Hi, earlier this year I had my van insured with this company for both business and private use on a fully comprehensive policy. The vehicle was involved in an accident where another driver drove into the front offside front wheel while my vehicle was stationary fortunately I have a witness for this. My vehicle was off the road for around a week whilst repairs were being carried out by the insurers own repair company. Initially I was happy with the repair work carried out, however after a week or so the I realised the radiator was constantly leaking. I took the van to my normal garage who said that the radiator was damage from the accident, the insurers refused to accept that this was caused by the accident once they had sent a so called independent engineer to inspect the vehicle (who did nothing and had no tools with him) About 2 weeks later a learner driver drove into my vehicle this was later settled as non fault to myself. Whilst in the repair centre for the second time I said to the insurers that I was unwilling to take the vehicle back unless the radiator was replaced. After some argueing they agreed to send another independent vehicle examiner, it took them 2 weeks to find one and this only happened after I told them that I would be collecting my vehicle within 24hrs as I had lost so much earnings. This examiner said he could not find any leak on the radiator after testing it for over an hour. I accepted his view in good faith and the following day collected the van. The very next day whilst driving on the M25 I heard a lot of banging to van, I pulled over only to see the nearside indicator was banging into the new wing at this point I also noticed water discharging from the radiator. I decided to get this van inspected by 2 different garages at a cost to myself one of these was the vehicles manufacturers, they both said the same thing radiator damage has been caused by the initial accident. The manufacturer also stated were sub-standard with the front wing out of allignment. Back came the insurers independent examiner again no tools and stated nothing wrong with the radiator although finally agreed that the repair work was below standard. As the insurer still refused to replace the radiator I contacted the Financial Ombudsman who have said that the insurer is now willing to back down and make a £1000 as a final settlement. I also asked for compensation for lost earnings not for the original accidents but for Markerstudy's time it took to get examiners to inspect the vehicle (2 weeks) loss of earnings whilst writing letters back and forth, and time it took while getting it examined myself. The Ombudsman said he cannot recommend the insurers do this as the clause in my policy does not cover loss of earnings. I accept that the accident related part does not cover loss of earnings but through no ones fault apart from the insurers my vehicle was off the road a considerable lot longer than it needed to be. My vehicle will also be off the road for a another day whilst the repairs are being carried out correctly by the manufacturer. Finally to make matters worse today the vehicle had it's MOT and failed, this was because the headlights were not fitted correctly by no other than Markerstudy repairers meaning even more costs to myself and the vehicle of the road for a further period of time. Should I just except the Ombudsman's decission or would I be within my rights to start a claim via the small claims court? Even though I paid for legal cover on my policy it would seem the only people to benefit from this is the insurers as the legal company have said that it would be a conflict of interest if they were to get involved. Your opinions and advice will be gratefully appreciated. Thank you...

Thanks guys, I think Yell are having a laugh, today they telephonend asking me if I would like to re-advertise with them, I said to the rep you have got to be kidding, he asked what the problem was so I told him the story. He said that my account had been terminated. When I asked why, he said he didn't know, but could not understand what the fuss was all about as it showed on his computer that I have been paying my account as agreed. He said he would have a word with customer services and sort the problem out. I have had over a year of this nonsense / harassment with telephone calls and letters from 2 different companies employed by Yell, with the latest being threatend with bankruptcy. He has taken it upon himself to make an appointment with me in the hope I will take out further advertising, I have told him that I have no intention of re-advertising with Yell again, but would like a letter of apology from Yell. Would I be within my rights to withhold part of the £600 I currently owe, due to them wasteing a hell of a lot of my time and money by writing untold letters and costs involved with postage etc?

This morning I have received a letter from Tenon, saying that they intend to visit on the 6th of October to collect payment for £2137.54, can this company keep harassing me this way? Thanks

As far as I am aware a maximum of 2 months advertising.

Hi, new to this site and found it by Googleing Tenon recovery. Anyway this is my predicament. I own a limited company, last year (May 2007) a sales rep from Yell.com arrived at my business address asking if I would be interested in advertising with them. Having previously advertised with Yell I agreed but only via the web and not in the directories. The sales rep came to this address twice, he wrote my bank details down from the cheque book I gave them to set up a direct debit mandate. Over the next 6 months I recieved 3 telephone calls from Yell requesting my address and bank details, I told them that my address was clearly written on the Yell advert and they could contact me through that, email me too, again I gave them my bank details, not realising that no money was being taken out of my account, by the third telephone call requesting the same information yet again, I suggested that they give me their bank details and I would set up a direct debit via my internet bank account. I heard nothing from them. Within 3 days of this conversation I recieved a letter from a company called 'Westcot' threatening to take me to court for non payment to Yell. I wrote to them explaining that the situation had been down to Yell and they could by all means have the money and i was more than willing to set up a direct debit to pay the money. They refused this and said I would be taken to Hull county court, no problems I said I'll see you there I replied back, I then went through what can only be called mental torture by this company by continuous phones calls and then hanging up with messages to call back a premium rate phone number, I never did but the calls would be from 9 in the morning till 10 at night. Out of a total £2600 I decided to make an offer of paying them a lump sum of £600 with the remainder being paid over a 10 month period, finally they saw sense and agreed to this, it also became apparent that Yell had be sending corospondense about this matter to a previous address of mine that I last resided in 2002, even though they were advertising my new address! Out of the blue this year a sales rep from Yell called asking if I'd be interested in advertising again, I said no and explained that because of all the hassle caused by Yell the previous year I wasn't interested. She appologised and said she would speak to customer services. She called back 5 minutes later saying Yell was very sorry and they would like to make me an offer. On condition that I pay Yell £1000 straight away and send them 5 post dated cheques, they would get 'Westcott' of my back and would like to offer me a special deal, this being my company being in all the Yell.com areas of London and Essex plus being on 118 118, the total cost being £1900.00 well it seemed like a good deal so I agreed. I faxed them my bank details, lo and behold they've imputted them wrong and cannot get payments, so again I give them via telephone. even though I sent them a cheque for a £1000 along with 5 post dated cheques these they lost but did manage to cash the £1000 cheque. To this I told them I would send them a cheque each month for £200 until the previous account was paid off, which is what I have done, so currently I owe them £600.00, I'm not sure why but Yell was not happy with this. And withdrew all my current advertising, so I cancelled the direct debit mandate and wrote to them explaining the situation, but to date I have not recieved a reply from Yell. I have however started to recieve letters from 'Tenon Recovery' threatening me with bankruptcy proceedings, I have written to them, enclosing a copy of the letter I sent to Yell customer services, they too have failed to respond or answer any points I made in the letter, but have just sent yet another letter threatening action and demanding £2137.54 of this I am quite happy to pay £600, but as they are not advertising my business do not see quite why I should pay them. Am within my rights to withhold payment of this £1537.54?