Hi there. I wonder if anyone has had the same problem.... I had an account with Barclays which I had a high overdraft on due to being a single mum I was unable eventually to maintain it. When Barclays changed their OD charges, I was paying huge amounts every month. I went into the branch and explained my situation and after some phone calls, I was advised the account would be closed and debt written off. I was advised that I would probably receive some debt collectors letters but I was not to worry too much as this should stop after one year. I occasionally receive a phone call from a debt collector, after I explain my situation- they call off. Imagine my surprise when I received a letter from Barclays saying that they will refund me £1,373.75 because “they feel they did not meet their standards for assessing customers like me”... .however, I will not actually receive this money back as they have applied it to the account to reduce what I owe them. My question is - are they allowed to do this as they have clearly already sold the debt on to a debt collector and informed me they wrote the debt off. Does anyone know where I go from here please. Thanking you in advance.

Congratulations! Bet it's a big relief. X

Hi everyone I would be grateful for some advice on my Halifax mortgage. Approximatly 3 years ago I first started having problems with meeting my repayment mortgage monthly payment (various reasons including pay cut, relationship breakdown etc). I contacted Halifax and they agreed to switch me to a interest only repayment indefinately. I also received a letter confirming this arranagement which did not state any end date on it. Then about a year ago I received a letter stating that they were now going to switch it back to a repayment mortgage. I called them and was advised that they had changed their policy now on interest only mortgages and as such would now only let people stay on interest only for a maximum of 3 years. After explaining to them that I was still not in a position to pay the full repayment amount each month and could they offer me any help, i was informed that the only thing I could do was increase my mortgage term to end by my 65th birthday. As this was only about 4 years than my current term, it only worked out about £40 less per month and still much more than I could afford! I asked if there was any other option I could do including offering to pay interest only amount plus extra £100 on top (making the shortfall £75 per month). I also advised that my work situation would improve in the next 12 months as I would be able to go back to work full time when my child reaches secondary school age. Thus, I was asking for a plan I could just about afford for a small period of time and then go to full repayment status again. This was refused immediately. I also asked if my term could be extended until my 70th birthday which I had calculated would also be an affordable monthly payment - was immediately declined. The Halifax new payment came into force 4 months ago now and thus far I have been unable to pay any month the full amount! I have received lots of default letters adding default charges to my arrears - but to date I have seen little point in calling them as I believe I will be pressured into accepting something that quite simply I cant afford!! Then 3 days ago I received a demand letter stating that if they dont hear from me in next 7 days then they will send out their field agents and charge me £100 per visit! I now have to face the music so to speak! can anyone give me any guideance on this? To put it simply I want:- 1) to agree a plan which would mean I pay only £75 less per month than the full repayment amount. 2) It is a short term arrangement for no longer than next 12 months - then I'm happy to switch to full repayment amount. Thanking everyone in advance!

ok. good luck hon. x

oh thank you very much for all the info Gbarbm. very much appreciated. x

hi everyone im just renewing my tax credits and would like a bit of advice please. im NOT self employed and i dont have a company car but i do wear a uniform and drive to work. i have a few questions id like advice on:- 1) on the "work expenses" part - am i able to deduct a reasonable amount for the cost of petrol to n fro work? or am i only allowed to do this if its a company car? 2) am i able to deduct the cost of dry cleaning my uniform? 3) i pay into a salary sacrfice pension - as its a company pension - am i NOT allowed to deduct this from my total gross earned? i have asked the tac credits people in the past but they give conflicting advice (dont seem to actually know and not really care to help!!) - hence i dont trust their answers! any help very much appreciated.

Hi AJS, Just wondered if you had heard anything more from m&s and any accompany DCA lately? As you know, my m&s story pretty similar to yours. last time i heard anything was march 2012 by one of their many DCAs! After sending DCA very pert letter to say the least! - well lets just say I dont want to tempt fate - but still waiting for a reply - But definately not holding my breath!!! LOL! Im wondering inlight og santandar court case - maybe just maybe - they may be seeing the light?!

hi caz if you tell swinton you want a copy of that telephone conversation when you told them "NO" that should work. if not, then follow my story from rebels link above. you should not have to pay anything - not even the £50 as they will try to say "its in terms n conditions" rubbish!! threaten FSA etc. good luck! let me know!

http://whatconsumer.co.uk/cooling-off-and-cancellations/ scroll down this link to "financial products and svcs" which includes insurance. http://shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft140.pdf scroll to page 8 headed "Variation of agreements" think this is relevant too! hopefully this info might help some of you out there getting XXXXXX by insurance companies!

Hi Rebel and Uncle! Thx again for swift . Just a quick update - after calling the customer services complaint team yesterday (and a quick call to the fsa first!) - the advisor started to spout terms and conditions etc and I advised him that I knew my rights and that i had already contacted the fsa before calling him! anyway, i wasnt expecting any solution until earliest monday - well he called me back just now and said he had spoken the branch and agreed to waive ALL CHARGES!!!! must admit - i was expecting a fight on my hands - so pleasantly surprised by this sudden swift turnaround! Yesterday the advisor was adament that swinton could do what they wanted as was in t&c!!! anyway, lovely quick outcome and thx for yr advice. but rebel, i did do quite a lot of research last nite on the CCA bit and as far as i can see - the credit agreement for this type of "running credit for insurance" is now bound by same/very similar rules. there was a recent amendment to the CCA i think about one year ago which meant that this type of agreement now has more rules in place than it did before. the main one being - that insurance companies can no longer use last years agreement as binding if the amount £ has changed. they used to be allowed to send a "variation" letter 7days before 1st payment - now they must send a complete new agreement with all usual rules in place (re cooling off period etc) and i believe the pre-contractual info too. so anyone else on here - having similar problem with any insurance company - it maybe an easier route to take if the normal route is proving difficult!!! ill see if i can find the right link and post up for others! im not expert but definately worth trying i would say!! thx again!

Thank you Rebel for swift reply. I am going to do the complaint letter. however, i would also like to have some extra ammunition up my sleeve!! I am thinking along the lines of unenforceable credit agreement as i know a bit on this subject anyway and i dont think it can hurt to have a bit more adverse info on swintons!!!

Hi everyone. My car ins was with Swinton & despite me telling them on the phone a month before renewal - that they should just send me the quote & if I wanted it - I would call them back - I didn't call them. I renewed with another company and then received a text on sun 27.5.12 from Swinton saying "thx for renewing with us!" As Swinton doesnt open Sundays - couldnt call until monday. I was then assurred by Swinton that I would not incurr a charge as long as I sent them copy of my new insurance to prove I had not used Swinton for that one day! The following day I received letter from same adviser telling me that I would have to pay £118 for "the period of cover that I had already received"!! - ONE DAY COVER!! Which I didnt anyway as I had renewed on sat 26.5.2012! The breakdown of this £118 is as follows:- £50.00 Swinton's cancellation fee £25.00 Swinton's service fee £32.00 Swinton's direct debit interest fee (NO direct debit had yet been due or taken!) £11.00 Provident's insurance fee for ONE days cover (which obviously wasn't needed by me either!) i have called them and asked to listen to call which supposedly I gave them authority - THEY have listened to call & even though they admit that I didn't give them authority - they are claiming they can still charge me this as its in their terms and conditions! Their reasoning for this is because in said call I didnt actually specifically say I definately did not want it!! Its worth pointing out that the adviser DID NOT tell me on this call that should Swinton NOT hear back from me - that they would assume i wanted it and thus incurr charges! Surely the Law states that all t&c should be in clear easy to follow manner?! I have raised complaint with their head office but swinton have already sent me another letter threatening debt collectors and more fees if i dont pay (it has not even been two weeks yet since renewal!) i have called FSA and been given a reference but swinton have 8 weeks to deal with it first before fsa will start! Obviously i have not signed any credit agreement with swinton - so can this be legal?? any help be much appreciated!! many thanks everyone.

wow! only just read this mystery1 - this is brilliant news. thx for the tip. x

hi there tried to download you toolbar (no money but wanted to help) - but it wouldnt let me!! maybe make it bit simple for those of us (me!!) who are not that PC savey!

Hi SFU, thx for reading it - ill special deliver it tomor. And as for their family - oh my - what an extended family these DCA seem to have!! (worse than the Waltons!!- showing my age now!). I know they wont give up easily, but i refuse to be scared by their bullying anymore!!! As always SFU - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! :hail: LOL! got bit carried away with the smilies!! they so good!!