I asked for and received a statement from mini finance informing me that I owe £1271.76 to pay off the outstanding balance on the finance. The last letter from Bluestone states I owe ££1616.75. My letter to bluestone, sent on the 24/12/12, has not received an answer. Any suggestions on what my next steps should be?

Sorry, the letter was sent to Bluestone on the 19th and I have heard nothing from them answering my questions. Only another letter demanding immediate payment.

I have today received a letter from Bluestone Credit Management. They inform me that the outstanding amount to pay is £1616.76. Despite contacting Mini Finance during December, and despite my letter to Bluestone requesting an up to date balance and statement of account from them, they tell me they are looking for payment within 7 days. During my December conversation with Mini, they informed me that the debt had been bought over (presumably by Bluestone) and that Mini were no longer interested in dealing with me. However, the letter from Bluestone, and the conversations on the phone seem to indicate that they are acting on behalf of Mini finance. Also any cheques or payments I make are to be made out to Mini finance. The letter from Bluestone threatens court action, additional fees and probably the end of the world as well. I have no doubt that this is a standard letter, but I am reluctant to part with any cash since Mini refuse to speak to me, and Bluestone refuse to provide an adequate accounting of the sum owed and how they arrive at the final amount. I am very tempted to tell them all to go to hell, but I realise that this will be cutting my nose off to spite my face, and will be to my disadvantage in the long run. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on the best way to proceed now, such as whom to contact, or a letter format?

Hi, Nothing as yet. I sent them a letter (posted on Xamas eve) requesting an up to date balance on what is owed, and I have yet to have a written reply.

Hi Jamie. the claim reference number is 00 11 565 08, If you need anything else, let me know.

Hi Jamie. What details do you want? Thanks. Robert.

It was a 2010 model Mini Cooper diesel with chili pack, vision pack, and front spotlights.

@unclebulgaria67. Hastings informed me that they would pay out an amount that would allow me to buy back my car. So I have been looking at like models of car. It should be noted that all the models I can find do not have as much "bells and whistles" as my car did. The average price to buy back my car is £16100 (if you include the extra cost of adding the extras onto a base model). Hastings tell me that my car was worth 81% of its value at the time of its loss. As stated in my original post, the figures do not add up. My car was just under 18 months old when it was written off with 12-16000 miles. The original cost to repair the car was under £9000 from a mini dealer. I will also contact Bluestone in writing asking for a complete breakdown in their figures to ensure that they are accurate. If nothing else, it will keep the wolves at bay till the new year. I am fully aware that I will have to pay something to clear the finance, but since this is my first insurance claim, and I have been given the run around from the start with Hastings, I want to make sure that what they are paying out is a fair price. I would still do so even if I had the gap insurance on the mini finance agreement.

@citizen8. Bluestone want me to set up a payment plan based on arrears of £2499.76, however, the outstanding balance is actually £1271.99 once all the payments from the insurers have been put through. Bluestone are not interested in me paying a plan for £1271.76.

Hi there, I am posting my situation here in the hope that someone will be able to provide advice ad guidance. Here goes: In June this year, my car was written off by the insurance company. I called my finance company (Mini finance) and explained the situation. They seemed happy with this, and requested that I keep them updated on the progress of the insurance claim. The insurers have been dragging their heels since the claim was raised. It took 3 attempts to raise the claim in the first place. My insurers are Hastings Direct. Despite numerous letters and telephone calls between myself and the insurers, the claim is still not finally settled. Their initial payment cheques was issued unsigned, and as mentioned, they have been dragging their heels in settling, by issuing cheques for the wrong amounts or not issuing cheques at all. Each telephone call to the insurers is followed by a call to the finance company updating them. Due to the length of time it is taking to resolve this claim, a debt collection agency has become involved. They are called Bluestone Credit Management. Despite Mini finance informing me via telephone that this may happen, I have yet to receive a letter from them, that Bluestone have bought over the debt (which they have done as confirmed in a call today to Mini finance), and that Mini re no longer administrating the account. Mini are however happy to still receive cheques from the insurance company to reduce the amount outstanding, and then pass this information along to Bluestone. Despite asking for confirmatory letters from the insurers as to when cheques have been sent out, and from Mini as to receipt, I am still waiting. I have had a call today from Bluestone looking for payment in full. I have informed them that the claim is still in dispute and that I am unwilling to make any payments until this situation is resolved. I don’t think this to be an unreasonable stance to take as it is my money after all. However, the representative started to become quite pushy and insistant that I make payment today. I had to talk over her, and I informed her that as the conversation was going nowhere, and that my situation was not being taken into account, that I was terminating the phone call. Which I did. Today, I received a letter from Bluestone to the effect that they are acting on behalf on Mini finance, and that they want payment of the full amount BY RETURN. Cheques are to be made out to Mini finance but sent to Bluestone. I have lodged a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service over the insurer’s valuation of my vehicle, and as this is currently ongoing, this is my reasoning for not making payment. Now the figures! At the time my car was written off, there was just over £16000 to pay on the finance. At the time of buying the car, I did not take out gap insurance as Mini were looking for a further £500 on top of a £500 cash deposit. There was no opportunity to spread this payment over a period of time. To date, the insurers have paid out a total of £15,271. £12,480 (after the excess was deducted (that was £345)). £962 after they identified that they had valued the vehicle incorrectly (wrong model despite my insurance details being correct foe the model). £601 after I complained about the value of the vehicle. £883 for accessories which would enhance the desirability of the vehicle (and £345 excess deducted). And a final cheque for £345 to cover the second excess amount that was deducted. This leaves an outstanding amount of £1271.76, however Bluestone are looking for £2499.76, as they have not factored in the final 2 amounts paid by the insurers. They have been told this, but they don’t seem to be interested in knowing the details. The insurers have said that they have paid out 81% of the vehicle value. My car was bought for £17,643.20 excl VAT (£20701.02 incl VAT). 81% of either amount is not £15,271. I have been paying insurance premiums based on the car’s value being £16,000. I do not know if I have answered my own question in this post, but is there anything further I can do?

Please note: This is a separate query to the post (similar) in the Debt Collection Industry forums The OP is looking for advice / answers on the shoddy way Hastings have behaved in this. citizenB - Site team *************************************************************************************************** Hi there, I am posting my situation here in the hope that someone will be able to provide advice ad guidance. Here goes: In June this year, my car was written off by the insurance company. I called my finance company (Mini finance) and explained the situation. They seemed happy with this, and requested that I keep them updated on the progress of the insurance claim. The insurers have been dragging their heels since the claim was raised. It took 3 attempts to raise the claim in the first place. My insurers are Hastings Direct. Despite numerous letters and telephone calls between myself and the insurers, the claim is still not finally settled. Their initial payment cheques was issued unsigned, and as mentioned, they have been dragging their heels in settling, by issuing cheques for the wrong amounts or not issuing cheques at all. Each telephone call to the insurers is followed by a call to the finance company updating them. Due to the length of time it is taking to resolve this claim, a debt collection agency has become involved. They are called Bluestone Credit Management. Despite Mini finance informing me via telephone that this may happen, I have yet to receive a letter from them, that Bluestone have bought over the debt (which they have done as confirmed in a call today to Mini finance), and that Mini re no longer administrating the account. Mini are however happy to still receive cheques from the insurance company to reduce the amount outstanding, and then pass this information along to Bluestone. Despite asking for confirmatory letters from the insurers as to when cheques have been sent out, and from Mini as to receipt, I am still waiting. I have had a call today from Bluestone looking for payment in full. I have informed them that the claim is still in dispute and that I am unwilling to make any payments until this situation is resolved. I don’t think this to be an unreasonable stance to take as it is my money after all. However, the representative started to become quite pushy and insistant that I make payment today. I had to talk over her, and I informed her that as the conversation was going nowhere, and that my situation was not being taken into account, that I was terminating the phone call. Which I did. Today, I received a letter from Bluestone to the effect that they are acting on behalf on Mini finance, and that they want payment of the full amount BY RETURN. Cheques are to be made out to Mini finance but sent to Bluestone. I have lodged a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service over the insurer’s valuation of my vehicle, and as this is currently ongoing, this is my reasoning for not making payment. Now the figures! At the time my car was written off, there was just over £16000 to pay on the finance. At the time of buying the car, I did not take out gap insurance as Mini were looking for a further £500 on top of a £500 cash deposit. There was no opportunity to spread this payment over a period of time. To date, the insurers have paid out a total of £15,271. £12,480 (after the excess was deducted (that was £345)). £962 after they identified that they had valued the vehicle incorrectly (wrong model despite my insurance details being correct foe the model). £601 after I complained about the value of the vehicle. £883 for accessories which would enhance the desirability of the vehicle (and £345 excess deducted). And a final cheque for £345 to cover the second excess amount that was deducted. This leaves an outstanding amount of £1271.76, however Bluestone are looking for £2499.76, as they have not factored in the final 2 amounts paid by the insurers. They have been told this, but they don’t seem to be interested in knowing the details. The insurers have said that they have paid out 81% of the vehicle value. My car was bought for £17,643.20 excl VAT (£20701.02 incl VAT). 81% of either amount is not £15,271. I have been paying insurance premiums based on the car’s value being £16,000. I do not know if I have answered my own question in this post, but is there anything further I can do?

Hi all. I sold my motorbike to a dealer (as part exchange for a new one) on the 18th March. I completed and sent the V5C to the dealer, who forwarded it on to the DVLA. Within 4 weeks of the sale, the DVLA contacted me and informed me that a 3rd party were registering the old bike in their name. Upon reciept of that letter, I contacted a team leader with the DVLA who explained that I should write on the back of the letter explaining all that I had done. I did so, and sent it back to the DVLA. A month later the DVLA sent out another letter claiming that they still had not recieved notice that I had sold the bike. This time there was a pre-printed form on the back I could use to make a statment that I had informed them. I completed said form and sent it back to them. Less than a week later I got another letter stating that as I had failed to inform the DVLA I had disposed of the vehicle I was being fined £35, raising to £55. Despite numerous telephone calls and letters, the DVLA acknowledge the fact that I sent them 2 letters informing them I was no longer the keeper of the vehicle, but still pursuing me for the fine amount. After disputing their claim that I had not informed them I was the keeper of the vehicle, the DVLA sent out another letter telling me, that the fine was because that DVLA had contacted me about the new keeper registering the vehicle in their name. They claim that I had failed to inform them I had not received an acknoledgement letter from the original V5. Since the DVLA tell people to wait 4 weeks before contacting them about a lack of acknowledgement letter, and since I was contacted within that time, I could not have known that there was a problem in that they had not received the V5.Does anyone have any advice on how they think I should proceed now? I am aware that I should not have relied on the dealer sending the V5C to the DVLA on my behalf, and the letter tennis between the DVLA and myself seems to be getting nowhere fast.