And there we have it. Letter from Abbey today settling the claim in full Thank you all for your help and advice througout, you've been great

Well, there we have it... a letter from the court telling me the court date is set for 31st July 2007 at 10:00. I expect I'll hear from Abbey wanting to settle at 09:59:59.99

Another update... Abbey got their fingers out and have sent me a new copy of my statements etc. So, I've sent the list of charges the Court wanted today, and I guess we'll see where it goes from here - my guess would be a court date, which will then be followed by Abbey settling right before the date.

Horsham County Court

Well, looks like Abbey have one last chance to do the necessary... Got the following from the court this morning: - UPON READING a letter, dated 2nd June 2007, from the Claimant (copy attached for the Defendant); AND FURTHER to directions given on 20th April 2007 and 10th May 2007: THE COURT DIRECTS of its own initiative that: (1) UNLESS the Defendant complies by 4:00pm on 29th June 2007 with paragraphone of the order of 10th May 2007 (copy attached), its defence stand struck out and the Claimant be entitled to enter Judgement against the Defendant for the claim and costs; (2) This Court Order has been made of the courts own initiative. If you object to it you must make an application to have it varied, stayed or set aside within 14 days of receiving it. Dated 06 June 2007 So, can't really complain about that. I'd almost bet my left one that Abbey doing nothing once more and I get a strikeout win!

That means that the Judge has rejected Lloyd's defence, and assuming Lloyds is your bank, that pretty much means you win. I think Obviously, wait for the official notification from the court, but I think you've got it in the bag.

Sadly, I don't - I've had my account with them for years, and I don't have a clue where any of my original documentation is! Another quick update while I'm at it - nothing from Abbey in today's post. I know they have until 4pm today to return my documents to me, but forgive me if I don't hold my breath. My letter to the court telling them that Abbey haven't responded, and requesting a defence strikeout on the strength of that - as well as all the other useful info, examples and documentation in the strikeout thread - will be in the post at 4:00.01 today!

Potentially, I suppose it could be. We all know that banks (and Abbey in particular) have no intention of defending things in court, and are notorious for dragging their heels over this sort of thing, hoping people will just give up and go away. Which really amounts to them extracting the urine out of the courts system. Like I said before, I think it's the ideal time to play the Abuse Order card As for what they do with our correspondence, my guess is that there is a huge pile of paper aeroplanes all around the outside of Abbey's head office building

Horsham County Court have dispensed with AQs too

Sounds like standard their standard practice to me. Initially, I didn't even send statements, I pretty much just said 'give me my money!' - and they did, 18 months worth, anyway. Then I requested my statements (which also took ages to arrive, so nothing unusual there!), highlighted the charges, sent them off with a much more thorough letter, got rejected, started court proceedings... leading them to drag their heels even more. Long story short - they'll drag their heels on everything, but it's undeniably fun and totally to be worthwhile sticking it to the man! Good luck! ~Dave

Just an update - foxtrot alpha from shAbbey so far. Looks like we might be finding out what the Court orders in cases like these after all! In fact, this also seems like the perfect opportunity to bring the Abuse Order thing in to play...

I had a feeling that might be the case - guess I'll just have to suck it and see Thanks for your help and input, everyone

Well, here's what the letter says in chapter and verse... UPON READING a letter, dated 8th May 2007, from the Claimant (copy attached for the Defendant only): THE COURT DIRECTS of its own initiative that: (1) By 4:00pm on 1st June 2007, the Defendant, by way of disclosure, return to the Claimant the bank statements which he provided or, if they are no longer in the Defendant's custody or control, provide him with duplicates free of charge; (2) The time available to the Claimant in which to comply with the order of 20th April 2007 to be extended until 14 days after the Defendant's compliance with paragraph one of this order (3) This Court Order has been made of the courts own initiative. If you object to it you must make an application to have it varied, stayed or set aside within 14 days of receiving it. Dated 10 May 2007 So yeah, its a court order. But now I'm wondering what happens if Abbey don't comply with the court order? I guess I get back to the court and tell them so, but what's the likely outcome of that? Abbey have to pay up? They get told off by the court for not complying and get another few days to give my documents back? Anyone? Bueller?

I did... and by way of a quick update, it was just as nice to come home and find a letter from the court ordering Abbey to return my statements by 1st June, or provide replacements free of charge, then allowing me a further 14 days from that day to submit my list of charges to the court. Happy days!

Thing is, I haven't told Abbey that. But they're not silly, I guess they've worked it out by now. Thank you for the advice, I'll make sure I get a letter off to the courts first thing Tuesday

I've done something really, really stupid. I don't think I'll be getting my charges back, and it's my own stupid fault. I sent all my original documentation, including statements to Abbey, without remembering to take copies for myself. Now the court has ordered me to produce a list of the charges I'm claiming, and I simply can't. I've written twice to Abbey asking them to return copies of all the documentation they hold, but so far they have not done so, and the court wants the info before 15th May. To make matters worse, I'm out of the country from 10th - 18th May I copied the court in to my last letter to Abbey, but all I got back was a confirmation that I need the info by the 15th or my claim will be thrown out. So it looks like, through my own stupidity, I won't be getting my charges back. Let this be a lesson to everyone - KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING. I know it's obvious, and I know it was a schoolboy error, but please, please take the lesson away with you and let my screw up count for something, even if it is only a warning to others not to be as dumb as me.