This topic was closed on 03/07/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/05/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support their. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

Congratulations Flower...Yet another middle finger to the profiteering racket merchants. I know it's been a bit stressful, however the retail therapy you can undertake now (just in time for xmas!) will hopefully make you feel a bit better Thanks for the beer yesterday...! See you soon lovely. PJ xx

Having successfully got £823.00 back from (the money-grabbing shysters that are) Alliance and Leicester (see here for the full story... http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=687), they finally closed my account today. Fortunately I had opened a Smile (Coop) Account which was v. easy to switch to and they sort out the transfer of all of your DD's, SO's etc... The only slight annoyance has been forgetting my new pin number today, meaning I had to borrow a tenner from a mate for beer after work. PJ.x

Me too.. I have received back all my charges and interest after issuing a small claims action, (£823.69) and they will now be closing my account as of 13th June. Like some of the other posters in this thread, I had already opened a parachute account, and had planned to switch after getting my money back anyway, so it's no biggie for me.. (only the hassle of switching over all my DD's and SO's etc.) They obviously see this as our punishment for claiming back what was rightfully ours in the first place - and exposing them for what they really are - money grabbing shysters who purport to care about their customers, when actually, all they only care about is how much money they can screw out of ordinary hardworking people Shame on you Alliance and Leicester. PJ..xx

I won too! I'm now £823.69 richer. (sorry - can't help keep telling people!) Had they paid up in the first place, it would have only cost them £541.00 See this thread for details... http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=687 It's all very straight-forward really....just follow the FAQ's and you can't go wrong...good luck! PJ

Just to finish off this thread properly, (and for the benefit of others...) I thought I would post my final letters to Ms. McGuirk and Northampton County Court here: 1. Letter to Ms. McGuirk acknowledging receipt of her their cheque as settlement: 2: Letter to Northampton County Court advising them that the claim has been settled: That's all folks... PJ

Hmmm.. "A&L Winners Club..." perhaps we need a winners club thread...? Just so we can revel in our victories... BTW, Well done Miss EKK!

I don't think they will close my account. I think they just added that last paragraph to try and make themselves feel better about giving me back my own money. I'm not even going to give them the satisfaction of paying the cheque they sent me for £823.69 into my current account. It's going straight into my .ing direct savings account. To be honest, I hope they do call me about closing my account, then I can tell them exactly where to shove it - it would be no skin of my nose to switch. As my account is about 3k in credit - they would be the ones to lose out. (but I'm not bitter! ) I'm sure I'd be much happier with smile.co.uk anyway (and get a better rate of interest on my current account!)... watch this space PJx

YAY!!!!!!!! I today received a cheque for the full amount of my claim. I am now £823.69 richer. I think I'll buy myself a new comptuer As for the last paragraph...As the great Catherine Tate might say: Look at my face... Am I Bovvered? PJ..xx

Also today, I received a Notice that Acknowledgement of Service has been filed from the court. Only one interesting thing here: in the part where Ms. McGuirk (remember her?) has to declare what she intends to defend; she has ticked the option that she intends to defend the claim in part rather than ticking the option that declares she intends to defend the claim in full Can anyone think why this might be? (or is this usual?) PJ..xx

Hello again... Got a letter from an A&L solicitor saying they intend to defend my proceedings (yay!): Surely that should be 'Yours sincerely', Ms. McGuirk? (Sorry, can't help being a pedant) Lets hope she's the one who's taking this to court...

Claim filed via moneyclaim.gov.uk website: Date of claim: 12th April 2006 Time of claim: 00.01 Claimant (Packjoker) Defendant Alliance and Leicester PLC Description Alliance and Leicester Charges Claim Number: 6QZ23914 Amount claimed £743.69 (inc. 8% Interest) Court fee £80.00 Solicitor's costs £ 0 Total amount £823.69 (plus interest to day of judgement) PJ xx

Hey Y'all I am just about to issue my small claims action against Alliance and Leicester using the moneyclaim website (https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk), and thought it might help others to include the 'particulars of the claim' here: Amount of claim: Amount claimed £743.69 (inc. 8% Interest) Court fee £80.00 Solicitor's costs £ 0 Total amount £823.69 (plus interest to day of judgement) I will of course keep you all posted PJ..xx

Yet another delaying letter received: I'll be preparing my court claim in the next day or so...

Here is a copy of the Letter Before Action I will be posting off to C Johnson at A&L tomorrow...

I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find out how much my one bedroom, ground floor council flat was (really) worth in 1991, as opposed to the estimate given by Enfield Council on this years council tax bill. (My current banding is Band C that states my flat was worth £52,001 - £68,000 on the 'open market' as of April 1st 1991). I think that estimate is too high. My bill (for £858.10 (including the 25% discount for single occupancy) says I can appeal to the Listing Officer if I think the council tax band for my property is too high. If my appeal is successful, they will give me a refund if I have paid too much council tax. PJ..x

Yes, I agree. This is a little confusing. As I understand it, I would assume you can only claim for the interest on the amount of the specific (unfair) charge for the time you remain over your overdraft limit. I don't think you would be able to make a justified claim for the usual monthly interest they would charge on the agreed overdraft if you used the facility. (i.e using your overdraft, but not going over your limit) I don't think I have the mental capacity or will to work out the proportions of interest on specific charges while I was overdrawn and paying interest on my overdraft. I would need to know the interest rate I was paying on my agreed overdraft at the time (going back 6 years), I would then need to know how much over my overdraft any penalty charges took me - and for how long - to work out the proportion of interest A& L were charging me, on the penalty charge incurred. I think... It's hurting my brain now.. I would also welcome some clarity on this, as I am about to issue A&L with the Letter Before Action as I have now received the (700 pages of) information I requested in order to determine how just how much they have fleeced from me. (£548.00) I was just going to take out the last sentence about interest. If it goes to court they will have to pay another 8% anyway which take the total claim up to £742.00. Happy daze.... PJ

Received a parcel from Alliance and Leicester this morning, containing about 700 sheets of A4 paper detailing all my transactions since September 1999 and information about all customer service calls/requests I have made. There was no covering letter, it was left on my doorstep and the parcel didn't even have my name on the front (just my address). On first sight, it was pretty daunting to think I would have to trawl through that lot to try and work out how much they have fleeced from me over the years, but once I started it wasn't so bad. The grand total is £541.50 (not as much as I had expected!) I will now get on with entering the details into the excel spreadsheet in the library, to put the charges in order and work out the interest before I send A&L the 'letter before action'. I will, of course, keep you all updated. PJ

Here's a further update (similar to A&L responses posted by others): Also enclosed was a (dodgy photocopy of a) A&L Data Protection Act Information Disclosure Request Form. (A basic form that asked what information I required, my account details etc..and looked as though is had been thrown together in a hurry... I have since completed the A&L DPA Request Form and returned it with my £10.00 fee. I now have to wait for them to get back to me with a list of charges or my bank statements before I can proceed further. As ever, I will of course keep you all updated. PJ

sophie - ur forgiven spanky - let's keep our fingers crossed! xx

Please start your own thread(s).... and don't hijack MINE!!!! I was trying to keep things nicely ordered...looks like that has gone out of the window.. Had you bothered to read the FAQ's, you would have found all the information you needed...you're just being plain lazy.... PJ

Got so fed up waiting for them to get their arses in gear, so I have sent them this letter (from the BAG library) with the last paragraph amended. Not convinced it will make the slightest bit of difference, but as ever, I will keep you all posted

Received another letter from A&L today (4th March)... How long does it take to print off a list of charges..!? They only have about 14 days left to supply me with the information I have requested under the DPA...since my original letter of 7th February (below) Will keep you posted...

Sorry, maybe I wasn't totally clear in my first post. I don't actually know how much I am claiming back from them yet. I have only sent them the initial letter from the BAG library requesting a refund and asking for a breakdown of the charges levied against my account for the last six years under the DPA. The only communication I have from them to date is the letter above. How long should I wait for them to get back to me? As I understand it, they have 40 days to provide me with the information I have requested. (i.e. copies of my bank statements for the last 6 years) Is that correct? I'm clear about what I need to do once I have the bank statements. Thanx.