Yep, still waiting for an offer! TBH I haven't looked at the AQ yet, I'm just about to do that now (just got home!)

Hi again, thanks for your post lateralus. I did try and phone Alan Burden at lunchtime and left him a voicemail but I've been in meetings all day so couldn't try again. I'll file my AQ tomorrow as I don't have time tomorrow either to try chasing for faxes etc. Bit annoying but at least I'll get the extra £100 back, just might take a couple more weeks Thank you everyone for your help and advice, I think I'd go mad without this site! lol!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Thanks lateralus, I did say this in my e-mail. Don't worry, I will file! Just cursing myself for trying to do this at this time of year! DOH!

Right, just had an out of office reply from Debbie Daubney and she's given me a phone number for a chap called Alan Burden so I'll try him in the morning! His number (if anyone else wants it) is 0121 455 2206.

No probs! Just can't believe how hard it is to actually get to speak to someone at DG! I've just sent them a quick e-mail attaching my letter and breakdown and reminding them of the AQ deadline so, fingers crossed!

Thanks for that. I guess it's worth a shot!

Hmmm, I thought that but there's nothing! Bugger.

GAH! That's the name and number I've been trying since Friday! rofl!

Thanks Steve. That first number is the one I already have and the second number is a voicemail saying that the person is out of the office until 3rd January! AARRGGHH!! lol!

DG requested a breakdown from me on 6th December which I sent off straight away. I've been phoning and phoning them since Friday but can never get through to anyone, I've just left messages. The problem is that I have to file my AQ by the 26th December but, obviously, I will need to file this on Thursday due to Christmas etc. Does anyone have any phone numbers where I can actually talk to somebody at DG and see if they're in a position to settle? I'd really rather not have to file my AQ as £100 this close to Christmas is going to be hard to find!

Thanks Lateralus, just sent letter recorded - will chase on Friday!

Just a quick update: HSBC filed the standard defence on Friday (3 days before I would have won by default ) and I recevied a letter from DG on Saturday asking for a breakdown. I'm just compiling a letter to them now to post off tomorrow enclosing a breakdown of my charges and reminding them that I have to file my AQ by 26th December so they'd better get a move on! Just a quick question though - do I have to add into my letter the fact that they also owe me my £120 MCOL charge or does this go onto my breakdown? TIA! Laura

Hi Rob, How bizarre! Just checked my account again before printing off my letter and they have now credited my account. Should I reduce the fees by this amount? I will phone customer services tomorrow and ask about my rate, thanks for the advice Also, (sorry to be a pain!) do you think it is an LBA I should be sending and not a prelim? Thanks! Laura

Good point but, even though their letter is dated the 30th November, the £490 they promised still hasn't shown up on my account! I figured I'd just send the letter and then amend at LBA/MCOL if the money turns up. What do you think?

I think so! I've read about people using figures like 28% but I can't see how they arrived at them. At the bottom of my statements it shows the monthly rate so I just multiplied that by 12 to get my yearly rate. I've never been charged any kind of over-limit interest just standard charges relating to late payment, over limit fees and reminder letters. More than happy to amend though if I find a higher rate!

Ok, don't worry, I found which letter it is. I've decided to go for contractual compound interest as it seems only fair I charge them for using my money Could someone take a look at my letter to make sure it's ok? Thank you! Thank you for your letter dated 30th November 2006. I will accept the sum of £490 offered only as part settlement and on the clear understanding that I will pursue recovery of the remainder, with a County Court claim if necessary. I now understand that the regime of 'fees' which you have been applying to my account in relation to direct debit refusals, exceeding overdraft limits and so forth are unlawful at Common Law, Statute and recent Consumer regulations. I would draw your attention to the terms of the contract which you agreed to at the time that I opened my account. It is an implied term of that contract that you would conduct yourselves lawfully and in a manner which complies with UK law. I calculate that you have taken £1,105.00. I enclose a schedule of the charges which I am claiming with this letter. I request that you pay me interest on this amount at a rate of 16.9%; being £592.90. This is your rate for authorised borrowing as of today, which I believe to be of a reciprocal nature due to the terms of the contract. The total amount to be refunded to me is £1,697.90 as of today’s date, and interest will accrue daily at the contractual rate. I will give you 14 days to reply to me accepting, unconditionally, my request in principle and letting me know a date by which I will receive payment. If you do not respond, or you do not respond positively, within this time period, I shall send you a Letter Before Action giving you a further 14 days in which to reflect. I believe that these targets are more than sufficient for a large company such as yours with dedicated staff and departments. After that, there will be no further communication from me and I shall issue a claim at the expiry of the second deadline. Yours faithfully,

Definitely! You must stick to your deadlines, that way they know you're serious (and you'll get your money back quicker! )

Finally a bit of progress! Received a list of transactions today from Rachel Claridge (the charges total £1,145) stating that a goodwill payment of £490 has been credited to my account (it hasn't!) Which letter do I send now? Is it the prelim letter or the LBA? Also is there a spreadsheet anywhere for calculating this compound contractual interest that everyone is claiming? I've looked in the library and can't find one, the only other one I have is the simple charges that I used for my HSBC claim. TIA!

Thanks for your help

I sent my SAR on the 23rd October and have had 2 letters from them: 1 dated 7th November saying they were looking into my complaint and would respond by the 20th November 1 dated 20th November saying their investigations were taking longer than necessary and then would respond in the next 10 working days. (They haven't cashed my cheque btw) What do I do now? Help!

I wrote to the London address but I don't think it matters - they all get forwarded to the same dept. If it puts your mind at rest, I didn't hear anything from HSBC until 2 days after I submitted my MCOL, at which point they offered me 80% of what I was claiming!

I don't think you get to request a cheque until you've agreed settlement with D&G. As for acknowledging your claim, I received a letter from Colin Longdale offering me partial settlement 2 days AFTER I filed my MCOL!

If you've done this online (MCOL) and today is the 28th day and they haven't entered a defence then I think you can just press the 'judgement' button.

lol! That's exactly how it feels! They should sell it as a service.....