ok, so you apply for a bank account online, fill in your details, previous addresses, bank information etc. If you've had a name change in the last three years, they ask you for details of your previous name as well. Then if they like you they send the application form through the post for you to sign and return, sometimes with an account number already allocated. What I received in the post (twice) was a letter addressed to "Mrs Sharon Taylor". I'm certain, at least with the second application, that I put my married name as my application name and my maiden name in the previous names section.

I relly hope someone can help me with this, I got married in June, have changed all my financial stuff over to my married name, house is in married name, everything except a few bits that I'll get round to like dentist etc. I recently applied for a couple of new financial produts. One sent the app. form through the post this morning, but in my maiden name. Thought I had maybe slipped up (pretty sure I didn't, don't like my old name, got used to my new one quite quickly) and didn't give it much thought. I have just tried now to apply for something else on line, this time definitely with my married name and it's come back again with my maiden name. Now there is a slim possibility I made the same mistake twice, but I'm about 90% sure I didn't. Any ideas why this is happening? I thought maybe because so many financial instituions are linked these days, it's just pulling my details off old records, but as I've changed everything to my married name, I don't see how this would happen? Please help!!

as a by the by, have had a look at both Ofgen and OFT website, both of which now say they won't take complaints or enquiries from individual consumers, you now need to go through a new government website called consumerdirect.gov.uk

Thanks, I thought OFGEM might be my first port of call, but as it's the letting agent as well I wasn't sure. Thought OFT might also be worth a try? Just think it's unfair of them to not make it clear on the letter that it's optional, it doesn't say the change is compulsory but it doesn't make it clear at all. I'm reasonably aware of my rights but someone who isn't, particularly someone vulnerable, might feel obliged to go along with it and may not necessarily end up better off. I know from looking at utility companies that just because maybe one of a company's rates are cheaper, doesn't necessarily make it the cheaper option for everyone as it depends on your personal usage. Also, as it's only a few weeks until Christmas, people might be more inclined just to fill the form in and return it without really checking. It also strikes me as odd that even though the form enclosed is a Southern Electric form, they're asking you to return it to the letting agent and to go through the letting agent to deal with them. The form asks for bank details, I personally don't want to just send my bank details off where some untrained office admin person might lose them or worse. I noticed something else on the letter which makes me agree that they're probably on comission - it says even if you're with Southern Electric, can you please still notify the letting agent with your account details, so they don't contact you again about it, also implying they are likely to keep writing to people who don't take the offer on. Really getting quite mad about this!

Hi, I was looking for some advice, I think this might be quite a unique question but any help you can give would be gratefully appreciated. My husband and I moved into a rented house in September, the utilities were with British Gas but I did a quick comparison and changed us to EDF. We've made the first DD payment to EDF and I'm happy with them (so far!) We received a letter this morning from the letting agent "proposing" to transfer all their properties over to Southern Electric, it goes on to list all the discounts in comparison to E.on and British Gas and encloses a form to fill in and return to get the supplier changed over. This is apparently for ease of utility management for them particularly when tenants leave a property. My tenancy agreement is only between my husband and I, and our landlady who owns the property. I would have thought that as a utility is a service which is bound by contractual obligations, the letting agents have no right to change our supplier, ultimately we're the ones using is, paying for it and responsible for it (as laid out in the tenancy agreement) so we should be able to choose what we like. I can't imagine they can tell us what phone company to use or who to get broadband from. The fact that the letter doesn't make any mention of this being compulsory (although it doesn't say it's optional) makes me think I can take it or leave it? I haven't tied into a fixed price with the utility company or paid in advance but with these options both readily available now, the letting agent can't possibly tell all it's tenants it wants them all to use this one utility supplier. Aren't there some kind of competition rules preventing this situation? I've gone on a bit, but it's wound me up a little that they might take advantage of people who think this is compulsory, I wouldn't mind betting the letting agent is getting a cut somewhere along the line too. I'd like to report the letting agent/utility company but I'd have no idea who to. Thanks for your help Sharon

The more I think about it, the more I chuckle, they obviously think I came down in the last shower! It was a great pleasure to compose that last letter, although I tried very hard to avoid sounding too amused ;-) I could do that as well, ooooh, that would be fun! What gets me is that they think they can actually get away with this, either their exceptionally stupid, or exceptionally arrogant that they think I'd fall for that. Although, six months ago I probably would! Sharon x

I knew it would be. Lowell (action on behalf of Cap1) came back and said that they couldn't get a copy of the CCA and were going to pass it back to Cap1 - contacted Cap1 to get the default removed and they've replied with a whole load of bunkum including some random printed out T's&C's that have no relevance to my account whatsoever, a signed copy of the back sheet of my application form from 2000 as "a copy of my CCA". Pah! Oh, and a lovely little screen print showing the computer record of when my default was printed, but no copy of it as they're "not obliged to under the CCA" Tee Hee! So I wrote back!!! Told them that an app form was not a CCA, that it was missing the prescribed terms needed to be enforcable, that the T's&C's cannot be identified as applicable to my account, that I want everything they've got under the Data Protection Act including the default, that as the time limit for providing me with the info I've requested has passed (initially requested from Lowell's back in April) they should cease processing all data, they can't take any action, etc etc. The list goes on! Basically hit them with it. At the very least, it should keep them busy for a while! I'm on a mission to knock them out of the water now, they need to stop treating the public like hapless morons, and we the public need to stop taking it from them! GGRRRRR! Sharon x

Thanks for the reply Scott, they have asked for something such as his passport or ID, does he need to sent these? I was a bit wary as its a DCA and not the bank that he's dealing with. Also, the 40 day limit, does it apply from the date they received the S.A.R, or will it start to apply on from the date that they receive his ID? Thanks again Sharon

Hi all, I'm currently on the attack with Wescot and HFC on behalf of my OH, we wrote to HFC originally outlining his reasons for why he believes he's been mis-sold PPI (it's a single premium policy which makes it even more difficult) of which there were many! Received condescending reply from Annette Mulligan, their Ops Manager, saying "HFC have always had clearly documented policies and preocedures..... I would like to bring to your attention that the FSA investigation did not identify that our customers had been disadvantaged" and then a list of documents that proves that he knew what he was signing and what the benefts if the policy were. We have replied with an S.A.R request, however two weeks later they have replied requesting ID from my OH. I remember reading something about it on here a while ago but I can't for the life of me find it, can someone let me know whether or not they need ID, and whether he should provide it? Ta ever so QS x

I was recently contacted after 3 years about an outstanding debt with CapOne by Lowells, requested CCA, Lowell's came back six weeks later and said no CCA found by client and file is being closed and returned to CapOne. However, still have a default registered. Now, from reading the posts, my understanding is this - that if I want to try and get the default removed I need to a) check that the debt was passed on correctly (and consequently Data Protection rules adhered to). Then, as I don't have a copy of the default notice and don't recall one, I need to send a request for one - not sure which letter or how long they have to reply.. If they then can't produce it, I can then go about the process of trying to get the default removed. Have I got this right or have I missed something out? Thanks x

Dannyboy - you getting confused there? Not sure what you should do now, not sure what I should do now either! The reason I asked is that there is currently a default on my credit file from Cap 1 although I don't recall a default being sent. In fact, I did offer them (at the time) payment on several occasions which they turned down flat. I was having difficulties with repayments and didn't manage the full minimum payment for a couple of months. After they refused my offers I just ignored them. This was around the beginning of 2005 While I'm relieved that they've gone away (fingers crossed) I'd still like the default removed from my file. Surely, if Cap1 have admitted they can't prove that I owe the debt with the relevant paperwork, there must be some way to get them to remove the default.

So basically I'm left in limbo now, and have to wait until the statute of limitations kicks in before I can knock this debt entirely on the head? While I'm happy that they can't chase me for the debt and be unreasonable about it, surely without an enforceable agreement the original creditor can't do anything further with the account?

Even though Lowells have said they've closed the file and returned it to the client?

How long can I expect to wait before I hear from Cap1, and if I don't hear from them, would it be advisable for me to write to them?

I've received a letter from Lowell today, telling me their client is unable to find the original credit agreement and as a result, Lowell are closing the file and returning it to the client. So what do I do now? I'm assuming this is now an unenforcable debt as the client (Cap 1) have admitted they don't have the agreement, so can I get the default removed from my credit file? That Andrew Bartle can be a helpful chap after all ;-)