Do you withdraw money with your debit card? You may be able to get around this charge by writing a cheque out for "cash" and then presenting it at the counter?

I agree with you. Negotiate with them. State that you are unwilling to pay an additional 6 months rent in advance each time the tenancy expires. Tenancys do not operate this way and if you can't reach a compromise, you'll have to reconsider the property. It is completely unreasonable (in my opinion) for an agency to operate this way. Test the water, see what happens.

Do you have restrictions on your account? I am unaware of a bank charging £3 to draw money out of the counter. Not disputing what your saying, just that I can't believe a bank can do this now'a'days. Especially seen as all ATM fee's were dropped 4 / 5 years back.

I think you should put to them that you are willing to take on the property as an assured 6 month tenancy. Tell them that you are willing to pay the first 6 months rent upfront, but after that you will pay month by month. My landlord wanted me to continue on a 6 month tenancy. However, I was unhappy to commit myself like that each time. If your circumstances change you are tied in for a 6 month period each time. It benefits the landlord, but not you. I'm sure they won't want to lose you as a potential tenant. JMHO

I agree with Barty. I'm unsure where the letter sent above was sourced from? I am not disapproving it, but it makes it awkward where users get other templates from external sites, then start seeking help on CAG. Please don't take offense to the above comment, but the method we're all acustomed too has seen countless results, and thats why we stick to the trial and tested way.

In that case its the first of two fob offs you'll get. I take it the letter you wrote was a template from an external site? You can find the LBA (letter before action) template in the banking forum. After you have sent this and the 14 day deadline has expired, you then start litigation. I would recommend sending the LBA warning of court action. The judge would look upon it favourably. Good luck.

Hi Hullstorage Is this letter in response to your prelimary or your LBA?

no worries, anything your unsure of, just ask.

Hi You should have an easy ride with Smile. They tend to settle after sending the two letters (prelimary & LBA).

Hi Paul Sorry no-one replied to your previous post. Did you manage to find your documents you wanted for your bundle?

obviously to bump up your stat 8% interst

Forgot to say, if you have already sent the LBA, I personally wouldn't bother sending another letter (up to you though). As to including evidence, again I wouldn't bother. Its very unlikely you'll get a settlement any earlier. Once you've filed your claim, have a look through the banking templates library to familiarise yourself with the allocation questionnaire. This will be the next step after Barclays enter their defence. Your doing fine, don't panic.....

No, you were just giving them extra time to reconsider their position before you commenced action. Not at all. My first claim with Lloyds TSB was for the first four years. After they settled I went back for the last two.

Your not in the wrong here, they are! Why did they offer you £3,500 if their charges are lawful? Have a read through HSBC's forum and read posts of CAGers who are at the next stage from you. Good Luck

Hi, don't worry. I am dealing with Cahoot (Abbey with a false moustache) and my claim was acknowledged by them 3 days after I received my notice of issue. They should now file a defence and when this happens you will receive an allocation questionnaire. Check the banking templates folder so your prepared for your AQ. You can also include some draft directions for the judge to consider. I would also advise familiarising yourself with the court bundle (again in the banking templates folder). With Abbey it seems inevitable you'll need to prepare one.

I used to get my wages on the last working day every month by BACS. Always skint by around the 10th. Now I get paid every Friday, with my money in cash in a little brown pay packet. I find it alot easier to budget now. I only pay in what I want to pay in.

I was settled two days prior to my court date. I only found out when I checked my balance online. I received a letter from SC&M a day after the hearing date. Fortunately I had internet access and informed the courts of settlement. But I agree, its a disgrace. I sent the minimal required correspondence to SC&M and never called them once, purely because I believe its down to them to do the running.

Hi Enaid I think creditors, and in this instance your sons card issuer, showed responsability reducing his credit limit. As you say, if more were "responsable" lenders, we wouldn't have half the problems we're seeing now. Creditors don't want a good boy paying off his debt, they make a minimal. They want you to miss payments and go overdrawn, thats where the revenue is. This is why some card issuers are bringing back annual fees and minimal monthly pay-ins in response to the OFTs report. Cahoot have halved my late payment and overlimit fees from £25 to £12. Ladybird, what happened to Alliance & Leicester? One bank i'm not claiming against so not reading the threads.

Thanks Karn

Hi Ventedspleen. Heard anything from either Cahoot/Abbey or the court yet?

I have today, received the following letter from Abbey. I will respond by sending them my schedule of charges and interest spreadsheet, with a covering letter along the lines of: Any comments on the above? I take it this standard with Abbey claims?

I got a letter from Abbey on the 31st January saying my complaint is taking longer than first thought to investigate. Then, on the 1st February (the next day) I had a letter saying after investigating the complaint in full they cannot refund my charges. Are you set to start the claim Monday / Tuesday? The right hand not knowing what the left hands doing springs to mind.

bump... any news?

Well done andtroy. Makes me wonder if we should start to draw up a list of litigations of Abbey no shows incase this happens again?

Received Acknowledgment of Service through via post this morning. I addressed my claim to Cahoot, however Abbey have their details on the form. The full name of the defendant on the form is: TS6 BO3 (Bank Charges Team) Abbey National PLC Abbey National House 2 Triton Square Regents Park London NW1 3AN They intend to defend all of the claim, and signed by James Arrandale (Abbeys Solicitor). Anyone else got the same Solicitor?