if you have got an Abbey CC from before 2001 you will find these links interesting http://www.consumeractiongroup.c o.uk/forum/showthread.php?101712-MBNA-admitted-no-CCA-so-I-want-to-claim-interest-back....-Need-help-though!/page7 and http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...-10-500-pounds I think MBNA have stopped making admissions of this sort, it is a shame to lose such useful information, anyone got any more?

hey minmoo and gang I got my DN today, my accompanying letter said something like all payments will now be forwarded to the DCA or words to that effect, which alerted me to stop paying my token payment. If they pass on even £1 to the DCA then is this not some sort of acknowlegement of debt, read it somewhere, best advice is to cancel all payments to MBNA immediately. I wonder if I have the world record, zero phonecalls on a £7k balance, will keep you posted if I get anything interesting. Tam

here is a post i put on my own thread, I got the same letter jan 2011, out if curiosity was yours an Abbey(National) credit card? if you have got an Abbey CC from before 2001 you will find these links interesting http://www.consumeractiongroup.c o.uk/forum/showthread.php?101712-MBNA-admitted-no-CCA-so-I-want-to-claim-interest-back....-Need-help-though!/page7 and http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...-10-500-pounds I think MBNA have stopped making admissions of this sort, it is a shame to lose such useful information, anyone got any more?

Here is a description of the range of social products currently available so you can see at a glance which to go for, which you are eligible for. British Gas - Essentials Combined British Gas' essentials tariff now includes three different packages to assist specific customer groups. The Social Tariff version called Essentials Combined is aimed at vulnerable and low income consumers. Key features of the package include: Equivalent to lowest online tariff - Websaver (latest version) Energy efficiency advice and benefits check offered To be eligible consumers must have a house hold income of less than £15,000 per year and be in receipt of means tested benefits, plus meet one of the following criteria be on Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance or be over 70 (in receipt of Pension credit) or suffer from a chronic illness All consumers who were on the original Essentials tariff have been transferred to the Essentials Combined social tariff. To find out more about the Essentials Combined Tariff call 0800 072 5230 (pre-payment consumers should call 0800 294 8604). Also remember that British Gas consumers may be eligible for a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust to reduce or clear gas and electricity debt and help with other essential bills and costs. To find out more about the trust fund call 01733 421 060. EDF Energy - Energy Assist Energy Assist is a social product offered by EDF Energy. Its key features are: Eligible consumers regardless of payment method are charged on the same tariff as direct debit customers, plus there is an annual discount of £75 for dual fuel customers (pro-rata for single fuel customers) free energy efficiency advice free or discounted energy efficiency measures benefits entitlement check To qualify it is necessary to be a customer of EDF Energy and either: spend more than 10% of their income on household energy costs each year, or be in receipt of Income Support and/or receive Pension Credit benefits Consumers who were signed up to the original Energy Assist package will have been transferred to the new tariff. Electricity prepayment customers are now able to pay the Energy Assist tariff price using their meter, rather than recieving a rebate, however prepayment gas consumers will continue to be sent rebates. For further information on availability and eligibility criteria, please contact the EDF Energy Priority Services Team on 0800 269 450. EDF also operate an Energy Trust fund for current EDF customers, and this is available to clear gas or electricity debt, or help with other essential bills and costs. The EDF Energy Trust can be contacted on 01733 421 060. npower - Spreading Warmth Tariff The Spreading Warmth Tariff is npower's social tariff and is their cheapest tariff regardless of payment method. The tariff offers average annual savings compared to their standard prices of over 20% (based on a consumer who has dual fuel and pays by cash, cheque or via a prepayment meter). To be eligible a consumer must have an annual income below £13,500 and someone in the household who is either: 60 or over, or disabled, or chronically sick, or a child under 16 For more information regarding the Spreading Warmth tariff call 0808 172 6999. npower also have an Energy Trust fund available for current customers. Consumers are required to pay for all energy consumption for a period of six months before the award is applied to the account so some or all of the debt is written off. As well as helping with domestic energy debt it could also be used to help clear other priority debts and purchase essential household items. For more information regarding the energy trust scheme call 01733 421 060. E.ON - WarmAssist social product Up to 15% discount on standard electricity and gas prices Personalised Energy Efficiency Advice Free energy efficiency measures Benefits entitlement check To qualify you must be aged 60 or above, be on a low income and meet one of the following criteria: be in receipt of pension credit, or be in receipt of disability living allowance, or be in receipt of attendance allowance, or have high energy consumption arising from a medical condition (which is at Eon's discretion) For more information about Warm Assist call 0800 404 6287. Scottish Power - Fresh Start Features offered as part of tariff: The tariff is equal to the cheapest Scottish Power tariff at any time regardless of payment method Benefits check to ensure consumers are claiming all the benefits they are eligible for Energy Efficiency Advice The tariff will be available to anyone who is over the age of 60 and in receipt of one of the following social welfare benefits: Attendence allowance Council tax benefit (not including single occupancy discount) Disability living allowance Disabled persons tax allowance Child tax credit (where income is less than than £15,460) Housing benefit Income-based JSA State pension credit Working tax credit (where household income is less than £15,592) War disablement pension (which either includes a mobility supplement or constant attendence allowance) Industrial injuries disablement benefit (must also have a constant attendence allowance) For more information on Fresh Start call 0845 2700 700. Scottish and Southern Energy - Energyplus Care Energyplus Care is the social tariff offerred by Scottish and Southern Energy. (you may know this company better by the names Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro Electric, or SWALEC). Key features include: Minimum 20% reduction on cheapest tariff in that geographical area Free energy efficiency advice Free energy efficiency measures (can range from low energy light bulbs to a free fridge or a discounted fridge/freezer) Free benefit entitlement check You may qualify for Energyplus Care if you spend over 20% of your income on energy bills. To qualify you also must complete a questionnaire which is carried out over the phone or in person. The key categories are as follows: Your total household income including any benefits recieved Your home and how energy-efficient it is Your annual fuel costs Other additional support needs For more information you can contact SSE about the Energyplus Care on 0800 622 838.

Scottish Power's social tarrif is only available to those over 60, I will be changing to British Gas soon, thanks for a great thread idea.

For Scottish Powers social tarrif you have to be over 60 and in receipt of a benefit, so its bye bye Scottish Power from me.

It is probably best to talk to your existing supplier about their social tarrif (if they have one) and ask if they will backdate you, they might!! I can't tell how much of a discount you get from BG compared to their standard tarrif, yet, but it will hopefully be quite good.

Appologies if this has been done before, Anyone got any more?

also cheap gas from british gas link http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products...programme.html

BT BASIC IS ALSO REALLY GOOD Anyone on qualifying benefits like JSA ESA and others can get a really cheap phoneline of about £4 per month with a few quid in call credits thrown in for free, you can still get broadband on this line too, it is not very widely advertised either. here is the link http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A7x9QXr...bt.com/btbasic

Anyone on qualifying benefits like JSA ESA and others can get a really cheap phoneline of about £4 per month with a few quid in call credits thrown in for free, you can still get broadband on this line too at extra cost, it is not very widely advertised. here is the link http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A7x9QXrO8H9NQ1AAcUxLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByNGxmazk4BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2lyZAR2dGlkAw--/SIG=11dmira2v/EXP=1300251950/**http%3a//www.bt.com/btbasic costs £13.80 every three months (this includes £4.50 to spend on calls) You can usually get BT Basic if you're claiming one of these benefits: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Employment Support Allowance (Income related) or Pensions Credit (Guaranteed Credit)

Following on from Donkey's answer because it is a good answer, judges in County Court, that is civil matters, work on the principle of Equity when coming to a decision meaning " Being fair to both parties", and on when weighing up the evidence before them to "The Balance of Probability". Use this and you can predict your own judgement most of the time. "They can't take me to court, my agreement is unenforcable" - if this is true then you may not have to repay the balance, which would be nice. Tell us more about this if you want more advice on this front.

JB i just saw your other post, I am reading through it, I will post back to this thread in an hour or so

JB If you are in financial difficulties then you should look up CCCS website and do a budget first using their debt remedy tool to get a true picture of your financial situation, At £300 pm monthly this is a fair bet. It is usually better to to let them take you to court, or better still avoid court altogether. Are you still paying them? Reporting you to CRA’s cannot be avoided unless you pay them and clear up your arrears, if you have any. Are you worried about getting a mortgage or something like that? Rule 1 is don’t panic, like vic says these thing take an eternity, well months, to resolve, there is plenty of time to get your strategy sorted. Post up some more details and you will get more specific advice. Rules 2 through 20 are also don’t panic.

brilliant idea, how do you do it? does this affect the calls you actually want though?

check out the comments from the public and feel good that you are a well informed Cagger

hi jb they have probably sent a application form copy and two pages of the current terms and conditions? was your card originally with MBNA or another lender? MBNA do have problems supplying the correct T&C'S when the cards were issued by other lenders like Abbey/Santander, RBOS, A&L, Sony and others. is this about CC charges reclaiming? the library of MBNA documents is not working for some unnown reason.

if you have got an Abbey CC from before 2001 you will find these links interesting http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?101712-MBNA-admitted-no-CCA-so-I-want-to-claim-interest-back....-Need-help-though!/page7 and http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?210580-MBNA-write-off-10-500-pounds I think MBNA have stopped making admissions of this sort, it is a shame to lose such useful information, anyone got any more?

Welcome to CAG a-a Unfortunately the only place where your credit card agreement will be “proved” unenforceable will be in a court of law, the debt does not go away it can still be asked for or demanded by debt collectors, it is just that the court cannot enforce it. By enforcement I mean things like CCJ’S, earnings arrestment, bailiffs taking your goods, charging orders on your house, bankruptcy etc. Registering defaults with the credit reference agencies is not enforcement, and they can and will continue till the debt becomes statute barred after 6 years. If you get invited to attend court by the debt collection agency, you will get your answer to the unenforceability question, it may not be the one you wish for, and, most importantly court remains a very real possibility at present. Did the claim management company explain it like this to you when they were taking your money? On a brighter note, you have found your way to CAG which is free, start by reading some of the other blogs, stickies or threads, you will learn a lot and learn quickly and plenty of people will offer good advice if you have questions. Since your last payment was 07 then you have only about 3 years till it becomes statute barred, in the mean time you want to avoid any invitations to attend court like the plague, even if you “win” in court the defaults will continue till the debt becomes statute barred, roll on year 6.

mOshef while you are on this site why not look around and see what credit cards can lead to. maybe try some of the threads in the debt forum, see what credit card borrowing can lead to, court appearances, losing your house perhaps. 99.9% of the people on these forums wish they had never taken a credit card out in the first place. They are a complete financial disaster. Take this advice, pay off that shiny new MBNA card and cut it up, borrow for a morgage only, spend only what you can earn, save for the big things like graphics cards and computers, the one you paid for on credit will be obsolete in 6 months, if you had saved for it you would get a later version for the same money, think about it.

vic funny you should post that, one of your many posts or threads was the first one I ever read, and i thought "i hope that isn't her real surname, it is a bit unusual, they could trace her no problem." That was back in the day, before you even had an avatar. Always Tam

JPea Baffled, confused don’t be, you have not done anything wrong. You have made an honest mistake, like thousands of others. Unfortunately there are many thousands more who have made a dishonest mistake, the tax credit system was badly designed, it almost invites fraud, it seems now that honest mistakes are not being rectified the way they should be. Your best bet right now is the CAB, if this is a problem post up here and I will suggest an alternative. Don’t give up Tam

OK the Harrison torture trial, i will have to go back and read it again, something about " he got the credit card so he must have signed something" or similar, read it many times but is it true? my little story, true I hasten to add, could be converted into good evidential english and be put forward as to cast some doubt on the balance of probabilities that they work on in civil trials n'est pas? anyone got anything similar to share?

even more to the point, after the december kicking from the OFT and the Torture Verdict last week they are trying to appear oh so nice and oh so helpful and concerned about you, poor little minmoo, of course there will be no more nasty default charges, just pay us what you can while you are in difficulty, don't fall for MBNA'S loving embrace. I will give you 35 good reasons not to, their interest rate larceny for starters.... Tell him Vic S

Minmoo I get the paranoia thing immediately, you are not wrong, they are watching and can probably identify both you and me, if they wanted to, with reasonable certainty. The same goes for almost everyone who has a thread. Don’t worry about it, they know all about CAG, CAG even gets plenty of mentions on The Credit Today discussion boards. While we are on the subject, they even try to infiltrate CAG with threads like “I used to work at MBNA by Joe Blow” and another one purporting to be from an ex-manager (can’t remember the name) but who showed remarkably good in depth knowledge of BofAmerica current policy and customer care guidelines. I spotted his/her subterfuge immediately by the use of the term “Grunt” in reference to the frontline call centre “specialists” who only have the authority to say no, no interest rate reduction, no payment plan, no help whatsoever. I used to work in a call centre, for about a year 4 years ago, I was frontline staff. Using the word grunt to refer to a person is exactly the same as using a racial, religious or ethnic epithet, or referring to a person by reference to their disability. It is not nice and not clever and speaks volumes about the person using it. To get to the point, mine was an Abbey CC, from the late 90’s, I read in MBNA Successes a thread called “MBNA write off 10.8k” that MBNA cannot produce a CCA from before 2001when they took over the abbey business. Another thread from way back tells a similar story, sorry forgot that one. But this is not the real point. This almost is. Nov/dec 2010 Set about dealing with things, got nowhere with the call centre, got determined, sent in I&E, discovered CAG, sent in CCA request, tried to cancel the DDebit over telephone banking via Indian call centre but failed security questions, could not remember the last withdrawal on my Current a/c and wasn’t on tinternet so had to go to branch. Finally, the point is, this is actually interesting. Went to branch and requested to cancel DD and set up a SO for £1 pm, this is Banco de Santander, and the counter assistant said to me, this is almost word for word..... “you are paying a lot of interest on that card, I can transfer that into a brand new Santander CC which would be interest free for 12/13 months.” Head down, clickety click on the keyboard, head up, 2 seconds later “I can transfer that for you immediately with the click of a button no problem “ I politely declined, thank goodness. Points to remember are that this is nov/dec 2010 and the balance was 7k, there was no mention of Terms and conditions or of signing a new CCAgreement, interesting but not that conclusive. Go back to the late 90’s, I was in and out of that branch, with cheques (remember those) and complaining/ pleading to get charges refunded, I was good back in the day, hmm. I honestly cannot remember but I am fairly confident that I did not sign a CCA in the first place, ab national, as it was then, was earning about 3 or 4 hundred bucks a pop for each CC they sold and other of the newish banks were doing the same. For a number of reasons, mostly cause I had a lot of charges,I either requested or was offered a CC over the counter without a CCA being signed. Banks gave them out like smarties. There are a few examples of this in other peoples threads also, some abbey, some other banks. To bring it back to your thread, the flyer, the furry gonk, everything but the CCA.