Hi all Hope someone can offer some advice as I'm at my wits end. Bit of background, first... I moved into this property in August 2012 under an assured shorthold tenancy - private landlord, managed by an agency. I renewed this tenancy for another year in August 2013. When I viewed the property, I was told that for my use would be a private garden, to share only with the occupant of the downstairs flat. However, on the day I moved in, I was told that at the bottom of the garden was a recording studio which was used by my landlord's son and access was gained by walking through my 2 gates and through my "private" garden. I was not very pleased about this, however I was assured that he didn't use it much and that it was soundproofed. Turned out they used it quite a lot and it was not soundproofed. I never use my "private" garden now as these people can turn up any time. They waltz through leaving both gates open and slamming in the wind so they keep breaking and disturbing me..... About a month ago I got round to sorting out my electricity account as I've been being billed on estimated readings. I came across the circuit breakers in my bedroom and the final circuit breaker was labelled "recording studio"!! So not only did they fail to mention this recording studio to me before I signed the tenancy agreement, to add insult to injury I have been PAYING FOR ITS POWER SUPPLY! I have spoken to the agent about this who assures me my landlord is very sorry and it was a total oversight blah blah. I have agreed to send him copies electricity bills so he can suggest a figure to reimburse me (this is proving difficult as npower have ballsed up my account). Tonight I have had to go outside 3 times as both gates were slamming loudly non stop. The catch on the garden gate has been damaged again as a result and whilst I was trying to shut it, I saw a pair of beady eyes watching me and it's some random stranger in my garden standing by the recording studio! Had a rant to him about shutting the gates but then had to go back down again after that as he'd left one open again! He seems to have left now. I have also now tripped the circuit breaker as I am fed up playing Mr Nice Guy (well, I'm a young woman actually living here alone so that's another reason why I don't like being confronted by strangers in my garden at night in the dark ) I suppose I am looking for some general advice on where I stand from a legal point of view as I am fed up with this situation. I feel like a mug and I am very cross and upset. I am already house hunting to move out when contract ends in August but I would also like to know if it would be possible to be released from contract early, given the circumstances? Thanks in advance and apologies for rambling - I am really rather cross! Gemma

Hi all, Have been having a read through and hope someone is able to offer some advice in my case, as well as the great advice I have already got here which has calmed me down a little! I was away until late Thursday evening (2/12) and when I got back I found a "Notice of Bailiffs Attendance" regarding unpaid Council Tax of £258.74 plus costs, dated 1/12. It said I could make an initial payment of £60 and still pay by instalments. I was at work all day yesterday and had planned to sort it out over the weekend however today, Saturday morning (4/12) they have called again! I was still in bed so didn't answer, but they have put some stuff through my door, which says they can seize my goods, etc. as stated in Liability Order dated 11th June 2010, along with "request to pay by instalments", "payment methods" and some giros! The total stated is: CLIENT DEBT AND COSTS OUTSTANDING...£258.74 FIRST VISIT FEE........................................£24.50 SECOND VISIT FEE.....................................£18.00 TOTAL.....................................................£301.24 Can't read the signature on this but think it matches the name on the notice dated 1/12, and the guy is certified. Don't know what to do now! I was going to offer to pay them the initial £60, before the visit today, but didn't realise they would come back again so soon and I haven't really had any time to deal with it! Don't want to seem like I am "playing a card" but I do also suffer from depression & anxiety and my beloved dog died this week, so it is a lot to deal with at the mo. I wouldn't have been able to actually pay anything until at least 14/12 as my rent is due next week and I also have to go away on a business trip (mystery shopping so will be reimbursed) and I barely have enough for this as it is. A bit more about my circumstances - I live alone in a rented home and have no assets to speak of - no car. I am self-employed and as such my income is variable, but fairly low at the moment. I receive Working Tax Credit and a small amount of Housing Benefit because of my low profits. I am now unsure of what should be my next step. I feel very worried about this person calling at my property, especially if he is going to do so every few days! as it is just me here and it is quite intimidating. I know what these people are like! As I said, I can't afford to pay a penny until 14/12, but if at all possible I would like to avoid dealing with the bailiffs at all as I don't think they are reasonable people!! I can't really afford to be paying their fees, especially the second visit as they didn't give me adequate time to respond! Any comments gratefully received and I shall continue reading

Thanks for the freephone numbers. Would prefer to have everything in writing though, if at all possible! The tariff I signed up to - fortunately - has no minimum contract term or cancellation charges. I was planning on switching to another tariff that would have these, but I think it is wise to hold fire for the time being and see if things improve with npower. If not, I will be off!

Hi All Does any kind person have a contactable email address for Npower customer service? I have literally just joined them (accounts already gone through the switching process about 3-4 weeks ago) and I was quoted a direct debit charge of £15 monthly (am a very low user and this would be about right). Now the imbeciles have sent me a letter saying they are going to charge me £72 a month!!! Made up of £12 elec and £60 gas. Any fool can see this is incorrect. I spent a while filling in the contact form on the imbeciles' website with the above info, but upon trying to submit the form, the imbeciles tell me that my account does not match any on their system. Well I have checked the info several times, tried and tried again, added zeros, left out spaces to no avail. Apparently, my account does not exist. So, as I refuse to spend MY money calling their 0845 or 0871 numbers - and I suspect it will prove useful to have written evidence of conversation with imbeciles - has anyone got an email address, pretty please? I am already thinking of switching - AGAIN!

indebtstudent, they just said the exact same thing to me - unsurprisingly It seems to me that Halifax are really trying their luck here. IMO they are basically saying they can change the T&C to WHATEVER THEY LIKE without asking for our approval! I am sorry, but if I had a loan, say at 10% APR, and they then increase it with very little notice to 20% APR, do I have no cause for complaint? Do I roll over and say "OK, then, sir." I think not! HOW can this be legal? Especially given the current economic climate - the fact that many more people will be further into their overdrafts with no hope of repaying in full anytime in the near future! I do not want to lose the facilities my Halifax account provide however I do not feel I can sit back and let them take double the amount of money from me each month for the very same service (at a time when to me literally every penny is precious). We really need to create more publicity on this matter (preferably before my brain explodes).

We have to fight! Just need to work out how... Yesterday got a fob off letter saying they refuse to discuss this matter with me anymore There needs to be more publicity so everyone who is unhappy about this must tell everyone else. We can't stay silent. I know this is just Halifax but surely other banks will follow their example eventually. I did get a reply from my MP last month so it may be worth writing to him and letting him know the recent developments. I am completely stuck because I miss the features of my Halifax account, and was otherwise happy with them but I refuse to pay double what I was paying. And although I wish I could pay my overdraft back in full right now, I can't and am sure very few can, however there is no incentive to pay it back slowly because whether I am overdrawn by £1500 or £100 the cost to me is the same! It is simply ludicrous. Anyway that is my rant for the night, I shall pour myself a large glass of wine and ponder over where to go from here.

Am in the same position. Today have noticed on 31/12 been charged interest only though, presumably that is November interest but expected the £1 a day charges to be added on 31/12 for 6/12 to 31/12 inclusive also, so a bit confused. I have stopped using the account and waiting for a reply to my letter asking to allow me to repay the overdraft under the original terms. I don't intend to send them another penny until then. I have told them in no uncertain terms that I will NOT be paying any such "new" charges, only the £1500 overdraft plus interest. I think my offer is reasonable. They have already received a LOT of interest from my overdraft over the years and I wish I was in a position to repay it immediately but given the economic climate and the one month's notice this is not possible and I am sure many others are in the same position as me - after all, if I had spare cash sitting somewhere I would not be using the overdraft in the first place!

I just checked my account, which I have stopped using since 6th Dec, and have just been charged interest today - no £1 a day charges. Am wondering if this is because I have repeatedly refused to accept the new charges regime and requested that I still be charged interest instead...

Got a 2nd letter back from Halifax re. the new charges. Basically the current position is that I have repeatedly refused to agree to the new terms & conditions and requested that all interest and charges were frozen until such a time that I am able to repay my overdraft (£1500) in full. The key sentence in my reply from Customer Relations says:- "Regrettably, this is not something that can be agreed, therefore overdraft charges will be applied until such a time as the balance of the overdraft is repaid in full." My reply: "I do not agree to the change in conditions of my account. If you insist on charging me until I repay my overdraft then please ensure that such charges are limited to those included in the terms and conditions prior to 6th December 2009 as I have NOT agreed to the new terms and conditions. Once you have agreed this I will then do my utmost to make sure the overdraft is paid off as soon as possible. Any charges levied to my account as per the new terms and conditions will NOT be paid as I have not agreed to them." They have me between a rock and a hard place right now but I refuse to give in. I have an account elsewhere and have not used my Halifax account since the new charges were put in place. I do not intend to pay them a penny until such a time that they let me pay back my overdraft as per the OLD T&Cs.

Well, folks, my PIN "reminder" finally arrived today and, guess what? Not so much as a reminder, as a BRAND NEW PIN! No wonder the card hasn't been working as they obviously decided to issue me with a new PIN without informing me. Shall try and see if this PIN works tomorrow.

I will try the Post Office tomorrow, thanks The reason I haven't, is because when I called the helpline before, they told me it was only a cash card and, when I asked if I could use it at the Post Office she said NO I have already applied for an account with another bank and as soon as that is opened I will transfer everything to them. Hopefully that will be sorted before Christmas. Lloyds are without a doubt the most useless bank, if not business, I have ever dealt with. From start to finish they have been hideous. Hellifax, I am almost tempted to go back to you so you can screw me for £1 a day on my overdraft to escape this hell. Almost.

That's the very one! How can a member of LTSB staff get something so simple, but vital, so wrong? I am beginning to think some people just spout any **** just to get you off the phone ASAP! Oh well, they can listen to my phone calls back and respond to my letter of complaint accordingly. Meanwhile, I have absolutely no idea what to do next regarding the PIN situation. I am scared of getting my card swiped by the machine just before Christmas

Thought I would add to my existing post rather than create another: It is driving me nuts! Have had various problems with my Lloyds debit/cash card, the latest one being that nowhere seems to want to accept my PIN Yes, before anyone suggests, I am POSITIVE I am entering it correctly as they only sent it to me early last week! Since then I have withdrawn cash with it at one LTSB cash point last Friday, but I tried to withdraw cash in a LTSB branch yesterday over the counter but the PIN reader was saying "incorrect PIN". This was my last attempt so it said the card had been blocked, but when the clerk swiped it, it said it WASN'T blocked She of course was also adamant that I MUST have entered the wrong PIN as the computer couldn't possibly be wrong Now, I have the confirmation of this PIN sitting right in front of me and it is EXACTLY what I entered BOTH when it was accepted at the cash machine last Friday AND yesterday/today when I tried to get cash out. So, I am now only allowed one more attempt before my card gets swiped by the next machine I try I should also mention that I have recently established that I can only get money out with this card at a LTSB cashpoint (how dumb is that) so now I am stuck without any money til Friday when I will be near one. Anyone had anything like this happen? I will go into the bank again on Friday and take this PIN slip with me and they can type it in themselves if they like. P.S. It says VISA debit on it. Although I can't use it in store either, just online. But that's yet another gripe

Yes, I realise that now Just can't believe how ridiculous it is to have an account that you can ONLY get cash out of a Lloyds cashpoint (3 miles way is nearest!) and I can use it online but not in a shop? Very bizarre! Not to mention the fact it has an erroneous VISA debit logo on it!

dx100uk - exactly! It says VISA debit on it so surely should be as much use as any other VISA debit card! Surely... It is just a Cash account I have but that is the card they gave me with it.