Exactly what costs can I claim?

[Sirensinger]

Hi all,

 

Confused about costs -- re my case against HSBC, I had claimed to have bank charges removed from a debt of £7,700ish; they then claimed for the whole debt, also went for charge on house, & got judgment by default; I applied for set aside on grounds there's no CCA - it was set aside and charge taken off house; the two cases were consolidated, just had the trial, which Judge hasn't yet given decision on.

 

My question is: He's asked for my Schedule of Costs, and I don't know whether I'm supposed to be claiming for costs for all the hearings, etc., throughout the case - and does it include both cases, I mean mine against them and theirs against me? I'm hopelessly confused. Also, I told him that last year I lost a job because I had to have a set aside hearing I wasn't expecting as I didn't know HSBC had got judgment by default because they sent forms to wrong address and told me nothing had been sent - the job, teaching job at a summer school, was for two weeks - I had to turn it down after having accepted, because I couldn't take time off for a hearing. The Judge (who was insufferably supercilious and arrogant) said 'I find that hard to believe' and when I showed him the email the school had sent me, said 'Oh, you didn't lose a job; you just didn't take it up in the first place' (!) Then he said 'you won't get that back anyway'.

 

I'm baffled - I thought I was supposed to claim for things like that. Now I'm unsure what I can put in my Schedule. Can anyone help?

 

Ta

 

Tess

[kurvaface]

I think you can definitely claim for costs you've actually incurred for time, travel, stationary, postage, research etc, etc. I guess that would be for everthing related to both cases.

[dw190]

You can claim all expenses directly incurred as a result of the action.

 

You cannot claim loss of earnings but you can claim £9.25 per hour for all the time spent on the matter as a "Litagant in Person"

 

Litigants in Person (Costs and Expenses) Act 1975 (c.47)

 

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT COSTS AND LORD WOOLF - ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE THE STRAND LONDON ENGLAND