Can we invoice the banks for our letters?

[Thailand]

Is it possible when filing a claim to add costs for writing a letter to the bank? reason being they seem to "misplace" them, and I have to write more, even though I have recorded proof of delivery? (I know now I should have proceeded to the next step regardless).

 

I am now thinking of charging them for my time say 12.00 a letter? maybe the OFT would deem that reasonable!. Sorry if this has already been answered but haven't come across the info.

[sohoscribbler]

Given the amount of "manual intervention" involved in your writing a letter to the bank, I think you would have a much stronger argument for charging £12 for a letter than the bank does for charging you £39 for something computer-generated. I suppose you could also argue that the time you spent preparing and researching what to put in the letter was time you could have spent earning money doing something else.

[Thailand]

Great stuff, I'll research it further. Do you also feel it may be possible to levy a fee to a bank if I write on somebody elses behalf, i.e a friend employed my services or a disabled relative etc etc?

[blacksheep1979]

I've been advised by a solicitor that it is reasonable to ask for £3 per letter sent and up to £10/h for your time spent.

[Thailand]

great! Did he advise you on any other nuggets?

[sohoscribbler]

If only I could find a solicitor who would work for £3 per letter and £10 an hour.

[Thailand]

If you find one tell him I'll chuck in B&B

[Sophie-Jane]

Well I have invoiced a DCA for a letter I received that had No postage on it

 

Here is my letter

___________

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Re your letter dated 24th July 2006.

Since you did not put postage onto the letter, and I had to pay a charge of £1:23 (£1 Handling Charge & £0:23 Postage), I am now issuing you a bill for the collection and Postal charges incurred to retrieve this letter.

Total charge to XXXXXXXXXXX Limited is £5:23

Breakdown of charge

£1:00 Handling Charge

£0:23 Postage

£2:00 Collection (My time)

£2:00 Fuel used

Making a total of £5:23, which you have 14 days to sent payment by cheque or Postal order, as the account is in Dispute and unenforceable by XXXXXXXXXXXXX Limited.

If you do not send payment for this debt owed by XXXXXXXXXCCC Limited, I will only contact you once more for payment, after which WILL result in Court action taken against XXXXXXXXXXXX Limited for collection.

As to the issues raised in your letter dated 24th July 2006, As Collection agents for XXXXXXXXXXXX, you should have in your files a True Signed Agreement, and also the Deed of assignment, which you have failed to provide both of these to me, and as such, you have committed an offence, which you have been reported to Trading Standards for this offence.

I do not recognise XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Limited as agents for Argos Card Services, I did not give Argos Card Service permission to use my data to pass on to third parties in what so ever means, which means that XXXXXXXXXXXXXX have also committed an offence under the Data Protection act.

I will not tolerate any more communication in relation to XXXXXXXXXXXX from XXXXXXXXXXXXX Limited, and will report XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Limited to the relevant authorities and also issue and injection against XXXXXXXXXXXX Limited for any such communications.

________________

 

Not got a reply back yet, they have upto the 14th to pay up or a further letter will be sent

 

I tell you, my confidence against these parasites has increased, NO ONE will ever walk over me again, Try at your own peril

[Chimera]

Nice one... be interested to see how that turns out

[Thailand]

Can you not claim for your reply postage? or did you do the same to them. Pls let me know if thats included in your collection.

[Sophie-Jane]

Can you not claim for your reply postage? or did you do the same to them. Pls let me know if thats included in your collection.

 

Tricky that one, as I used their paper - Faxed it - LOL

 

Well they not got long left - Wonder if I'll get a cheque back in the Post or Not - Most prob NOT

 

Do not worry, This is going all the way, just like they would of, but they would only give around 7 days to respond

[Thailand]

Sehr gut frauline! It would be great for so many reasons if they cough up lol

[Sophie-Jane]

Sehr gut frauline! It would be great for so many reasons if they cough up lol

 

I do intend this all the way, Just as they would do If I had not got the information that I have in relation to The CCA 1974 and my Rights under it

 

And when you have to go the post office to collect something and pay, What dam cheek, as You cannot ask who its from as nothing on the envelope, so it could be anyone, It could of been a cheque

[Thailand]

Been there, bought the T-shirt - the SWINES!

[Wickerman]

.... and also issue and injection against XXXXXXXXXXXX Limited for any such communications.

 

 

:o Blimey. You take no prisoners!!!

 

Great letter by the way!

[Sophie-Jane]

:o Blimey. You take no prisoners!!!

 

Great letter by the way!

 

Thanks Wickerman

 

To be honest, It is about time that US the Consumer acted

 

And that is this site, its 56,547 Members

(as of 09:13am 10th Aug 2006)

 

With out each and every one helping each other, We would get no where, there are those here with little or no knowledge of what to do, But they do need the push to fight.

 

I have known for many years, and I 'm sure many of you have, that Hey £35 charge for going over my OD by Just a penney or even a quid, ????????

Can that be right surely????

 

We have all thought that at some point, Tell me if I'm right or wrong, But we have

 

And we have been led to believe that The banks and Financial Institutions act lawfully, as they are big institutions who havbe lawyers and solicitors (ok one of the Same) but we took it for granted, that they would never act unlawfully.

 

HEY - We been proved wrong, BIG TIME

 

3-4 Billion ££££ each and every year in charges

 

We have not even took the 1" of ice off the top of this mountain Yet, Each and EVERY person who has been unlawfully charged, Needs to start this process.

 

Banks recouping their losses, Bull, They still make Billions as even if this site continues at its present rate or jus a bit faster, I doubt if the figure will ever reach 1 billion this or even next year, Hey, Would love to be proved wrong thou

[Thailand]

The banks are probably still making more in charges today than are being recovered, so the mountain keeps growing

[paulminize]

So is there any more opinion on this ? Can we charge for our letters ?

If so when would be the right time.

 

Paul

[PhantomReclaimer]

So is there any more opinion on this ? Can we charge for our letters ?

If so when would be the right time.

 

Paul

 

I can't see why it would be unreasonable to charge for your letters. You are only having to go to the trouble of writing them because of your banks unlawful and unfair actions. If they hadn't broken the law you wouldn't have had to waste your time writing otherwise pointless letters.

 

P.

[Thailand]

I would love to charge the bank for my time, as they did to me, but it seems in the small claims courts both parties are expected to cover thier own costs. It is possible to charge - but unlikely and would probably drag out the case.

[blacksheep1979]

Just tell them when they offer to settle that you were looking to recover your costs and were going to ask the judge for £x and ask them to cover this as well

[Thailand]

Will try this, I'll be mindful of a figure!

[Thailand]

Sophie-Jane.... Did you hear back from the DCA yet?

[JonCris]

If only I could find a solicitor who would work for £3 per letter and £10 an hour.

 

Quite! & the "solicitor" is wrong

 

You can charge 1/2 the proffessional rate for whatever you do & that includes your time spent.

 

When dealing with your claim keep a note of the time you start or finish each task.

 

Solicitors letters which unlike those computer generated by the banks are specific to the individual client in their content are charged at £13.50p. So you charge £6.75p per letter.

 

You can claim 1/2 the local hourly rate as set by your local county court. (phone them & they''ll advise you of the rates)

 

The various sets of rates will cover the unqualified paralegal (which is what you are) upto the most experienced solicitor with many years experience.

 

Here Publications - Guidance

 

PS when you phone the court don't tell them what you need the rates for because they will try & discourage you from claiming saying you cant do it the judge won't allow it etc: This is because they don't understand how it works & as some here have found they just think they do.

[blacksheep1979]

you are allowed to claim reasonable costs and that is what he suggested as a 'reasonable' level. I think that if you try play too smart then you may put the judges (whose final say it is anyway) nose out of joint.