Jump to content


  • Tweets

  • Posts

    • Please can you avoid posting solid blocks of text. It is difficult for people to read especially when they are using a small screen such as a telephone. Well spaced and punctuated please. I hear what you say about the evidence – but do you have copies of it? And if so can we see it please. That's the point. We want to know what you have. As long as you have the evidence in your possession then you have some kind of control
    • Hi, the vehicle went to Audi Chingford on Thursday 13th May. I did state beforehand that I only wanted a diagnostic. The technician out of courtesy opened the drain letting huge deposits of water escape the seals. Video evidence was provided via AUDI cam. The link for the audi cam has been forwarded to BMW and Motonovo. I spoke to branch manager explained the situation and he stated he would sent me an email outlining the issue. Audi state this is not really an issue and more of a design flaw. However, the seals still have water ingress. I purchased the vehicle with £0 deposit on a 60 months HP plan for £520.00. The vehicle total was £21000. I did not go for any extended warranty. I live almost 70 miles away from the aftersales centre in Peterborough. I have previously uploaded the document I forwarded to BMW however it was in word format. I have had to buy a new tyre almost three days after purchasing vehicle. BMW still have not compensated me for the v62 cost as they said they would. 
    • I would suggest that you stop trying to rely on legal theory – as you understand it. Firstly, because we are dealing with practical/pragmatic situations and at a low value level where these arguments tend not to work. Secondly, because you clearly have misunderstood the assessment of quantum where there are breaches of obligations. The formula that you have cited above is the method of loss calculation in torts. In contract it is entirely different. The law of obligations generally attempts to remedy the breach. This means that in tort, damages seek to put you into the position you would have been in had the breach not occurred. In other words it returns you to your starting position – point zero. Contract damages attend put you into the position that you would have been had the breach not occurred but this is not your starting position, contract damages assume that the agreement in dispute had actually been carried out. This puts you into your final position. You sold an item for £XXX. Your expectation was that you your item would be correctly delivered and that you would be the beneficiary of £XXX. Your expectation loss is the amount that you sold the item for and that is all you are entitled to recover. If you want, you can try to sue for the larger sum – and we will help you. But if they ask for evidence of the value of the item as it was sold then I can almost guarantee that either you will be obliged to settle for the lesser sum – or else a judge will give you judgement but for the lesser sum. This will put you to the position that you would have been had there been no breach of contract. I understand from you now that when you dispatch the item you declared the retail cost to you and not your expected benefit of £XXX. To claim for the retail value in the circumstances would offend the rules relating to betterment. If you want to do it then we will help you – but don't be surprised if you take a tumble.  
    • I was caught speeding 3 times in the same week, on the same road. All times were 8-12mph higher than the limit. I was offered the course for the first offense and I now need to accept the other 2 offenses. I just want to be ready for what might come. Will I get the £100 fine and 3 points for each of them or do I face something more severe?  These are my only offenses in 8 years of driving.
    • I'll get my letter drafted this evening. Its an item I sold, which I'm also concerned about, as whilst I don't have my original purchase receipt (the best I have is my credit card statement showing a purchase from Car Audio Centre), I do unfortunately have the eBay listing where I sold it for much less. But as I said before this is now a question of compensation: true compensation would seek to put me back into the position I was in before the loss ie: that title would remain with me until my buyer has accepted this, and so compensation should be that which would be needed to replace the lost item. But in the world of instant electronic payment, it could be argued that as I had already been paid, the title to the goods had already transferred, and I was required to refund the buyer after the loss. And so, despite my declared value being the retail price - that which is needed to return me to my pre-sales position, the compensatory value should be the value I sold it for, which being a second-hand item from a private seller is lower. I still believe that I should be claiming for the item's full value, rather than how much I sold it for, as this is the same for insurance: we don't insure the value we paid, but rather the value of the item to put us back into the position we would be in if we ever needed to claim. Its for the loss adjuster to argue the toss
  • 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

Compromise Agreement


style="text-align: center;">  

Thread Locked

because no one has posted on it for the last 5467 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 on long term sick leave and have been offered a compromise agreement/payment. Without going into the details here :

 

1) There's only a short time-frame. I have to give a yay or nay by early July. This is a huge decision for me. If I get advice or try negotiating this will take time - I feel pressurised into making a fast decision. Just not sure if a two/three week decision deadline is usual/normal ?

 

2) I mentioned negotiating but I don't want to do it. I have googled the subject and there are loads of individuals/companies that say they deal with this type of situation . But how do I choose ? Everyone wants your fee and they are all brilliant ( plumber yellow pages scenario ! ). I've no idea where to start.

 

3) I've been offered one year's salary. I don't know if this is a good or bad deal. What else should I consider - pension, reference are bits I've thought of, but what else ?

 

Many Thanks

Link to post
Share on other sites

Go on the Law Society website & search for a firm near you that practices in Employment Law & don't forget your employer is required to pay your legal consultation fees - it will or should say this in the agreement - & if it doesn't reject it

 

PS only a qualified practicing lawyer or suitably trained current union rep can advise you on a compromise agreement anyone else is not indemnified to pay damages should you sue them for negligence

Edited by JonCris
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks JonCris

 

I've already (over this weekend) done that and bookmarked a list of local solicitors that 'have a banner' that includes employment law. What I need is a magic wand to know which are the good ones !! Ain't going to happen is it ....... I'm just going to have to pick one and hope !

 

My employer will pay a fee (legal cost) but it's conditional on the compromise agreement being signed. Atm it's here .... this is the agreement .... get it checked over. What I want/need is a specialist solicitor to talk me through what else could be expected, whether the ££ is good/bad/improvable etc, and then negotiate (if my employer will). So this or revised agreement may never be signed, in which case I'm stuck with the legal fee.

 

Maybe I'm wittering. I'd just feel more confident if I knew what deals other people had struck so I'd kind of have a benchmark. Plus if other people had agreed early retirement/pension deals .... anything really. I've been researching all weekend on the internet and there's just not much information on the kind of deals that have been made. Maybe because compromise agreements are usually confidential. But it makes it difficult for me to judge .....

Link to post
Share on other sites

As much as they would like to they can't insist they'll only pay if you agree or more importantly your solicitor agrees with their offer. 1st that would mean any legal advice could be challenged as being biased as they are trying to tie the hands of the lawyer & 2nd it would leave you in an impossible position to either except or be saddled with bill of about £250

 

Contact them & tell them their proposal to pay your fee only if you agree is unacceptable & grossly unfair

Link to post
Share on other sites

JonCris, I'm not sure.

 

Current situation - here is an agreement - we will pay £ for you to get independent legal advice - result you sign or don't (and if you don't we might or might not cover fee)

 

My preferred route - Use the employer's independent legal £ offer - go to solicitor, say is it good/bad? can you negotiate better/add-on's/early pension etc - have solicitor negotiate with employer (don't know if they will though ). It might all come to nothing ie they won't negotiate or offer sod all extra - in which case I don't accept.

 

Do you reckon they should still pay my legal fee ? I just think they're offering on the basis of what's on the table, not for a series of negotiations. I'll admit I know damn all about how this all works which is why I'm struggling.

Link to post
Share on other sites

They can insist you seek legal advice in fact they have a legal duty to see you do otherwise the agreement is invalid - what they can't do is make payment of the fee a term of settlement - suggest you speak to a solicitor

 

In which area of the country do you live?

Link to post
Share on other sites

ZZ

 

Joncris is correct in what he says. A comp agreement will be invalid unless you have taken ind legal advice.

 

If the sol is doing their job properly, they should advise you when you see the agreement. If you then walk out of that consultation w/o signing the agreement, then it is likely that the sol would breach SRA rules to insist on any payment.

 

I have done this kind of thing for a living for a while now and personally have seen clients come back more than once with c/a's and the only charge made by the partner or fee earner was the amount specified in the c/a and of course the fee note was always sent to the employer not the employee.

 

Thus, don't worry too much about the fee issue, take the c/a to a sol, and feel under no obligation to sign then and there if not happy.

 

Che

...................................................................... [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Please post on a thread before sending a PM. My opinion's are not expressed as agent or representative of The Consumer Action Group. Always seek professional advice from a qualified legal adviser before acting. If I have helped you please feel free to click on the black star.[/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS] I am sorry that work means I don't get into the Employment Forum as often as I would like these days, but nonetheless I'll try to pop in when I can.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial Black][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Red]'Venceremos' :wink:[/COLOR][/FONT][/FONT]

Link to post
Share on other sites

ZiggZagg,

 

I was selected for Redundancy earlier this year, given my profession this rather put me in a position as to what I refer to as 'at the the point of no return'. So I turned the tables and went down the route of a 'Compromise Agreement'. I discussed some loose terms with my then Employer and got a draft agreement emailed through. I then went to see my longstanding personal Solicitor and spoke with the employment law specialist (Given the economic situation he had already done a dozen or so such cases this year - this was only February!) The meeting was MOST productive and lots of revisions made in my favour - especially tax liability wise.

 

I would heartily recommend this route, if your departure from your employer is likely. My employer would only pay £250 plus VAT (Not much!) However, I ended up paying much the same as well, but the Solicitors advice and the revisions he made to the draft more than covered this.

 

Pick a local Solicitor that you wish to deal with NOT an anonymous internet name!

Link to post
Share on other sites

my mum has just recently been through the same thing and despite a verbal agreement with her employer to pay up to £1000 solicitor fees when the compromise agreement came through the fee contribution had gone down to £250!!

 

She was also initially offered 2 months notice pay but was not required to work (her contract was only 1) as well as £X payment.

 

When her solicitor tried to get more her ex boss became a real hard ass and removed all the extras he had put in above what was the bare minimum in her contract - so she came out about £4k worse off and stuck with a solicitors bill of another £550 on top of that her employer paid!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, thanks all - you've given me a bit of confidence.

 

Plan is this - I need to speak to my employer next week anyway in response to their letter. I'll play it by ear, indicate I'm not against the idea in principle but I'm not overwhelmed by the offer put forward. If they are agreeable I'll take them up on the legal advice offer, have a solicitor review it, get some advice, and respond after that. Also ask them to extend the deadline because I'm not going to be rushed with this decision.

 

Does that sound ok ?

 

Just saw Andie's post - get them to confirm in writing they will cover £x of the legal fee whether I go through with the compromise agreement or not.

Edited by ziggzigg
Link to post
Share on other sites

The standard charge is £250 which is more than enough to advise on a compromise agreement as it probably represents approx 1.1/2hrs work - this does NOT include any fees incurred for negotiating a better deal which are the liability of the client

Edited by JonCris
Link to post
Share on other sites

What trade or profession are you in ZiggZagg?

 

My Solicitor INSISTED that the reference that my Empolyer would give in future was agreed then and the wording incorporated in the Compromise Agreement. I ended up writing my own reference and my employer just agreed it. Many clauses protected my then Employer i.e. That I would not make disparaging remarks about them, disclose the real reason for leaving etc., my Solicitor INSISTED that these were reciprocated in my favour.

 

He also had the negotiated lump sum treated as redundancy/severence pay to reduce the tax liability

Link to post
Share on other sites

The standard charge is £250 which is more than enough to advise on a compromise agreement as it probably represents approx 1.1/2hrs work - this does NOT include any fees incurred for negotiating a better deal which are the liability of the client

 

I'll have to risk it - pick up the excess if there is negotiation which doesn't produce an acceptable agreement. But I'll have to tell the solicitor up-front if it goes past ££, that's it. I can't afford to pick up a huge bill (especially if this doesn't work out).

Link to post
Share on other sites

As Helfortd states the reference AND confidentiality are essential parts of the agreement - you don't bad mouth them & they promise not to bad mouth you

 

As an aside as a result of recent case law there is some thought that such agreements are no longer lawful if when applying for another job they force the concealment of the reasons why an employee has left their former employer - particularly if the reason not disclosed has some bearing or effect on the capacity to do the job

Link to post
Share on other sites

What trade or profession are you in ZiggZagg?

 

No offence Helford but I'm not going to say - bit paranoid in case someone from employer recognises me.

 

Btw I'm a zigg not a zagg :):)

Link to post
Share on other sites

'I'm a zigg not a zagg'

 

So you are!

 

Position on your profession understood. I only asked as the old issue of Restrictive Covenants arises if you are sales/customer facing orientated.

 

H

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 Caggers

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Have we helped you ...?


×
×
  • Create New...