeys legally but not sure where to start.Regards,Mashmallow

I have had payday loans myself about 5 in total amounting to £2400. I cancelled my bank account and threw the card away. I have not heard anything. I am totally out of work now and cannot pay anyone but this is not the issue. My partner now has got in the same trap but not sure how cheques issued to roll over every month in total he has to renew everymonth. How does one deal with this situation, he can't close his account becasue his wages and mortgate comes out of it also he has an overdraft. It seems to me there is no way out of this one. Anyone that has had this issue I would appreciate advise. The payday loans have come from Pawn Brokers Harvery Thompson and Albermarle.Many thanksMashmallow

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply, PC not working and also had probs with my password. However back to my originally post. I have has a few weeks work part time temp so just about managing to pay them their original amount but in 2 weeks I will be out of work again. Swift have been totally unhelpful, despite me sending in an expenses sheet and also contacting the CCCS who done a professional one for us they still insisted for our bankstatements to see if we could afford the payments (lies) they did not want to know to start with. Whilst looking at their annual statment they send out it is full of charges for admin fees, letters etc., which probably I have not counted add up to at least £500. We cannot pay the required amount when I am out of work again and needless to say will have the sem problem. Any advise on what we can do please or best plan of action?I would be very grateful for anyones input.ThanksMashmallow

Not sure if I am the right place but just for some advice. My son was offered a bedsit from the council after bidding for 5 years. He accepted the bedsit and was told prior to accepting that the rent included the heating. After a couple of weeks wondering how this heating worked was told by other tenants the council cout off the heating and still charged for it. On top of all this the bedsit is toally stinking of damp and all his personal belonging including his new sofa bed stinks and weighs a tone because it has soaked up the moisture of the bedsit, even his boxes that stored his belongings have inhaled the potent smell. He went into 2 neighbours flats and found there was black bould on their walls in all rooms. He contacted the or should I say tried to contact the estates officer to be told it will take 5 days for him to call and when he called the following day was told he was off sick and someone would get back but no one has. Please any ideas on what he could/should day. Very much appreciated. regards, Mashmallow

Hear this one guys, my son received a bill from talk talk for 333.39 he has not been with talk talk at all, he was with tiscali many years ago. Anyway tel them and said it was a technical error as they were updating their systems and will refund any money he has paid, apparently arount £360 for a previous bill, he said he wanted a refund as this was all bulls/// and they said they would refund it. Now received another bill For £339.49 asking for payment, considering he has had no account with TT and not paid anything, where is the refund coming from. Anyway I get a letter from my bank stating a dd has been taken out of my account for £338 apparently a fraudulent act? What do you make out of this. TT has admitted I have no account with them so how did they get my bank details. Mashmallow Sorry if I had butted in

Hi, Wonder if some kind person could help me out. I have a large gas bill of £524.00 god knows how but where I live is really a cold property and I have been out of work so thus using the heating a bit more. I am on benefit at present and really dont know what to do or what help I can get. They are not being at all understanding even when I offered them to pay off the bill at £60 per month which my mum would pay for me but they want £150. I don't want to be put on a prepaid meter. I know its my own fault but is there anywhere that could help me. I would be very grateful for your advice. Thanks Mashmallow

Any advise would be gratefully appreciated. We have a loan with Swift Advances and since last year April I am having tremendous problems in securing work or even a full time job therefore the burden lies on my partner. I am not even entitled to Unemployment Benefit because my partner is working therefore none of my own personal debts are being paid now leaving us more or less broke. We could not pay Swift for two months and I sent off an expenditure form with my partners wage slip as requested by them, asking if they would accept a reduced payment for the next 3 months as utility bill have come in high through the bad weather. They have written back saying they want bank statements and interest is occurring on the arrears. I don't know what to do I have now pawned all my jewelery and nothing else worth selling, even our car is sitting idle. Can anyone tell me what we can do we told them we would pay £150 per month x 3 months and try and make up the arrears. Would appreciate your time. Many thanks mashmallow:sad:

Hi everyone a newbie here but have met the nasty,bullying, lying s*ds from Sherforce very recently' and thanks to this site have them back in their cages for the time being. Did anyone see the short film this morning on Rip off Britain? Well done to those people who took them to task and well done the BBC for bringing Sherforce into focus. IMO the charges they try to get away with should see them in Court for fraud but, they appear to walk all over the legal system and get away with it. BBC asked them to justify the charges but all we got was a gabbled load of b******* which did not answer the question, they gave nothing to show how they reached the figures for those fees and never mentioned if the court had allowed them to make all these charges, it seems they just set out to cause misery and work on a tall story if they get caught. My ears pricked up when that women from Sherforce said that they are "heavily regulated " she went on to described her officers as being "robust" with enforcement, is this perhaps the nearest anyone will ever get to an admission that they do act outside the guidelines set down but hey, what the hell and why should they worry, after all the legal system seems to be ok about them overstepping the mark judging by what I read on cag. I hope the MOJ get feedback on this BBC show and start to ask the right questions about their High Court Enforcement Officers.

Hi everyone having met the nasty,bullying, lying s*ds from Sherforce and thanks to this site have them back in their cages for the time being. Did anyone else see the short film on Rip off Britain on Thursday? Well done to those people who took them to task and well done the BBC for bringing Sherforce into focus. Watching this on iplayer again I noticed when the BBC asked them to justify the charges they avoided answering the question,I wonder what the "hourly rate" really was for the 2 people she said worked on the enforcement and how many hours they worked? My ears pricked up when that women from Sherforce described her officers as being "robust" with enforcement,personally and having met with their "officers" I would call robust to mean threatening, its only my opinion but, that sounds very much to me to be an admission that they do get the heavy handed, how arrogant of her to say the methods they use are "heavily regulated* as this gives the impression the legal system seems to be ok about them overstepping the mark and from what I have read this site the courts even give them protection when they get it all wrong. I hope the MOJ get feedback on this BBC show and start to ask the right questions about their High Court Enforcement Officers that they supposedly "regulate" I expect there are many reputable companies out there that use these neanderthals to collect money owed to them but I wonder how many of them realise they are condoning bad working practices?

Thank you ever so much for replying you are correct they have identified and given me a tel number to call. I know I have not used this service not anyone else can they still make me pay this? How can anyone in their right frame of mind want to pay £20 per call, text or whatever, so this is not correct. Please tell me what I can do? I await your reply and once again many thanks Mashmallow

Wonder if someone can help me. I just checked my mobile phone bill and have for apparently a company who deals with adult chat, I don't understand I spent nearly 30 minutes to T Mobile which has cost me 25p per minute. First the woman said it was a computer error, and she would clear that number and refund the charges, then she said she would check with her boos and came back with SMS messaging, don't even know what that is, then she came back with someone has been using this chat line. I am the only one using my phone, I am 55 and not into chat lines, and even if I was I would not know how to use them. She said the charges are still applicable and I have to ring the company to check this issue out as they were charging my account, how I don't know and they have to contact T mobile to confirm I have not been using this so called SMS messaging before they can do anything. I insisted I don't use chat lines and have not a clue how this has happened. This has happened within the last 5 days and only now I have found out by checking my calls on the internet. Please anybody that could advise me on where I stand. I am totally gutted. Many thanks Mashmallow

Hi, Thanks for replying, In the eyes of the law your wife works so you get nothing so basically she has to keep you, what bull****. I have worked since I was 16 and now 54 contributed to all and sundry that has come over and ponsed and even them over here and get nothing in return. The law is an arse, I am not married to my partner not is the mortgage on my name so I have no security as to speak in the eyes of the law, he could kick me out and I would have to fight for my share of the property, although he is not nasty to do that, but the law fits when he although no committment legally he has to keep me. I could really freak out on here but I would get told off. I just read the Dail Mail and could not beleive what is going on in our country people immigrants living in mansions getting benefits over the average wage and complaining. never done a days work to support this country and they get rewarded. There must be an answer to all this, I hate this country they have abused the working class and go on doing so. Lets see what this wonderful fairy tale government does for us ( sweet nothing) but look after the other countries and we pea brains have to put up with it. No wonder we cannot get a job the migrants have seen to that. Best of luck Mashmallow

I have been out of work since April this year and up to now have only found 2 months temporary work. Still unemployed and only entitled to NI based contributions which everyone is entitled to for 6 months only after this you get nothing the reason being I live with a partner who is meant to keep me although his wages cannot cover all the bills, mortgage, food, debts of his own and debts of mine. Am I entitled to claim anything, I don't want to claim anything but its not through the lack of me trying to get work, its getting me down the £64.00 per month pays for my mobile and some of my debts, plus whatever women need and a packet of tobacco. Can anyone advise what I can do to survive. I am trying desperately to find work anything but maybe because of my age I feel I am being left on the scrap heap. regards, Mashmallow:-(