Lloyds TSB/Allied International

[Hollanda1]

Hello there people.

 

I believe I have fair grounds to complain about Lloyds TSB to the Financial Ombudsman:

 

- A number of years ago (5 years ago) I owed Lloyds TSB 3,000 on a credit card. I found myself in difficulties making repayments and went to see my Bank Manager to discuss my options.

- My bank manager used several technical terms which I did not understand, and offered me a loan of roughly twice the figure I owed. I felt pressured and scared by this and asked if I could go away and think about it. I was told I would not be able to do this as they would not be willing to offer me the loan at those rates at a later date. The Manager was intimidating in manner and I agreed to the loan as I thought it was my only way out.

- I fell victim to compound interest. The more I borrowed, the bigger the interest and the less I was able to pay back. Over the years I have had a number of health issues probably brought on by stress and worry of the situation.

- On several occasions, I have had agreements with Lloyds TSB, using standing orders and Direct Debits. On each occasion, either the DD has been stopped or I have received a default notice stating the amount was unacceptable.

- Each time, I resolved the issue, only for it to happen again in the future.

- I joined Kensington Finance who were a fat lot of good, they ripped me off with extortionate admin costs and didn't do what they said they would, ie freeze interest rates whilst I paid back a reduced sum.

- I received a substantial number of harassing and intimidating phone calls from Lloyds TSB about this account, on one occasion I received 20 calls in a day. I also received court letters and solicitors letters. Each time, I advised I was with Kensington Finance, which they ignored. The calls were always UNKNOWN (number withheld) and always left an automated message so I knew it was them.

- I moved house at the end of October LAST YEAR and ensured I advised all my creditors including Lloyds TSB. They took my new address and confirmed my phone number. I was making monthly payments to them at this time and had not received any threatening calls from them so I assumed all was well.

- In February this year I received ANOTHER default notice from them to my new address. I contacted Kensington who said they will deal with it for me. I did not hear anything back from either party.

- In May this year, following advice from CAB relating to Kensington, I decided to leave Kensington Finance and contacted my debtors to advise my payments will remain the same but I would be working independently from then on to make the payments. This was accepted.

- I continued to make the payments and heard NOTHING from Lloyds TSB. No phone calls or anything.

- On Wednesday of last week, I decided to look back through all my financial paperwork to check everything was in order. I am glad I did as I realised, much to my horror, that I had not received ANYTHING from Lloyds TSB relating to this account since February this year, although they had confirmed an arrangement on the credit card side of it. I called Lloyds and when asked to confirm the first line of my address I was told they did not have that address for me. I explained they DID have as I had a letter in front of me dated Feb this year!!! They disputed this and said the account has been passed on to Debt Recovery.

- I was put through to them (on an 08457 number on my mobile!) and was advised by Debt Recovery that they had passed my account on to Allied International. I was furious by this time and wanted to know why as I had heard nothing from Lloyds TSB at all. I explained they had my new address and my phone number, as I had received several threatening calls from them and my number has not changed. I was told they cannot speak to me and I need to call Allied.

- I called Allied and was told someone would call me back in 10 minutes.

- THREE HOURS LATER, Allied called me back. I spoke to a MR GALLACHER who was extremely rude to me. He ignored me, spoke over me and when I eventually asked him politely to let me speak, he did so. He then dismissed my complaints against Lloyds TSB as spurious and said they will not hold up in a Court of Law (his precise wording). He then told me that I was "showing my ignorance of the law" when I tried to speak. He demanded to know where I work and when I refused to tell him, he said it was "in my best interests and might be taken against me in a Court of Law". I said I had done nothing wrong, he said I had ignored a number of official Court summonses. I said I had not ignored them as I had not received them!!! He said they would have been sent to my old address. I asked why, since they had my new one. He said they did not. I pointed out that my former landlady would have forwarded me any Court Summonses as she forwards any mail including junk to my home address. I was again called ignorant and told that "in a Court of Law, Miss *******, your complaint would be dismissed immediately". - I tried to make an offer to him, explaining what I can afford on a monthly basis, but I was advised he couldn't accept this and it would be going to Court. I said fine, I will turn up to Court then. He blustered a bit and said it was in my best interests to "comply with him and pay in full". I asked where am I supposed to find over 5 thousand pounds (what they are now saying I owe!) and he said that is for me to consider. He advised me to consider another loan or a credit card??????? I said "ARE YOU FOR REAL???????????" He then said the calls are recorded and he would use it against me in "a Court of Law if necessary".

- Eventually, he agreed that I could send a copy of the letter sent to my new address in February 2008 as proof that Lloyds did in fact have my new address, and therefore I could possibly have an upheld complaint that Lloyds did not give me any notification of my debt being passed on. He said the Court would grant me a "stay of execution" if these grounds were proven. He sounded smarmy and told me "not to hold my breath".

- Basically, having looked at the OFT guidelines, I believe Lloyds TSB missold me the loan in the first place (and missold me the PPI), used harassment and intimidation by phone to try and make me pay more than I could afford, and lied to me (I have proof that they had my address all along and I believe they knew my phone number although this cannot be proven). They sold my debt to an outside agency without notification. I feel angry and confused by what has happened to me.

Are Allied correct in what they said to me? Can they take me to Court and make me bankrupt?? I am terrified. Please help. The worry is making me ill (I suffer anxiety attacks).

 

Thank you.

Edited November 3, 2008 by Hollanda1

[Patma]

Hi Hollanda,Welcome.

First of all don't worry because you've done the right thing in coming to the forum and you'll get good advice to get you through the situation.

I've read your post and it looks as though you give your real name there. I suggest you edit that as soon as poss.

Next thing don't talk to these people on the phone, because they will only try to intimidate you, which has already happened. Tell them to put everything in writing and then put the phone down.

Whatever they say, you do not have to speak to them on the phone.

I don't feel I'm best qualified to suggest what you should do next, but one of the site team or someone with more experience will definitely put you on the right track.

[Hollanda1]

Thank you. I have written to Allied International to advise I will not be speaking to them by telephone and anything else needs to be put in writing to me. I refuse to be intimidated. From what other people have said on this Forum, my best way to proceed would be to try and get my account sent back to Lloyds TSB. I feel positive I can do this if I send them a copy of the default letter from February, therefore proving that Lloyds TSB had my correct address all along.

 

I also feel I have grounds to complain to OFT about Lloyds TSB's conduct in this case. Allied International are not acting within the boundaries of the OFT and have resorted to threatening and aggressive methods of collecting debt, and Lloyds TSB need to take responsibility for the people they sell debts on to.

 

One thing I will NOT do is lay down and let this happen to me. I am going to stand up and be counted. I am also going to reclaim my credit card charges from Lloyds TSB and all my other creditors, which will take about 8 weeks apparently. This could potentially be worth thousands for me, which will reduce the amount of debt I actually owe.

 

I need really a template of the correct letters I need to send if this is possible? Thank you very much for your prompt reply.