Hi ! Spot of advice please. My wife has a balance of £1,172 on her vanquis card, she ran into financial difficulties and subsequently misssed 3 payments. She managed to raise £590.00 (from an insurance payout) and offered that as an ex-gratia payment in full and final settlement. We wrote to Vanquis on February 1st with that offer, and again repeating that offer on February 22nd. they have failed to respond or even acknowledge either letters. We wrote to Impact Collection services with the exact same offer and they too have ignored our letters (all letters have been sent via recorded delivery). Just wondering how best to proceed next. Many thanks.

Many thanks, will keep you "posted".

Many thanks for that, would be grateful if you could let me have Jeremy Darrochs e-mail address.

Which Ombudsman are you referring to ? My reason for asking is due to the very same problems that you have experienced, i.e. ignoring letters, my latest letter sent 2 weeks ago using royal mail recorded delivery still remains unanswered, despite the fact that I escalated my complaint to the Managing Director.

Mmmmm, that`s one way of looking at it !

Jeans have evolved quite a bit over the last few years and are now a far cry from the original "workwear" denim. By all accounts there was no actual dress code for non-teaching staff, and there is certainly no clause in her contract of employment which mentions uniform or dress code. I totally agree that there is nothing wrong whatsoever in asking someone to wear black trousers and polo shirt, providing of course the school provides them.

What planet Are you from ? ....This is the head of a school trying to force the unenforceable, there are no provisions in my wifes contract of employment for dress code, as you seem to speak with so much knowledge, perhaps you`d like to cough up the money yourself - either put up or shut up ! personally, if I applied for a job and was told that I had to provide my own uniform, I would tell the employer where to shove his job (as I have done in the past)

hi verycatchy7939, Wife has no problem with wearing uniform, just who is going to pay for it, she has just had her hours reduced and is consequently £100 per month worse off (she is already struggling financially) - if the school pay for it, she`ll wear it. Thanks, Martin

Hi Karrie 2129, She is being asked to wear: plain black trousers (approx £12 pair) polo shirt with school logo (approx £13 each) Thanks, Martin

:? My wife works as a teaching assistant at a local primary school, most of her colleagues who are also teaching assistants wear jeans for work (smart casual dress). The Head of the school is now trying to enforce a "no jeans" rule and that school uniform should be worn. Assuming that there is no dress code in her contract of employment, can the head of the school enforce this rule ? My own personal view is that the head should be told "You provide the uniform & I`ll wear it". For my wife and her colleagues to provide their own uniform or suitable work wear would constitute a reasonable financial outlay, considering her wages. What are everyone elses thoughts on this ?

Hi CitizenB, Issue date on claim form is June 19th 2009

Hi ! I`m not sure if I am in the right department for this one, but I`ll run it past you all anyway. 2 years ago, I was involved in a minor vehicle shunt, (my vehicle ran into the back of another), details were exchanged and the matter was then dealt with by the respective insurers ( I admitted liability). A third claim was subsequently made from the driver of a third vehicle who claims the impact from my vehicle pushed the vehicle in front of me into the back of her vehicle. (At the time, I was given to understand that the owner of the third vehicle was just merely a witness, since there didn`t appear to be any damage or impact to that vehicle). The owner of the third vehicle was subsequently given details of my insurers, who wrote to me. I advised them that I was given to understand that the owner of the third vehicle was merely acting as a witness and that no obvious injury or damage had been sustained. I have just a county court summons for the grand total of £1.114.09. My own view is that any claim the owner of the third car may have is with my then insurer and NOT with me. What is the view of others and any suggestions as to how I go about defending the claim ? Many thanks.

Hi folks ! I would appreciate help in dealing with a B132. In November 2007, I took out an unsecured loan with Northern Rock for £10,00. In April 2008, due to an unforseen reduction in earnings I was unable to maintain my payments, but eventually managed (in June 2008) to make token payments of £4.00 per month, which I payed at weekly intervals. Whilst I continued to maintain these token payments , Wallers solicitors issued County Court Proceedings against me, I made my offer of payment formal, which they refused to accept ( even though I continued with those weekly payments), judgement was entered against me with an order to cough up within 28 days. I applied to have the order varied and increased my offer of payment to £10.00 per month (enclosing my personal budget sheet). I am still awaiting their response after 2 weeks. In the meantime, I have received a B132 "Notice to a registered proprietor of an application to enter an agreed notice". I wish to fight this due to the fact that: 1). All my other creditors have accepted my offers of payment and if a final charging order was made, it would prejudice the goodwill I have with my other creditors. 2). I already have a secured loan with my mortage provider. 3). It is morally wrong to change an unsecured debt into a secured one without my consent. 4). Why should Northern Rock have priority over my other creditors. PLEASE HELP martin4963

Hi ! Can anyone tell me what I am looking out for when I check a cca agreement for validility ? There are companies out there who are charging anything from £100 + for doing this ! (why pay for something that I could do myself for free or nominal cost ?) Many thanks martin4963

Hi ! Just busy constructing litigation/counterclaim/defence letters. Can any budding wordsmith help me with a legal term that is used when a creditor blatantly and recklessly increases ones debt by adding on either frivolous charges or refuses to suspend interest, thereby recklessly increasing ones debt. Many thanks

LATEST UPDATE ME 1, BLACKHORSE NIL ! Claim issued 17th December - cheque for £89.00 arrived 30th December with letter to say they intend to defend rest of claim. Letter arrived 13th January to say that they will be settling remainder of claim out of court + court costs and interest - cheque to follow ! MANY THANKS TO ALL

Hi ! I`m just in the process of issuing County Court proceedings against Black Horse Ltd for the refund of £157 in default charges. I would be greatful if anyone would help me out with the appropriate wording/terminology on the Court`s plaint. form / summoms. Many thanks, Martin4963

Many thanks Spamheed..... like your style !

Hi Folks ! Not sure if I`m in the right section for this. Just got early settlement figure from Black Horse, which includes £149.00 penalty charges (which I`m naturally disputing). I am wanting to settle this agreement a.s.a.p., but as I see it, I have a choice of 2 options: 1). Pay the settlement fee, less the £149.00 penalty charges, telling them exactly what I`ve done and why and then request they cancel their unlawful charges....blah...blah..blah 2). Pay the whole lot, then go through the procedure of claiming the charges back. 3). Cheapest and easiest for me - let them take me to court. Also should I decide to opt for (3). would it be likely they try to repossess the car (agreement only 20 months old - 5yr agreement) What do other members think ? Martin 4963

Hi Folks ! Recently made a token offer of payment of £1.00 per month (using letter templates) and enclosed a budget sheet. It seems they (RBS) have passed the letters onto Triton Credit Services, who are now requesting details of my other creditors and amounts owing ( they claim that the info. on budget sheet was incomplete). Should I comply, or should I tell them to mind their own business & start the whole CCA request scenario all over again ? Martin4963

yeah, said he was self employed.....told him that I wasn`t prepaired to discuss such matters on the doorstep, and that since I hadn`t invited him onto my property, he was trespassing.....oh, and another thing.....close the gate on your way out !!!!! No, I didn`t tell him to f**k off either. thanks for your input

Hi Has anyone heard of a DCA named, I believe "C.I.G." - at least that`s what it said on his I.D. card, ? could have got it wrong tho` Kind regards, martin4963

HI ! ADVICE PLEASE I have a secured loan with the Halifax, currently owing approx £15k Until approx 9months ago, I had no problems with my repayments, which were £176.00 per month. Due to the current economic climate, I found I could not make these payments as I should on a regular basis. I wrote to them explaining my circumstances, using the letter templates on this website and enclosing a budget sheet. I offered them £41.00 per month; to which they refused to accept and told me that they would accept £160.00 per month. I asked them to reconsider and in the meantime, I`m paying them £10.25 per week, I`m still awaiting their response. I have just had an "agent" of theirs at my door - so I told him that I do not discuss such private and confidential matters on the doorstep and that I would only communicate in writing. I then reminded him that since he was on private property uninvited, he should close the gate on his way out. :???::???:What should I do......more to the point, what can the Halifax do:-?:-?:-?:-?

Hi , I have received a demand from Credit Solutions Ltd in respect of an unpaid BT `phone bill. Before I respond, Could anyone please advise me whether the Consumer Credit Act applies to BT phone bills. Thanks, Martin4963

Thanks chaps !