Jump to content


  • Tweets

  • Posts

    • Hope there is someone who can have a look at this please? 🤞Have to hand it in in like half an hour... THanks!   INTRODUCTION 1.      As a defendant in this case I make this Witness Statement to oppose the claimant application dated 19.09.23 to lift the stay on proceedings, for the defence to be struck out, for the Summary Judgment on the whole claim and the cost order to be made against me, the defendant in view of my Defence submitted to the County Court Business Centre in Northampton on 22 June 2019. 2.      The Claimant confirms that this claim issued through Northampton County Court Business Centre remained stayed since. 3.      Attached is a witness statement and a bundle of documents marked ‘LON2’. BACKGROUND 4.      The defendant confirms she entered into a contract with the Student Loan Company (SLC) under Loan Number ………….. on 28 November 1996. The original loan amount was £2035.00 with APR rate of 2.7%. 5.      The loan was regulated by SLC and during the time SLC was in charge of the account the defendant successfully deferred every year as she was always under the earning threshold. 6.      The defendant acknowledges receiving a copy of a loan agreement enclosed as pages [1 to 2] of ‘LON1’. NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT 7.      As per her defence, the claimant acknowledges receiving Notice of Assignment when the loan was moved over from SLC to Claimant on 22.11.2013. 8.      The Student Loan agreement is regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. 9.      As an assignee or creditor as defined in section 189 of the CCA this applies to this new requirement on assignment of rights. This means that when an assignee purchases debts (or otherwise acquires rights under a credit agreement) it also acquires certain obligations to the borrower including the duty to comply with CCA requirements (such as the rules on statements and notices and other post-contractual information). The assignee becomes the creditor under the agreement. This ensures that essential consumer protections under the CCA cannot be circumvented by assigning the debt to a third party. 2014 REMEDIATION 10.  Defendant received a remediation pack from the Claimant on 28th August 2014 named Remedy of Account enclosed on pages [1-34] of ‘LON2’.  The cover letter explained that there was an issue under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 that resulted in Defendant’s balance being higher than it should have been so the reduction of £441.47 was applied to the account. 11.  The enclosed replacement documents in the pack showed correct situation compared to the originals with the erroneous Sums of Arrears. 12.   The defendant found this Remediation pack confusing and worrying that CCA 1974 was breached on Defendant’s account, yet the Claimant brushed it off with vague explanation and an apology. 13.  This issue puts shade on the Claimant’s requirement to prove the allegation that the money is owed as claimed under the Civil Procedure Rule 16.5 (4), as the Defendant does not admit the allegation. DEFERMENTS 14.  The defendant was granted deferrals for all the years they were with the SLC and continued to be granted deferments by the Claimant when they took over the loan as the claimant was under the earning threshold at all pertinent times. 15.  Defendant was sent and completed deferment forms for 20 years, between 1996 – 2016 without fail and no payments were ever due. 16.  Defendant had not received the 2017 deferment forms 8 weeks before the due date or the subsequent reminder that is customarily sent. 17.  Defendant had not been reminded by email about the deferment. 18.  When the Claimant noticed the Defendant’s deferment form was missing and this was unusual considering they have been at the same address for more than a decade and are on the electoral register, the Claimant did not make an attempt to call or email the defendant to communicate with them about the situation. 19.  The Claimant therefore did not treat the Defendant fairly. CCA REMEDIATON 2018 20.  As mentioned in Defendant’s Defence and not responded to in the Claimant’s Witness statement; the next communication from the Claimant that the Defendant received was the Remedy of Account pack on 1st September 2018 containing missing statutory notices that they are required to send within the prescribed timescales containing correct information to inform the client about their account as presented in pages [35-69] of ‘LON2’ 21.  Due to a system error between 2016-2018 the Claimant did not comply with this requirement and the correct statutory notices were not sent. 22.  This system error coincided with the dates the deferment forms were not received by the Defendant. 23.  The pack included annual statements some of which mentioned Sums of Arrears, much like the ones SLC used to send the Defendant in error – which was corrected by Claimant in 2014 as mentioned in points 9-12. The defendant was confused and googled the Remediation issue and found a - nothing to worry about – type of explanation on the Claimant’s website as it seems many accounts were affected. 24.  Claimant’s website stated: “What is remediation? During ongoing quality checks/reviews of our accounts, we identified an issue relating to communications that we are required to send customers as prescribed by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (as amended) (CCA). Additionally, our review identified issues with the data on some of our customers’ accounts. Having reviewed all accounts for issues, along with rectifying the issues identified above, we are now in a position to resume our normal processes. We have begun writing to our customers who have had arrears on their loan(s) since 9 December 2015 (when Erudio took over the day to day management of the loans from the Capita Group). This is to ensure they have had all the required CCA notifications and their account data is accurate. This will involve sending the corrected documentation to affected customers and corrections to the data on customers’ accounts. If your account has been affected, you will receive this documentation where applicable. Any interest incurred since these issues arose will be deducted from your account balances. What does it mean for me? You don’t need to do anything. If you have been affected by any of these issues, you will receive a letter from us outlining what we have done to fix it. We will provide you with corrected regulatory letters for the period affected by these issues and inform you about any adjustments to your account balance or payment as a result of the removal of interest added to your account during that period.” 25.  The defendant concluded this error must be also why the deferment forms were not sent and trusted that the Claimant would fix the error and send the documents with an apology, after all, if there was a problem, the Claimant would have called or emailed to let the Defendant know. 26.  The Claimant was in breach of the CCA 1974 rules in letting the Defendant know about the arrears on the account, and subsequent actions taken were unenforceable as this was the Claimant’s error. LETTER OF CLAIM AND COURT DEFENCE 27.  However, Defendant was served with a Letter of Claim which was a shock. She had never been to court before and did not think she had a choice but go to court as the other option was to succumb to unreasonable offer by Dryden’s Fairfax lawyers representing the Claimant. 28.  Defendant therefore submitted defence to court. 29.  The Claimant’s witness statement has not addressed the CCA 1974 breach that was stated in point 15 or 16 of the Defendant’s defence. ADMINISTRATIVE STAY OF PROCEEDINGS July 2019 – May 2024 30.  As the Claimant’s Witness Statement reads, during the almost 5 year administrative stay, the Defendant was contacted by Drydens Fairfax layers representing the Claimant with offers to settle the ‘debt’, however the Defendant found the letters had a violent undertone, each one threatening with a CCJ unless the Defendant complied with demands. It was therefore unwise  to enter into any kind of relationship with such bullies who were well aware of the Defendant’s defence and that their client made serious mistakes and a breached CCA 1974 rules. 31.  As a result of these continual threats but the case still on administrative stay the Defendant experienced continual nightmares and stress related gut problems. She has seen the gut specialist who advised her the mind body connection and trauma can be connected with her type of gut issues and the defendant’s GP followed by referring her to trauma psychotherapy. 32.  On 8th of June 2021 the Claimant sent a letter with the statutory documentation they failed to send the Defendant even though her postal address had not changed. Again this was another CCA 1974 breach. 33.  On 16th December 2021 the Claimant sent another letter apologising for and error made in charging the Solicitor’s fees incorrectly, continuing with a series of blunders.    
    • I'm trying to unravel this – but I get the impression that there was no contract between you and EVRi and that you didn't even choose them but instead you decided use some third party parcel broker in the USA which organised the delivery. Is this correct? EVRi came into the picture because they would then eventually selected for part of the journey although you had no knowledge that it might be them and I suppose it didn't really matter as long as the item got to you. Secondly, I really don't understand the journey which this item made. You bought the item from somebody in the USA. They then were meant to dispatch it to you to another address in the USA but for some reason or other it came to the UK and then into the hands of EVRi at which point it was lost or stolen. More confusion here because you now tell us that EVRi marked it as being out for delivery but it was never delivered. This suggests that it was going to be delivered to a UK address but earlier on you said that it was going to be delivered to USA address. I think you need to look at the story. Maybe show it to a friend of yours who is not particularly where the details and ask them if they can make head or tail of it and then come back to us with clarification so that we fully understand. Also, I think we'd like to know what the item is, how was it declared, what was the value which was declared. You said it was a valuable item because it was rare and collectable. I gather from this that it is non-fungible. We need to understand more about this. Was an insurance policy purchased to cover it during the delivery process. I understand that this rare and collectable item be valued at £200. Have evidence this value. This could become very important. Also you have given is no idea when this happened. We need to understand the full timescale. There are a number of possibilities here including the possibility of the contract action against EVRi on the basis of your third party rights or an action for negligence but we need to know far more and we need to get a story that makes sense.   Finally, I understand that you have sent the letter of claim. What did it say? How much time did you give them? What did you expect to happen as a result of the letter of claim? Whatever the answers to those questions might be, clearly you had no idea how to proceed after having sent such a letter. A letter of claim is meant to be a serious threat of some legal action if some condition which you have stipulated is not complied with. You set a deadline for compliance and at the end of that deadline you issue the court action. Clearly you are not in a position to do that so your letter of claim is a bluff and undermines your credibility and it will find its way into the EVRi wastepaper basket – if it's not there already.  
    • Good morning. I just wanted to check something please. The other side have moved slightly and negotiated a full and final offer price to end this matter. I am happy with this. However, I want to make sure this is the end of the matter and am emailing the following over to them prior to payment. Is this enough to ensure they can come back for nothing else? Thanks -------------------------------------------------- Dear Sir.   With regards your last email below.   I am pleased to agree to the full and final settlement figure given below.   Can you confirm this payment will be in full and final payment with no further claim to be brought against me in this matter?   Best regards
    • 100% sure I didn't receive it, that why my first post is with the £100 letter.
    • Engine, the technology business Starling Bank was built on, has been busy launching banks around the world, from Romania to Australia.View the full article
  • Recommended Topics

  • Our picks

    • If you are buying a used car – you need to read this survival guide.
      • 1 reply
    • Hello,

      On 15/1/24 booked appointment with Big Motoring World (BMW) to view a mini on 17/1/24 at 8pm at their Enfield dealership.  

      Car was dirty and test drive was two circuits of roundabout on entry to the showroom.  Was p/x my car and rushed by sales exec and a manager into buying the mini and a 3yr warranty that night, sale all wrapped up by 10pm.  They strongly advised me taking warranty out on car that age (2017) and confirmed it was honoured at over 500 UK registered garages.

      The next day, 18/1/24 noticed amber engine warning light on dashboard , immediately phoned BMW aftercare team to ask for it to be investigated asap at nearest garage to me. After 15 mins on hold was told only their 5 service centres across the UK can deal with car issues with earliest date for inspection in March ! Said I’m not happy with that given what sales team advised or driving car. Told an amber warning light only advisory so to drive with caution and call back when light goes red.

      I’m not happy to do this, drive the car or with the after care experience (a sign of further stresses to come) so want a refund and to return the car asap.

      Please can you advise what I need to do today to get this done. 
       

      Many thanks 
      • 81 replies
    • Housing Association property flooding. https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/topic/438641-housing-association-property-flooding/&do=findComment&comment=5124299
      • 161 replies
    • We have finally managed to obtain the transcript of this case.

      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

      One of the points that the judge made was that the customers contract with the broker specifically refers to the courier – and it is clear that the courier knows that they are acting for a third party. There is no need to name the third party. They just have to be recognisably part of a class of person – such as a sender or a recipient of the parcel.

      Please note that a recent case against UPS failed on exactly the same issue with the judge held that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 did not apply.

      We will be getting that transcript very soon. We will look at it and we will understand how the judge made such catastrophic mistakes. It was a very poor judgement.
      We will be recommending that people do include this adverse judgement in their bundle so that when they go to county court the judge will see both sides and see the arguments against this adverse judgement.
      Also, we will be to demonstrate to the judge that we are fair-minded and that we don't mind bringing everything to the attention of the judge even if it is against our own interests.
      This is good ethical practice.

      It would be very nice if the parcel delivery companies – including EVRi – practised this kind of thing as well.

       

      OT APPROVED, 365MC637, FAROOQ, EVRi, 12.07.23 (BRENT) - J v4.pdf
        • Like
  • Recommended Topics

Howard Cohen-Discussion thread.


style="text-align: center;">  

Thread Locked

because no one has posted on it for the last 4775 days.

If you need to add something to this thread then

 

Please click the "Report " link

 

at the bottom of one of the posts.

 

If you want to post a new story then

Please

Start your own new thread

That way you will attract more attention to your story and get more visitors and more help 

 

Thanks

Recommended Posts

I'm a newbie - fascinating to find references to Howard Cohen. They took me to court for three sums owed to HSBC and the court awarded them £4 per month each, which means that global warming will wipe out the debt. However, I've repeatedly asked them to send me forms so that I can pay by direct debit, and I don't get an answer. As I'm seriously ill and can't handle admin. easily, direct debit would be ideal for me.

 

Question: if they go back to the court, will my letters asking for the direct debit facility stand in my favour? They're indicative of willingness to pay.

 

Thanks very much.

 

i would suggest you pay by standing order and not Direct Debit

 

you must have their account on your paying in slips so you can do this with your bank

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 171
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

they sometimes give the option to pay by internet or telephone banking, these are the details to use for a standing order. you can use them to set it up in branch over the phone or online. once set up there is no risk of you forgetting and proof that you have been paying.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have just had an interesting conversation about Howard Cohen & Co. with the SRA's professional ethics department, who have encouraged me to make a complaint about Howard Cohen & Co.

 

I will not, for obvious reasons, go into detail just yet, but it involves Lewis, letterheads and lies...

 

Incidentally, here is a picture (on their website), of Cohen and his partner Cramer:

 

hdr-kep.jpg

 

The image is posted only because it is interesting to be able to put a face to a name. Any derogatory remarks, no matter how amusing, will be moderated.

Link to post
Share on other sites

:lol: love it.

 

Speaking of Cohens...I have a complaint regarding them and Lewis. Sent an e-mail to Cohens and got a response in the post from Lewis (apparently).

 

I then received e-mail responses from a person at Cohens, answering an e-mail I sent Lewis....then got an e-mail reply from Lewis answering different questions from the SAME person!

 

When I tried to complain they tried to just close the a/c and make me go away. What is going on over there?!

Dipply75

 

I am in no way a legal advisor and only speak from my own experiences and the helpful advice of those in the same boat! :p

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a newbie - fascinating to find references to Howard Cohen. They took me to court for three sums owed to HSBC and the court awarded them £4 per month each, which means that global warming will wipe out the debt. However, I've repeatedly asked them to send me forms so that I can pay by direct debit, and I don't get an answer. As I'm seriously ill and can't handle admin. easily, direct debit would be ideal for me.

 

Question: if they go back to the court, will my letters asking for the direct debit facility stand in my favour? They're indicative of willingness to pay.

 

Thanks very much.

 

Lets put it this way if you miss payments ordered by the court they can go back into court & request either a charging order followed by repossession OR seize your goods

 

Now who benefits most if you miss payments of £4 a month .......answer them by taking everything you own

 

 

Forget what the court might or might not think the duty to pay is on you so don't miss any payments & as advised pay by standing order & NOT DD.....and do it asap

Link to post
Share on other sites

Lets put it this way if you miss payments ordered by the court they can go back into court & request either a charging order followed by repossession OR seize your goods

 

Now who benefits most if you miss payments of £4 a month .......answer them by taking everything you own

 

 

Forget what the court might or might not think the duty to pay is on you so don't miss any payments & as advised pay by standing order & NOT DD.....and do it asap

 

good idea to make sure your S O is paid about 2 weeks in advance of when the payments are actually due just to make sure any delays due to computer glitches at the bank ect dont give them any excuses

Link to post
Share on other sites

My husband has problem with Howard Cohen. Had been paying off debt to CL Finance approx £500. Financial situation was very difficult as had to resign from previous job as making him ill, suufered anxiety,stress & depression and thought of going back exasperated condition. Managed to later work through agency but work dried up because of economic climate. he stopped nominal payment of £5 per month around December as things were so difficult. Then without letter from Howard Cohen got fast track summons. February Have been trying to get CCA agreement, statements and assignment of debt. Howard Cohen said thaey didnt have to supply. Went to GE money and now managed to get agreement and some of statements from GE Money but not assignment of debt. Court case on 21 /9/ 09. I have paid £ 5 for each month missed to bring payments up to date but cannot afford the 400 odd in one go. We really need help what to do next. Particularly need someone to give a view on agreement as looks odd.

Help!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Consider this if you contact the court about an alleged CCJ they will ask you for a 'claim' no & if there isn't one they won't check because they can't, they need a number. This may explain why some of these alleged CCJ's issued in error:rolleyes: do not display a claim number;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Consider this if you contact the court about an alleged CCJ they will ask you for a 'claim' no & if there isn't one they won't check because they can't, they need a number. This may explain why some of these alleged CCJ's issued in error:rolleyes: do not display a claim number:wink:

 

Some months ago I managed to get Northampton to check for a POC being issued against 2 previous addresses.

 

I explained I had reason to believe the company concerned might deliberately file aginst a previous, which would be a waste o everybodies (including theirs) time.

 

They can do it, just don't want to.

 

David

Link to post
Share on other sites

-

PLEASE NOTE - I am not a legal expert, my comments are based on information learnt or

obtained and from my own experiences.

-

Case 1 - C L Finance - Court Case 'Stayed' :-). Stay Lifted - N149 AQ Received & Filed. Case Struck Out :grin:

-

Case 2 - C L Finance - Defence Filed. N150 AQ Received & Filed. Case 'Settled by Consent' :)

-

Case 3 - EOS Solutions - No Agreement - Account Closed ~£3500. :grin:

-

Advice & opinions offered freely but informally, without prejudice & without liability.

Use your own judgment and seek advice from a qualified and insured professional if you have any doubts.

Link to post
Share on other sites

-

PLEASE NOTE - I am not a legal expert, my comments are based on information learnt or

obtained and from my own experiences.

-

Case 1 - C L Finance - Court Case 'Stayed' :-). Stay Lifted - N149 AQ Received & Filed. Case Struck Out :grin:

-

Case 2 - C L Finance - Defence Filed. N150 AQ Received & Filed. Case 'Settled by Consent' :)

-

Case 3 - EOS Solutions - No Agreement - Account Closed ~£3500. :grin:

-

Advice & opinions offered freely but informally, without prejudice & without liability.

Use your own judgment and seek advice from a qualified and insured professional if you have any doubts.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Also,

 

The following was a post by Cerberusalert on my first thread (post #16)

 

Courtesy of Cerberusalert:

 

One thing's for certain, Howard Cohen & Co won't be able to use the British Gas defence :wink:Customer set to sue British Gas - Which? News

 

 

Quote:

IT error

 

Lord Justice Jacob also had little time for British Gas’s claim that the letters were sent out as a result of an IT error and that Ms Ferguson should not have treated the letters as seriously as if they had come from a person.

 

‘In Ms Ferguson's words they should “not simply blame information technology. They should instead start taking responsibility for the running of their company in a competent, honest and ethical manner,"' he said.

 

‘Real people are responsible for programming and entering material into the computer.

 

‘Moreover, the threats and demands were to be read by a real person, not by a computer. A real person is likely to suffer real anxiety and distress if threatened in the way which Ms Ferguson was.’

-

PLEASE NOTE - I am not a legal expert, my comments are based on information learnt or

obtained and from my own experiences.

-

Case 1 - C L Finance - Court Case 'Stayed' :-). Stay Lifted - N149 AQ Received & Filed. Case Struck Out :grin:

-

Case 2 - C L Finance - Defence Filed. N150 AQ Received & Filed. Case 'Settled by Consent' :)

-

Case 3 - EOS Solutions - No Agreement - Account Closed ~£3500. :grin:

-

Advice & opinions offered freely but informally, without prejudice & without liability.

Use your own judgment and seek advice from a qualified and insured professional if you have any doubts.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Howard Cohen is a person - he is the senior partner of Cohen Cramer Solicitors. Howard Cohen Solicitors is a trading name of Cohen Cramer Solicitiors. Howard Cohen Solicitors operation is run from Lewis DCA offices; the phone numbers and email addresses on HC letters all belong to Lewis.

 

They should comply with the OFT Guidance, but as solicitors they come under the group licence issued to the Law Society, making it harder to do anything about their breaches.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I am no legal minded person but while having a little dig around I found this and wondered if this could be used against Howard Cohen in view of their continued insistance in taking on cases totally without merit.

 

http://www.justice.gov.uk/civil/procrules_fin/contents/practice_directions/pd_part03c.htm

 

Just in case the link does not work it is about civil restraint orders.

Dont let the parasite dca's prosper

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 Caggers

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Have we helped you ...?


×
×
  • Create New...