Thanks everyone this is great and I love the letter. I've taken a copy of it a slighty modified it. I think I will email and post at the same time as I know I'm most likely to get an email response more quickly. If i do get my bond and dont decide to take them to court is there anyone i can report them to? TDS told me their agency name was listed but no properties assigned to this which makes me think they have not protected any of the deposits.

Thanks again. Another question. Whilst my agency are in the UK, my actual Landlord is in Japan. Is this ok still? Or is the fact that he owns property in the UK ok as well. I'm going to write to the agent in the first instance and see what they say. Also back to the carpet cleaning. They originally wrote to us saying that there was limescale marks and dust and the curtains needed to be cleaned but when questionned where our deposit was they agreed to refund out deposit without deductions. So theorectically wouldnt the carpet cleaning fall into this? One last thing... they cant put it into a scheme now we have moved out can they?

Our rent was £1430 pcm - so the 1980 was 6 weeks bond. Thanks for the answers so far. So really, if they had sense they would just give me back my whole bond instead of going to court for almost 7000!.. I can't believe agencies are so stupid sometimes - actually I can.. but you know what I mean. Should I point out the fact that they lied twice? Once at the beginning of the tenancy and again on email the other day saying it had been covered with mydeposits? Also, I was thinking of emailing them and following it up with 2 letters from 2 post offices.. what do you think?

I posted just before, but just in summary, I found out our deposit was never protected even when they said it was. They want to take out money for carpet cleaning which we had not done and also hot water bills (which were not in our name) that they said were not paid but we have (and have to prove?!!). As they broke the law can I tell them I expect the full deposit or off to court I go?

I moved into my flat May 2007. The landlord said our deposit of £1980 was covered. I assumed it was and didnt know you were suppose to get a certificate. I moved out 11 July and have been chasing them up about the bond. They came back with a list of stuff and then I asked them which scheme we were in. They said "it was with mydeposits but we recently transferred to TDS and because you moved out its not in a scheme" LIARS. I've called all 3 places and nothing was ever registered. I've told them they broke the law and they have agreed on saying that no damages - ie, dust etc.. which is wrong anyway - will be taken out of the bill. They then wrote back to say they would be taking the carpet cleaning costs out of the deposit and also said we owe them hot water and heating bills. Now, our contract says we pay utility bills, which is fine but these particular bills are in the Landlords name. We get them sent intermittently and then they would forget which we paid etc and we would have to prove it. Now they said they are missing £169 and unless we can prove they will also take it out of our deposit. They've broken the law by not protecting our deposit and can I demand them to pay the full deposit or even if I take them to court will I have to pay for cleaning and "unpaid bills not in our name" if we cant prove otherwise (i have to get the last 2 years of statements and one girl is in aus now so its almost impossible). I'm a bit stuck now and dont know what to do. I would love to sue them and get more money but if they do pay the deposit Ive lost the court fees. Any help would be appreciated.