Hi, I am really angry today On Friday, I went to the Post Office to buy some Euros for our holiday - we fly out tomorrow. I bought £500 worth and the transaction went through and off I went. This morning I checked my bank account to find that the £500 had debited my account as expected but an additional £500 had been pre-approved and was 'pending'. This amount is/was taken off my balance therefore putting me over my overdraft limit. I contacted my bank - cahoot - who said that the issue lies with the Post Office in that they have asked either by human or system error for the transactions to take place. Either way, the transaction is due to drop off tomorrow if they don't call for it. I went back into the Post Office where I purchased the Euros from with a copy of my receipt and the Postmaster is currently looking into it. My issues are numerous! 1. cahoot said that in theory, one of the transactions should have been declined as my cash withdrawal limit is £500 a day yet could offer no explanation as to why it wasn't other than 'it hasn't technically left your account'. I went blue in the face trying to explain to him that it has left my account as if it hadn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation 2. If I only entered my PIN once, how has the Post Office then had the authority to debit two lots of £500 from my account, when I only gave them permission for one 3. What authority did cahoot have to give the Post Office £500 of my money pending or otherwise. 4. This is apparently a common occurrence surely this should NOT be able to happen but the frustrating thing is that I have to wait for it to drop off, do not have access to £500 of my own money through absolutely no fault of my own. Any suggestions? Bel

Thanks BF, I had already read both posts before sending our letter on Friday. Would you suggest that we pay the outstanding payments or wait to hear back from them re the charges? Chers, Bel

Good morning all! I'll give some background information first of all. We have a loan with SCF for our car. When the agreement was first set up SCF messed up the payment dates - taking it earlier than agreed and we cancelled the DD and set up a SO after discussing this with SCF so that we were in control. We had asked for a change in payment date and the person we spoke to at the time, advised that if we set the SO up for say the 26th of each month, even though the agreement stated the 21st of each month that would be fine. That had gone fine with no charges etc and no problems. In June of last year, we went abroad for 6 months with my husband as he had a job secondment. We set up transfers to our 'bills' account to pay for bills such as the car loan but the first transfer was actioned late by us and it did not hit our bills account in time to pay that months car loan and some other bills. In January upon our return, we received the letters from SCF about the missing payment as well as statements listing the charges. We immediately wrote to them explaining what had happened and advising them that we would obviously pay the missing payment but could they explain why there had been charges of £25 levied one month and 2 x £25 another. From our calculation we needed to pay the missing payment + £200 charges, they were asking for missing payment + £300. To date they have not responded to that letter. In the meantime, the January SO did not go as bill payment via debit card had been processed first. We bank with cahoot and they now stop sending email reminders that a DD or SO has not been paid and their letters don't specify the erceiver so we didn't pick up on January's missed payment until Friday when we received a default notice. The default notice was dated 24th February, was sent TNT Post, arrived on 4th March and gives us until £15th March to pay the best part of £1500. Our contractual monthly payment is £330. February's SO went through fine on 26th as per our original agreement but is obviously not included in the DN as they 'crossed' in the post. We immediately wrote to SCF pointing out that we had not received a response to our letter sent in January querying the charges and added that we felt the DN was defective as the method of sending has not allowed us the 14 days to remedy the default, but most importantly it is defective because the amounts are incorrect as it includes incorrect and excessive charges. We headed it up 'customer complaint', sent it RM SD and gave them 7 days from Monday to respond to us. Is there anything else that I can do here guys over and above what I have already done. We can afford to pay the outstanding two payments but I do not want to do that if they continue with the default and most certainly do not want to pay charges that we believe we have been overcharged on. As I believe the DN is including the arrears charges (from the amounts quoted, I cannot believe it can be for anything else) even if we do pay the outstanding two payments, we will still not be complying to the DN. Don't know if it means anything but the wording on the breach stated that we have missed regular contractual payment, it doesn't state anything that the amount includes the charges. Any suggestions? Cheers, Bel

Thanks CityBoy, I have been spending the afternoon chasing my customers as well as the customer who bounced a cheque on me so hopefully we will have the funds to pay for the holiday. Other than that, I will have to be at the mercy of the company. Thanks for your advice, Bel

Hi, We have a holiday booked with a villa company and have already paid just over half the cost of the holiday. We aren't due to fly until April 15th, the balance should have been paid on January 18th and we have offered to pay the balance now by February 25th due to have cheques bounce on us and waiting for invoices to be paid. The company in question have said that they will cancel the holiday and still charge us any cancellation fees if we don't pay the balance by February 11th. Does any one know what exactly our rights are here or what arguments that we could use to negotiate for them to accept our offer of full payment by February 25th? When do they have to pay the airline and the villa owner? Any assistance or advise will be gratefully received! Thanks, Bel

Hi, Just thought I'd update you. Having chased Wonga for a fair part of Monday, they happened to finally call me back on my mobile whilst I was on the phone to ConsumerDirect. I finished my call on loudspeaker so that they could hear. I don't know if that had any effect but the upshot was the money was paid back into my account immediately, the loan is now an interest free one as will my next one (there won't be but it's nice of them to offer just in case) and I was sent a rather nice bottle of wine with an apology for their handling of the situation. Could have done without the stress but at least they did the decent thing in how they remedied things - can't ask any more than that really! bel

Thanks Sillygirl, Which part of the Consumer Credit Act have they slipped up on? Have given them 1 hour to respond otherwise I am putting the amount into dispute with my bank. Cheers, Bel

Hi Guys, Having used Wonga on and off over that last year or so, I applied for a new loan last week. Usually, everything goes extremely quickly but in this instance, after a lot of chasing via email and phone, my money was finally paid in 3 days later. I had agreed and have the loan agreement to show that repayment will be made by the end of February. I have received no other notification from them in writing, by text, email or phone advising me that they would be taking this payment today. Today, I log onto my bank account to pay some bills to find that Wonga have taken the money that isn't due until the end of February today, yet logging into my Wonga account shows that my loan is still outstanding. I have called and emailed as well as attaching a copy of my bank statement pointing out that I have a loan agreement stating a date that they have not kept to and I am still waiting for a response. What exactly are my rights in this instance? Bel

I don't think she has DX. Why? bel

Ok, She had asked for the dates and times of the visits from the bailifs and this is some of the info that they are withholding pending the £10 for the SAR. When they turned up on the doorstep with the van, she had asked them if they were there to remove her goods and they said yes. From my understanding from what you said PL, they would never have had the right to do that as the levy was on the car not the goods inside? In effect, they lied to scare her into paying? Bailiffs can only take away what they have levied on, ie the car (if it didn't have finance) and nothing else? If you were in my friends position, how exactly would you respond to Rottendales? Cheers, Bel

I know, but what's worse is that the council is condoning it! This makes them no better than Rottendales

Before I forget, the main issue that she sees is how can they levy on a vehichle without first confirming ownership and if there is finance on it?

Hi, There were 4 visits in total. Visit 1 - She was in but they wouldn't speak to her as her name wasn't on their paperwork. Visit 2 - Two days later allegedly. Nothing received through letterbox Visit 3 - 5 days after visit 2 when the levy fee levied. My friend disputes this as again, she was either in and no one called at the property or she was out in the car picking up her daughter and sone from school and nursery. Again nothing left at the property to advise that this had been done Visit 4- as per the thread Can you let me know why the informtion that she had requested from them isn't subject to a SAR? Cheers, bel

Hi the breakdown of charges is as follows Visit 1 - £24.50 Visit 2 - £18.00 Car levy - £31 Van charge - £130 There arguament is that they refused to speak to her as her name wasn't on their paperwork and as far as they were concerned the debts wasn't hers. However, she is the legal owner of the car that they levied, not her husband and it has finance on it. No one was present on visit 2, so there was no one available to confirm the ownership of the car. It could have been anyones that was sat on their drive as she is always having the other mothers around and then going for walks in the park with the children. She also swears blind that there was nothing pushed through the letterbox on the day of the alledged visit. Bit of a stinker really. Why is it not a SAR request to Rottendales when asking for similar information from a bank is? Cheers, Bel

Give me a min, I'll text her to text them to me

I know, that's what I said to my friend as we all believe that they behaved appallingly. This is what her husband had sent to them 1. A printout or copy of the screen shot of our account held on your systems 2. A copy of the order sent to you from xxxx Council 3. The date and time of any Bailiff action 4. The names of the Bailiffs who attended, the date of their certification and the court that they were certified at. 5. Copies of all communication allegedly left at the above address 6. A full breakdown of all charges made to the above reference number 7. What steps were taken by you or your Bailiff to confirm ownership of the car WVXX XXX and whether or not there was finance on the car at the time of any levy applied by you. This is not a Subject Action Request under the Data Protection Act section 7 1998 so does not incur a fee of £10. You are obliged to provide this information. How exactly would you now respond to Rottendales if they are trying to stall? He had sent the same letter to the council requesting the same information as well as asking what steps the council took to ensure that all fees were levied properly and legally. So far, he hasn't had a response. Cheers, Bel

Hi Guys, Rottendales have written back to my friend only giving them a breakdown of the account saying that if they want the information requested such as screen shots of the accounts etc, that is a SAR and they will need to pay the £10. Who is right? Bel

Hi, I bank with cahoot and have noticed over the last few months or so, that the day before a direct debit or standing order is due from my account, my balance is reduced by that amount. It happened yesterday where a s/o was due out of my account today, yet my balance was reduced by the exact amount of the s/o yesterday. Finally got a response back from them and they say it left my account today. Looked and the s/o details are showing for today yet the amount was debited from my account yesterday. Has anyone else had the same issue? Bel

How come you knew nothing about the charges? Were cahoot sending the letters to the right address?

just found the cahoot thread - will repost there

Hi, I bank with cahoot and have noticed over the last few months or so, that the day before a direct debit or standing order is due from my account, my balance is reduced by that amount. It happened yesterday where a s/o was due out of my account today, yet my balance was reduced by the exact amount of the s/o yesterday. Finally got a response back from them and they say it left my account today. Looked and the s/o details are showing for today yet the amount was debited from my account yesterday. Has anyone else had the same issue? Bel

Thanks guys, It appears this has got a lot of you hot under the collar. My friend is coming around tomorrow to type up the letter at mine as she cannot afford a printer cartridge - not now anyway! The one thing she did do however was check to see where she was on the dates that the bailiff said she had visited and on the date that she had allegedly done the levy on the car, the car had been gone all day as he had gone out all day after dropping her children off to school. She can also prove where she was all that day. So how do you challenge what the bailiff has said as far as my friend is concerned, she has lied. In addition, if there is HP on the car, am I right in thinking that they cannot put a levy on it? If so, if they had done their due diligence they could have easily found this out? Anyway, we will indeed get the letter off for her tomorrow. Thanks again, Bel

Hi All, I called the debt collector pretending to be my friend and he ended up putting the phone down after threatening that if I/she didn't pay the outstanding he would come and seize her car and make her liable for more costs. I started off by asking for a breakdown of the costs. He told me there was £42.50 for the forst two visits, the second one apparantly occurred two days after the first which is news to my friend as she was in all day and didn't answer the door to anyone or received anything through the letterbox. They have also levied a charge on the vehichle as well as the £130 van fee. I asked how they can levy a charge on the vehichle when it is her name and not her husbands and the council tax debt is in her husbands name. He replied as they were married the debts and assets are joint and several. I disputed this and received the first threat. Wow. Just had my freind on the phone as she had the bailiff turn up on her doorstep about to put a clamp on her car:shock: As it happened she was on the phone to the council and was chasing the bailiff around the car to stop him putting the clamp on and then shoved the phone in his face for him to speak to the council. Only then did his colleague stop. The council told him he was being harsh as £300 had already been paid of the £400. Whilst he was talking to the council she looked at his paperwork and they had allegedly visited the property on two other occasions and levied a charge on the vehicle hence the reason - according to the council - that they could legitimately charge the £130 van fee. My friend assures me that contrary to what the paperwork said, there was no letters or levy noticed pushed through the letterbox regarding the car as she would have called straight away to advise that the car was in her name not her husbands. When she got back on the phone to the council they advised that for future reference a 'door opened is an invitation to come in' but as she had already paid some and agreed to pay the rest the bailiff was within his rights and suggested she paid up, which she did. They also said that it was an admin error from Rossendales as the paperwork had been sent through in joint names, they just decided to drop her name from the paperwork. Because of this and the two alleged other visits, the council have told her to formally complain to Rossendales and copy them in. It was the same bailiff that did the first three alleged visits and as my friend pointed out, it's there word against hers. The bailiff could have got all the information she needed from the first visit such as door colour, type of house, car registration etc - whose to say that she then made the subsequent visits up? That 'slip' has cost them £130. How would you go about contesting that? bel

Thanks DX, I had thought as much. They did not get in her property and the car on the drive is in her name. Additionally, they had not left any other paperwork to say that there were any levies that had been made The amount outstanding to the council was £200 so the other £200 was made up of Rossendales charges. So should she be asking for the van fee from Rossendales back or should she put the payment into dispute with her card company and pay the £200 that was outstanding direct to the council or should she complain to the council about the van fee? Thank you, Bel

Hi, I have just got back home from calming down a very distressed friend. Earlier this evening she had a visit from one of their representatives re outstanding council tax. The demand is only in her husbands name, infact this was the second time she had seen a bailiff from Rossenddales. The first time, the agent refused to speak to her as her name wasn't on the paperwork. She explained that her husband was not in and when asked when he would be back in, repled sometime tomorrow as he is away on business. They then asked could she contact him by phone to which she said no, he is on a plane. She asked what it was about to be told it was about the council tax. They asked if she could pay it on his behalf. She asked how much was outstanding to be told it was £400. She queried this as she thought it was only £200 and they advised her that at the time of the first visit it was but there were other charges that had since gone on top. She asked for a breakdown of these and he simply showed her a piece of paper that said she was charged £130 for the van visit tonight, £24 for the last personal visit and she can't remember what the other amount was for but didn't give her a written breakdown as she had asked for. She asked why they were being charged £130 for a van visit to be told it was because they needed it to take away their goods if she didn't pay up in full there and then. She advised them that she did not have £400 to pay but would check their bank account. She left them in teh doorstep whilst she did this and went back to ask what was the minimum that they would accept. He said at least 2/3rds as long as the remainder was paid within 24 hours. They have £450 to last them to the end of the month, yet because of the pressure of two men asking for meoney on her doorstep and three children screaming at her as it was tea time, she paid £300 just to get rid as she felt thatthey weren't taking no for an answer. They gave her a receipt which they asked her to sign and said that they would call at 12pm tomorrow for the remainder. I'm not too sure of the laws, rights and wrongs concerning bailiffs but I get the feeling she may have been suckered. Has she and what are her rights and what would you suggest she does now? Did they have the right to talk, threaten and take payment from her for the council tax debt that is not in her name? Thanks for your help in advance, Bel