Excellent presentation Gyzmo. Congratulations! The only problem I see is that principles of English law - which I fully support - have now been eroded and -are either ignored or swept under the carpet by charlatans ranging from wheel clampers, through dodgy solicitors/DCAs etc. to Her Majesty's Government itself. Personally, I would like to see the subject debated by such as the Oxford Union. To start a debate, may I propose that English Law has now been surrendered to Brussels and thoroughly emasculated thereby? Let's keep this up. Regards to all. Vandermerwe

Does anyone have any experience of bringing an action against the HNS or the local Primary Trust? This would relate to a failure to provide adequate clinical care following a series of strokes. I'll obviously go into detail if anyone feels they can help, but at the moment I have no idea whether such action is possible. Thanks. Vandermerwe

Hi legend. Do not phone them. Put any questions you may have in writing and send by recorded delivery, naturally keeping a copy. Tell them you will only deal with them in writing. From other threads in the forum they are appear to be a bunch of con artists owned by, if I recall, a debt collection agency, Good luck - keep us posted. Vandermerwe

Hi Bigbuba Thanks for keeping the forum advised. Hope you get what you rightfully deserve. You have one big advantage over me, though, you can obviously 'keep your cool' when dealing with fools and idiots: I cannot. I can, and do, write the most excoriating letters but all I get back is a computerised job. I admire your composure - really do. Have a 'click' on me! Regards. Vandermerwe

Hi Trinity Suggest you re-post on your particular bank's thread. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. HSBC was taking and chewing up our OAP state benefits. They responded to my letter concerning this with a computer generated response about OFT, claims on hold etc. I have now opened a parachute account for our benefits so there's not one red cent going into the HSBC account. My wife had a stroke 18 days ago, followed by three more and is still waiting to see a NHS consultant!!! There was an article in (I think) yesterday's "Daily Mail" saying banks were ignoring the law in refusing to consider hardship claims. They keep phoning, and I keep refusing to give them "security information". It's really a bit like a Monty Python sketch: "I need to ask you a few security questions - what's your date of birth?" Me: "Over 21 - what's your's? Her: "I must speak to Mr. Van der Merwe" Me: "You have that pleasure." Her: "But I have to make sure etc. etc. Me: "But you've just phoned me" And so it went on until I told the (admittedly polite) woman I had sent five letters, none of which had received a reply, cogent or otherwide and that as far as I was concerned my main concern at the moment was the survival of my wife who had been an unfortunate 'beneficiary' of NHS care. I told her I would only correspond in writing - as and when I had time - as my first concern is my wife. Ten minutes later the phone rang again. We are old and rejected by society (69 and 72 respectively). Stress - compounded by debt - has caused and aided the problem. I allocate my day into several parts (I'm sure you know men are not multi-thinkers) I try and give 30-40 minutes day to newcomers to CAG. The site has helped me enormously and I feel I should give the same in return. If I've helped give my scales a click ( between the green ball and the red triangle) Good luck and best regards. Vandermerwe

Hi Scribes You've had a lot of advice here in a short time. Having been down the route myself (and still continuing!) I'd just like to add that Priority One's summation and mantra just about says it all. Listen, also, to Sequenci. He's always brief but knows what he's talking about. This, of course, is in no way derogatory to any of the other comments you have received but I will, if I may, add two personal observations of my own. CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service) is excellent once they get their act into gear. Last year they were voted by the "Sunday Times" one of the best companies to work for. The best I can say is that creditors respect them; the worst that they can be a bit bureaucratic. I would avoid the CAB but only because they seems so hit and miss as to whether you talk to an experienced debt counsellor or not. The National Debtline seems excellent, but then I've chucked my lot in with the CCCS and I don't think you can, or should, try and use both. In my opinion (IMHO, as I believe the saying goes) you also need a supportive GP - and there should be some around at £130,000 p.a. - who will listen to you and determine the root of your depression. I am NOT medically qualified but would suggest a sympathetic practitioner could prescribe a SSRI anti-depressant but may need to try several. Prozac was useless for me but I have settled down on Efexor SR (slow release). The generic name is venlafaxine - but if you have the typical GP he/she could react in a bad way to "self-prescribing" though an empathetic one should give it a try. Dear Scribes, I've been there, I am there (can beat you on debt level!) but still have my wife (though almost lost her last week after 45 years to NHS inadequacies) and I'll do my best to support you. You should give Priority One a click on her scales and also Sequenci. That's the blob between the green circle an red triangle at the bottom leftcorner. If you feel I might also have helped you could also give mine a dab! Please keep us posted - I've found there is a lot of genuine empathy and compassion on this forum. Keep smiling and God Bless. Vandermerwe

Just so that pd knows I've continued my computer training8) Van

Bit like my wife's recent stay in hospital. Lovely Polish girl, working for contract caterer Sodexho, asked me if I would like a cup of tea. First one that day so gratefully excepted. Asked the following day for same and snotty local woman retorted "tea for patients only" and I swear she smirked as she wheeled her trolley away. Vandermerwe.

Thanks Pete. Easy peasy - when you know how:grin:. I'll be back:wink: Van

Thanks pete, pd and deedee. One of our sons is arranging for some home help, hopefully beginning today so I can get down to banking matters. I've got 49 messages in my message box and would like to save some either as a document or archive them, but hitting 'archive' merely brings up an index of what is on the forum. Can anyone help? Will post again later today. As ever. Vandermerwe

Hello all you good folk out there. I told my DB (I much prefer the expression to OH) about you and she, in effect, said 'who are they'? For a variety of reasons I have tried to handle the fin. sit. alone, and as DB never learned how to use a computer (worse than me pete & cd!), prefers to use the telephone and, believe it or not, READ NEWSPAPERS!!). Er, she does have all her marbles as I believe the expression goes. After finally gaining admission to the local hospital (after four full strokes, and not TIAs unfortunately) it would seem the Managing Deputy Assistant Bed Co-ordinator has cast lots for her bed and instead intends releasing her (certainly not for good behaviour!!) so it appears one loving hubby and two (even more?) loving miniature dachshunds will shortly be on the way to collect her. Dear folk, we have been to the very gates of Dante's inferno and back. Developments from Honkers and Shankers today, and will hopefully respond (and post for advice) tomorrow. Hope you are all wishing our good friend Sequenci well. All the best. Vandermerwe

Thanks all round - especially Sequenci. Am considering various options but would appreciate advice as to whether (a) I MUST return acknowledgement of service indicating intention to defend (even though I am attempting to have the claim withdrawn and (b) whether I can approach Legal Complaints Service once a claim has been issued? Regards. Vandermerwe

Hi Lisa Welcome to the site, which has not only helped me enormously but also yielded some good, kind and compassionate friends who have been very supportive at a time of need. What you really need is breathing space. First thing tomorrow (Monday) begin calling: a) CCCS on 0800 138-1111 b) National Debtline on 0808 808-4000. They are both charities (and highly efficient ones as well) who will give you sound advice at no charge, either now or ever. It might be difficult to get through at first on a Monday, but do please persevere. I'll add more if you ask, but have only just returned from hospital where my wife has just been allocated a bed after four strokes (yes 4!) since Tuesday lunchtime. Good luck and keep in touch. Vandermerwe

Thanks lookinforinfo The basis of my (our) defence will be: a) failing to provide proper professional advice; b) seeking to pass off a trainee solicitor as a one qualified; c) negligence in failing to obtain a costs order in our favour at an aborted trial. Regards. Vandermerwe

Is there anywhere on the forum where I can find advice on defending a claim by a solicitor? After paying several thousands of pounds I finally refused to settle a final account some three years ago, and have today received a court claim. Hope an appropriate site exists. This is nothing to do with third party debt, just the solicitor's own charges. Vandermerwe.

Dear Sequenci : Et tu, Brute? After all you have given, and the messages you have received, all I can do is pray the Gods look favourably upon you. I have recently discovered just how supportive this forum can be. Good luck my friend. Vandermerwe

Hi folks I'm not avoiding you. I am sorry to say that my has wife suffered a series of TIAs (mini strokes) since Tuesday and a lack of competent medical care and rehabilitation does not bode well. Obviously everything other than her recovery is now on hold, and I'll probably only be searching the NHS forum for a while. The lack of medical care available in this town is horrifying. We feel we have been to the gates of hell and viewed the Inferno. Those of you who do, please pray for her recovery. Sincerely Vandermerwe

Good morning greedfighter. I thoroughly agree with you. It's the law of the jungle with toothless tigers to boot. After all, when something like a quarter to a third of the population work for for Big Brother quis custodiet ipsos Custodes? Godd luck! Vandermerwe

Morning Srah Same with me, but for £150. Try the Co-op Bank - they will open a Cashminder account over the phone after a bit of faffing about. No cheque book, no overdraft but in my case it was sheer necessity as the bank was taking our state benefits to shove into their corporate codpieces. I'm sure they won't let you close your account - they'll just keep adding charges until the court rules differently. Good luck Vandermerwe

Hi Pete and pd Your support has quite rejuvenated me! Honest:D. All I need, really, is a billet-doux from deedee, an appropriate word from Freaky and then I'm raring to go!. I know, I know, I'm putting off the day but I'm not only a nervous wreck at the moment:( but also the type of person who needs to get stuck into a project and work at it non-stop until completion. Tomorrow is stuffed up somewhat and then, of course, there is Saturday. Can't think why anyone should think I'm South African (hello FL;)) but we've (a) only got a portable TV and (b) Mrs. Van doesn't like rugby. So what does an oke do? Go down to the local (10 different cask ales) and give his clap quietly - oh my gawd that doesn't sound right - or risk abuse, go home, get out his stamp albums and do a bit of poring. With my luck the only pawing would be my black dachshund licking my precious Penny Black! Possible solution is to take Mrs. Van and best friend, (she's Welsh and really very, very sweet), park them with BF's three young children (9, 12 and 15 - oh Holy Mary trouble coming up!) in a non-TV part of the pub, and watch The Match with husband of BF (who is all go having just had yet another blood transfusion for acute leukaemia which we all know is going to prove fatal - probably before Christmas). The pub should have a heavy complement of Rhodies and others, so I'm fairly gung-ho despite the fact this town has a lot of - er - drink-fuelled incidents. I'll post again (hopefully) on Sunday. You're good people on this forum - I feel I know you but know I don't if that makes any sense. Wish the best team success on Saturday. As ever -alles van die beste. Van

Hi Pete Yes, you are due for an update, and I also owe pd a reply to her PM. Have you ever know a time when clouds of the brown stuff seem to descend every day for what seems like weeks on end:(? I just have. I finally got the 'hardship' letter away only to receive a computer generated response concerning the OFT issue and totally ignoring my hardship claim. Then the power pack on the computer failed and this stupid twit fiddled with the switches, turned it on to 115 volts and the new one blew. Then the keyboard ceased to function so no e-mails possible. Then Toucan charged me twice for the same month's broadband service and while I was arguing cut it off. Then we found a cheaper property to move to and the wheels came off that. Apart from that I've got my parachute account so we have food in the house, but an enormous pile of what I remember a particularly pompous lawyer calling "detritus and exigencies" (c**p to you and me:)) to wade through. Problem is, I just don't know where to start. Thanks for your concern, Pete. Oh, and by the way the old printer started working again - I feel like Arthur Jackson. I'm sure you remember Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson from the days of Monty Python who was the proud owner of two garden sheds. As a dedicated Pythonist what more can I say but "look on the bright side of life". Best regards as ever. Van

Hi Mazel PT (and I'd like to think a few others:Dare doing our best to help you. I've just sent a PM to PT with a couple of very minor suggestions, as I don't think their publication of the thread would necessarily help your cause. Please remember my mantra "one for all and all for one" (I've got a couple more but not releveant here:) Good luck Vandermerwe

Couldn't Fred learn how do work a spell checker? Even an American one? This is the sort of drivel that, in my humble opinion, denigrates the site. Vandermerwe

Hi Limpetlad Suggest you lay a bit more on with a trowel: a) who are they?; b) who regulates them?; c) identity of their directors?; d) details of their official complaints procedure. Please keep us posted - a moderator might move you to another site, and I'll try to follow you there. Good luck! Vandermerwe

Why unfortunately joesoap:D? Thought the best team was going to win - am a bit worried about this afternoon though:(. Regards Vandermerwe