Thanks very much mate. I will issue them with the PPI refund letter today...can you tell if successfull and they refund the premiums plus interest, 1/ Will I need to raise a seperate action for refund of bank charges and or will they reduce an amount off the balance like they did with your PPI claim. Much appreciated for your help birchave

Hi to the forums, I was hoping to get a little advice regards the miss sold PPI that my wife was sold around 3 years ago. She was self employed and the agent on the telephone informed her that the PPI insurance was essential and neccessary in the event that she lost her job. After her business got into a little diffiiculties and was forced to close we continued to miss some payments and struggled. A freind in the back alerted us to the fatc that there was PPI coveringh the card. We made a claim against this and thats where the underhand tactics of the bank ensued. They sent up claims advisor from Vincent Sherman Assocoiates...who basically wrote the statement of claim and my wife just agreed with him....she belivieved he was here to help her through the process. After several weeks they were back in touch to say that ....technically she was not in working in the shop for more the 16 hours per week as he had put it to her that if she worked two days in the shop this was around 10 hours....He knew the policy required her to be woring 16 hours....after we appealed and explained that she was also working many extra hours for the buisness outwith the shop...they explained that was contracidtory to what the advisor had taken down.....I think they were never going to pay out especially after discovering these forums and reading first hand the tactics employed by the banks and there cronies. Anyway I have SAR Llyods Credit Card and a Select Account and the sent 4KG woth of pre printed rules and guidelines and info re our mortgage....They have not complied and I told them so. I am now unsure wether to fight them on the miss selling of the PPI or Reclaim my unfair charges that they levied.......I think it is a lost cause to try and get London Edinburgh (Aviva) to pay out on the policy as they are so underhanded I would doubt they are even receonsidering this claim....theya re just delaying..... Please Help we dont know how to proceed! thanks for any info

Hi there, Around 3 1/2 years ago I was made bankrupt as my business was in difficulties and the long and the short of it was the Local Authority petitioned for bankruptcy or unpaid rates. Ironically the year after the abolished Small Buisness Rates with 100% relief for people like me that were struggling...a little too late. My question is can I still reclaim my bank charges back....I had a sole trader business account I did have a LTD company but as I was not banking under the LTD company it was effectively useless anyhow. They repossesed my property and sold it off with other assets being siezed...endowment policy etc and this went to paying off my debts under the bankrupcty rules. I have been actively trying to get my GF charges back over the last year of so and was wondering if I should SAR the banks that I had personal accounts and Business accounts with. I am not sure of what amount we are talking but I am sure it would be worth if if I can get them. I have tried to open a basic bank account with the same bank BOS and they are now saying to me that they WILL NEVER GIVE ME A BANK ACCOUNT, as the bank made losses when I banked with them... Can I claim my bank charges even if I had been made bankrupt as I know they did not get the full sum outstanding but I have been discharged now and I am struggling to get a bank account again even to get my benefits paid into. Please help with any advice...it is muhc appreciated Dandy

I understand occifer.

yea totally agree

Fester Tester = Plonker "You were driving. With a baby in the car. Eating nuts, one of which dropped, and you thought it was a good idea to unclip your belt and go searching for that nut whilst in motion? And it took you a while to notice them following you? Thank goodness you got stopped before your total stupidity killed somebody." Do you have a problem with driving with a baby in a car- eating whilst driving a 10mph- or not wearing a seatbelt for around 45 seconds...........Yes an old fester tester may be liable to be stupidly killed if they walked out in front of me even at 10mph....get real Such negative vibes do not do anyone any good. Judemental people eh!

Sorry wrong place

Hi there, A similar thing happened to me last month....I was eating some nuts as I was driving thorugh the town with my baby in the car. Iwas going around 10 miles ph.......I unclipped my belt as I dropped a nut beside handbrake.... Dont know why but I did unclip the belt and low an behold the police were behind me and followed me for a few seconds ....before I noticed them I had put my belt back on and then 10 seconds later the flashing light stopped me in my tracks...unmarked police cars and not very apologetic... I was in the wrong and have paid the price...I havent had a chance to pay the ticket and is has now increased from the 60 to 90 pounds. What a time to have an unexpected bill. But I agree with all that has been said I normally where my belt at all times I had hoped officers discretion would maybe count for something....but.....only me to blame.

Hi there old andrew, thanks for the advice...I am getting some legal advice later today as it is a little complicated and there are a few issues that concern me. The Legal Aid situation is sensitive and confidential so I dont know exactly if a fraud has been committed as it hinges on capital and income/outgoings but certainly the reason for her stating that she was resident in the property was to qualify as being resident in a property she owned outright...otherwise not sure of her entitlement. I am more concerned about the fact that she is effectively owe us money...We did not keep any records of when we paid rent and never recieved a rent book or a receipt for anything we paid....We also know we were owe her two months rent but we thought she was owe us more so it should have ben written off. Anyway thanks for the advice Dandy

Hi there forums, was wondering if anyone has a bit of advice on the following issue re Old Rent Arrears. We are in Scotland and at the weekend my partner received a court summons from our ex landlord of over 3-4 years ago regards unpaid rent? of £2600. plus expenses. Background Around 5 years ago we put in an advert in the local paper to rent a cottage in the country, with outbuildings as my partner wanted to get pony for the children. We got a call from this lady who had a property that would be suitable and she gave us the address to go and view the property, which we did and it was deemed not suitable and we left it at that. Then a few days later she phoned back and persuaded us to go back and look at the outbuildings through a gate and explained it would be perfect for us. We decided to lease the property from her and called her to confirm this....she asked us to come to another farm around 50 miles away from the property and did we or could we arrange to draw up the lease for the property....we thought this strange but we could do this. We drew the lease up quickly and did not include the outbulding as part of the lease. We paid her the deposit and three months rent in advance. We moved in to the property in spring and right in front of the cottage there was little stream and the cottage was at the foot of a very large field. The surrounding area was very green and a lush and we did not know this until winter set in but very cold and damp. We stayed in the property throughout the winter and did not use the outbuildings apart from a little storage, and after a very damp winter and several hundreds of pounds of ruined clothes and breathing problems and coughs because of the damp conditions we thought we would ask the landlord if the damp problem could be rectified. In the meantime we continuedc to pay rent and on arrangement with the landlord decided to paint and decorate the cottage in exchgange for rental. Problem The landlord had been going through a very high profile Civil Court Action at the Court of Session and had asked us if we minded if she gave the little outhouse as an address to the local authority as her main residence as she was living in a caravan at another farm and was now having to give permanent address to qualify for Legal Aid Help for her appeal to the House of Lords. We foolishly agreed to this as we did not use the outhouse anyway. I was in receipt of benefits at the time and had my own property in the city and my partners business was running into diffculties and was due to close. She was therefore entitled to housing benefit for the cottage and was also in receipt of this. After a few weeks my partner recieved a letter explaing that her HB had been canccelled as the landlord had now moved into the property(outhouse) and she was no longer entitled to HB. She telephoned and explained the situation to the benefits and the landlord to no evail. We just got great news my partner was now pregnant and we had immediately decided this was no place to live through the winter as we did not feel the property was fit for human habitation. We knew the previous tenant moved out because she was pregnant and she felt the property was damp.....It had been flooded on a few occasions as heavy rain had made the burn burst and the field was retaining lots of water that ran under the cottage...The cottage had no foundations and was just mud under the floor boards and was only 10 feet from the burn. The landlord knew all of this and still did not offer any apologies for the HB issue...or the damp problems or mould all over our clothes in the wardrobes and cupboards. The place was soaking, windows needed to be left open all the time and there was no heating in the cottage. We explained we were going to be leaving and there was a problem with the rent....HB was cancelled...we felt the landlord was owe us for damage to clothing and belongings.....we had made many repairs and improvements and painted the property for her as an offset against rent due....We found out from a old neighbour who lived at the top of the field that this was the last cottage in the row left and the previous cottages were all demolished over the last few years due to damp and flooding. We were astonished to finds out further that the address in old scots means (boggy ground, mire, swamp). We left the property glad to see the back of this and presumed the landlord understood that after all the issues and loss we incurred that any rent owed would be offset against what was owed to us. We had bought and left a cooker, fridge and shed and felt again this benefited her future tenants. We have had various letters from her solicitors in which we replied to and explained that if anything she was owe us money...we had not heard anything for around a year until the summons at the weekend. We are going to defend this action but are unsure if we should make a counterclaim againts her? Can anyone give us advice as to what arguments we should be putting before the court to helpour case..... There was never any reciepts for the rent.....no acknowledgement of work we carried out....the lease was short assured 6 month lease I drew andwitnessed....no undertaking to rectify any of the damp problems and she now claims the damp course was not sufficient to protect the property. CAn anyone advise the best weay to defend this action. thanks very much Dandy

Was getting a little mixed up for a minute there with all these different little scuffles going on with the banks. Schedule of charges I know now! Since I lost my business around a year ago the banks have been alright and no pursued me that much since payments and premiums could no longer be paid. Since finding this site...I checked out a few things like charges on statements and the avoidance of paying out on PPI we had and thought its time we fought back. Q/ If Llyods TSB have sent a very large amount of information but.....clearly not: all telephone call transcripts/PPI premiums/statments. and I have issued a non compliance letter and request for refund of unfair charges on principal account(with no PPI). Do I try to find out the details of the PPI premiums or just stick to issuing them with a non compliance letter? thanks what a long winded question but I dont want to get something wrong at the start.

Hi there again Buzby and surfer thanks to you both for even trying to help in this.....I was hoping that if BT dont waive this bill then I will have to do little more work in prep. for a court action. thanks

Hi there all, If I can get any input it would be appreciated. Started work on replacing an existing stair and landing to access our garden ground about two years ago...Neighbour complained as soon as work started so LA changed there view and announced we would have to apply for permission. After around a year of trying to appease the neighbours with something that suits them we have been refused permission and have had to wait 2 months on them even issuing a refusal notice...which would then allow us to appeal to the scottish ministers. The councillors have went against the Proffesionsl planners recommendtaion which was to approve our apllication and we have been waiting since 10/12/2008 to get the apporpriate paperwork to allow us to appeal. I am now making a complaint first with there Chief Exec office and then to the public services ombudsman but I dont no what to ask for as a resulution to the probelm. Does anyone have any idea what I can ask for as I feel a little bit like there is nothing we can do. I really hate the way the council conduct there business with little though for the public....they are causing us considerable hardship due to there lack of urgency on this issue. thanks if anyone can help dandy

Hi mate, can you point my in the right direction for this distance selling legislation? cheers Hopefully its resolved, however I have found in all the years I have challenged compnaies with unfair charges and policies....BT have got to be up there as the most un trained call centre staff of all.

Hi there and thanks for the info; That is some read with all the links but valuable info. I was going to send a letter of non compliance to Llyods which also contains my request to refund my bank charges and interest along with this. What is the schedule of charges? I cant locate it or dont know if I can request my charges along with same letter of non compliance....any suggestions! Still wanting to try and resolve the Insurance Claim problem.....they should be paying out but are not...can I do anything apart from appeal there decision. thanks

Hi there Buzby thanks for your input. First off this is all historic now as yes your correct the only way to get back to where I was at, was to get BT to reconnect. But I had been at the end of my BT contract when informing them of the move to Orange and they dissconnected me anyhow for a non payment issue over alleged work carried out to the telephone mast,(Now thankfully resolved). BT first told me it would be possible to reconnect on a 30 day period due to the circumstances (*telephone call) and it was going to cost £9.99ish and there was no way round it! OK well it did pul Orange into this as they effectively landed me right in it. They offered to give me money off my broadband and some other compensation that has neve been forthcoming to date, But I might go back and trace that now. BT changed the goal posts in the same day on the phone regards the Minimum contract duaration of 12 months....I disputed this and gave the persons name to whom I was talking and after that It was like talking to the brick wall. I eventually agreed to any term "1 month, 12 months whatever" was my exact words and they got me back signed up on a 12 month contract that I then cancelled after I think about 40 days ....after my 30 day notice period I gave them in writing to there head office, recorded delivery.... They invoiced me for the full duration of contract line rental and after I refused to pay in every shape and way possible...they passed it to the debt collectors Scotcall and after I explained it to them....they agreed to pass it back to BT for re billing as they are not going to collect this......are we getting somewhere I hear you say. After getting in the mood of fighting back I thought I would have a last blast attempt to get BT to see reason and stop pursuing me......I telephoned today and was told that a supervisor will look at this again and refund all the charges....We will wait and see and if you dont deliver we will be back......... Thanks for all the help that is out there. keep it up Dandy

Hi there, Just about to start my letters and noticed a few things; 1/ I dont think I have a note of the PPI charges that have been incurred yet or the Policy number. 2/ The Subject Access Request that I got back from Llyods contains useless info mostly there info and amounts to approx 1000 pages....if this goes to court I will be claiming they are trying to lose customers in paperwork......Can I still tell them they have not met the terms of my request and I need further info. Alos think the PPI where paid every month but dont have a full list of credit card statments so cant tell exactly how much has been paid? thanks for any help

Hi there, Have been using the forums lately re heavy handed bank charges and PPI non payments and was wondering if anyone has any exp of how to deal with BT. Last year we had a BT line that was coming to the end of the 12 month contract....I was getting a much better deal from Orange so decided to switch and keep me number etc. Told BT that I was leaving them and wanted to keep my no. and Orange would be in touch.....Orange did delay in asking them to hand over the account and BT diss connected the line before the could take it over. Orange did apologise and said BT new what was going on.....so the position we found is without a landline by eithier company and we had to go back to BT cap in hand ask them to reconnect the line..(at first they where going to give us a one month rental period as it was partly there fault but then realised they could screw us for more money if they insisted on a 12 month contract. We had no choice and re joined BT and after 30 days canceled the contract and this allowed Orange to grab the account and take it over.....we are still with orange today. BT have been hounding me for a while now regards this Held to terms bill of £228.81 (no calls) and I am refusing to pay and would rather take this to court. Any idea how to proceed with this....any help appreciated. Dandy

Hello again and thanks very much for all the help you have given so far...it really makes me smile that strangers are willing to help to overcome this monstorous machine (banks,govts,legislators etc) that we the people constantly find ourselves battling against. I am onto these letters now and am wondering should I send them all recorded delivery from now on? I was hoping that the PPI was going kick in and clear off most of my balance before finding these forums and realising that there was no way the bank was ever going to pay out on the insurance policy....so think the best In can hope for is to get the PPI installments back + interest. Separtely I think I will try and get back charges back on current account. Once again pompeyfaith I thank you and all who frequent these forums to help and assist.....A true voice of the people without which ...we would always feel alone. adios for now Dandy

Hi there, Low and behold postman pat turned up this morning with a recorded delivery pack of my SAR info. What an amount of stuff to send....what about the trees dont the know the are ruining the rainforests all over the world...only joking! So I now have the info that I requested but it took 50+ days.....I definetely have been miss sold this PPI...want to take it to the next step...not sure how to go about it though..... Do I still have to raise a court action against Llyods for the PPI recovery? Now that I a have all the information can I use any of it to my advantage? Can I claim back all my charges that I have incurred on my Credit Card/Current Account/ and Mortgage Account all with interest? I would be grateful for any help or advice on how to progress...in the meantime I was hoping try and get my claim for PPI back. Thanks very mcuh Dandy

I used to be paralegal with Local Authority and quite often the the standard securities where returned by the Land Register( Sasines Register) at least 6 months later that only needed signing. Also if a mistake is made in the original security it cant just be tippexed out the document would need drafted before signature again....sometimes by solicitor or sometimes joe public prior to issue to the Land Registers. Also they may have booked your security in and stamped it as received prior to the re issue to your agent for signature. I would say sounds perfectly normal although your solicitor is a little bit negligent in his approach to keeping you notified and up to date but as pussycatmandy has said....Not having a proper security in place can only be a worry for the lender...although I am sure you have signed the loan papers I bet....only the legal document not registered yet..... Wish I did Debt a Uni now instead of conveyancing! dandy

No but I will now... thanks very much....sorry for the childlike approach. Adios

Thanks Pompeyfaith much appreciated mate. The particulars of Claim for the reclaiming of my bank charges....anyone know if there is a Scottish Version on the forums...if not its fine I will just have to amend some of the statutes and Acts. Will draft the letters to the banks and send them recorded delivery come Monday as they are over the 40 day mark. thanks for the pointers really appreciated.....These forums are great, a collective voice of the people. Although It appears I cant really do anything against the Insurance Company even though they are behaving in an unethical manner...I may pursue them as well to recover the insurance premiums they collected through there ombudsman? thanks Dandy

Hi there I would be very gratfeul for any advice or pointers. This site is so full of great information and tips and guides but it is a little of information overload and hard to sieve through what info I may need. Me and my GF ran a little gift shop around 2 years ago and took out a Llyods TSB Platinum Card to help with us buying stock and generally helping us carry out our business. We also had a Select Account wit the same company. After a visit to out local branch ( we where sold a PPI at the time to cover us (in there own words) "unforeseebable difficulties with the business and we are made redundant" effectively as my Mrs was self employed that our business failed. After the junkie **** had broke into our shop and stole a fair bit of stock on a couple of occasions and my Mrs became pregnant we decided to call it a day.. we effectively went into voluntary liquidation as we where in debt to various suppliers and where no longer making money. We closed the business after 2 years of running it. Only after a year had passed had we realised that we where still paying the PPI from Llyods and a freind in the bank pointed this out to us and said we should be entitled to make a claim on this. We made a claim on the PPI Insurance and cancelled the Direct Debit Payments as we no longer required the cover. The debt of the credit card was around 5K and had been passed through the usual channels and ended up at AIG a Glasgow debt collection company that threatened my girlfriend that we would lose our house if we did not pay....very threatening. we explained we where in the process of claiming on our PPI and said we where waiting to hear. Next Llyods TSB well it was (London Edinburgh Insurance )wrote to us saying the where sending someone from Victor Sherman Associates to take a statement regards our claim.....The guy came up from Manchester and took a statment regards the circumstances of business going into voluntary liquidation....he was here for 2 hours. We received a letter shortly after and where told that our Claim hade been declined for the following reasons: a/ My girlfriend said she only worked for 1 1/2 days in shop (his words not ours 10 hours) so she did not work more than 16 hours prior to the birth of our baby in the shop.....therefore she did not meet the terms of the policy..... and b/ She was not actively seeking employment after the shop closed down as she said she was busy looking after our two children. I was furious that the send up some guy I feel with the sole purpose to trip us up and try and avoid paying out on this policy. I explained to them that although my Partner was only working 10 hours maybe in the shop she was also working 6-8 hours in the house doing all the ordering and pricing of the stock.....so they are have the wrong info in the statement (which I incidentally withdrew this statment and told them we could no longer trust any of the info contained in it)..... I also said that after the shop closed and we are both unemployed and looking after two babies under 2....she WAS ACTIVELY SEEKING WORK if the right job came along and now they want copies and any applications and letters to and refusing a job. I feel they are trying to avoid paying out on this and we feel that we have been 1/ Miss sold this PPI and 2/ Pressured into saying things to allow them to refuse the same. Now they are saying that it will passed back to the debt collection company for enforcement action. I found this website shortly after and have wrote to them with a SAR re 40 days data protection information and its been around 50 days and Ive not heard a cheap from them, LLyods TSB. We received a letter from the insurers LOndon Edinburgh syaing that our claim was declined because of the reasons stated previuosly and the information contained in the statement. i asked to speak to a manager who will phone me next week. PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP US OR POINT US TO HELP. PS I have also sent a SAR 40 day reply to Llyods select Account( at very least want my bank charges back,,,,A loan company £5k borrowed to help with business and Abbey credit card again want all the charges back. No reply to any......Llyods TSB did send a statementon the select account sent statments showing bank charges of £1800...but said I would have to raise court action if wanted them back...... WHAT IS MY NEXT MOVE PLEASE. THANKS TO ANYONE WITH HELPFULL INFO