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    • I see, shame, I think if a claim is 'someone was served' then proof of that should be mandatory. Appreciate your input into the WS whenever you get chance, thanks in advance
    • Paper trail off the original creditor often confirms the default and issue of a notice...not having or being able to disclose the actual copy or being able to produce a copy less so. Creditors are not compelled to keep copies of the actual default notice so you will in most cases get a reconstituted version but must contain accurate figures/dates/format.     .    
    • Including Default Notice Andy? Ok, I think this is the best I can do.. it all makes sense with references to their WS. They have included exhibits that dates don't match the WS about them, small but still.. if you're going to reference letters giving dates, then the exhibits should be correct, no? I know I redacted them too much, but one of the dates differs to the WS by a few months. IN THE ******** County Court Claim No. [***] BETWEEN: LC Asset 2 S.A.R.L CLAIMANT AND [***] DEFENDANT ************ _________________________ ________ WITNESS STATEMENT OF [***] _________________________ ________ I, [***], being the Defendant in this case will state as follows; I make this Witness Statement in support of my defence in this claim. 1. I understand that the claimant is an Assignee, a buyer of defunct or bad debts, which are bought on mass portfolios at a much-reduced cost to the amount claimed and which the original creditors have already written off as a capital loss and claimed against taxable income as confirmed in the claimant’s witness statement exhibit by way of the Deed of Assignment. 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. 2. The Claim relates to an alleged Credit Card agreement between the Defendant and Bank of Scotland plc. Save insofar of any admittance it is accepted that the Defendant has had contractual agreements with Bank of Scotland plc in the past, the Defendant is unaware as to what alleged debt the Claimant refers. 3. The Defendant requested a copy of the CCA on the 24/12/2022 along with the standard fee of £1.00 postal order, to which the defendant received a reply from the Claimant dated 06/02/2023. To this date, the Claimant has failed to disclose a valid agreement and proof as per their claim that this is enforceable, that Default Notice and Notice of Assignment were sent to and received by the Defendant, on which their claim relies. The Claimant is put to strict proof to verify and confirm that the exhibit *** is a true copy of the agreement and are the true Terms and Conditions as issued at the time of inception of the online application and execution of the agreement. 4. Point 3 is noted. The Claimant pleads that a default notice has been served upon the defendant as evidenced by Exhibit [***]. The claimant is put to strict proof to verify the service of the above in accordance with s136 and s196 Law of Property Act 1925. 5. Point 6 is noted and disputed. The Defendant cannot recall ever having received the notice of assignment as evidenced in the exhibit marked ***. The claimant is put to strict proof to verify the service of the above in accordance with s136 and s196 Law of Property Act 1925. 6. Point 11 is noted and disputed. See 3. 7. Point 12 is noted, the Defendant doesn’t recall receiving contact where documentation is provided as per the Claimants obligations under CCA. In addition, the Claimant pleads letters were sent on dates given, yet those are not the letters evidenced in their exhibits *** 8. Point 13 is noted and denied. Claimant is put to strict proof to prove allegations. 9. The Claimant did not provide a true copy of the CCA in response to the Defendants request of 24/12/2022. The Claimant further claims that the documents are sufficient to pursue a Judgement and are therefore copies of original documents in their possession. Conclusion 10. Without the Claimant providing a valid true copy of the executed Credit agreement that complies with the CCA, the Claimant has no grounds on which to enforce this alleged debt. 11. The Defendant was not given ample evidence to prove the debt and therefore was not required to enter settlement negotiations. Should the debt be proved in the future, the Defendant is willing to enter such negotiations with the Claimant. On receipt of this claim I could not recall the precise details of the agreement or any debt and sought clarity from the claimant by way of a Section 78 request. The Claimant failed to comply. I can only assume as this was due to the Claimant not having any enforceable documentation and issuing a claim in hope of an undefended default judgment.   Statement of Truth I, ********, the Defendant, believe the facts stated within this Witness Statement to be true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in it’s truth. Signed: _________________________ _______ Dated: _____________________
    • AMEX and TSB the 2 Creditors who you need to worry about the least, ever!  Just stop paying them and forget about it, ignore all their threat o gram letters.  Only if, and with these 2 it's a massive if, you end up with a claim form you need to respond, and there will be plenty of help here.
    • No, nothing from Barclays. Turns out i have 2 accounts on here, and i posted originally on the other one. Sorry about that.  
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Advice needed on way forward with deposit withholding


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I started my tenancy in November 2008 for an initial period of 18 months, which completed to term and the tenancy was further extended in May 2010 for a period of 1 year with a 6 month break clause. I exercised the break clause in November 2010 and finally moved out on 15th January 2011. For the period of the tenancy, the rent was £850 per month and a deposit of £1275 was paid to the letting agent. At the time of the check in a inventory report was made for the property (The property is an unfurnished 2 bedroom semi detached house with garage and garden). The deposit was registered with TDS apparently. The letting agent also carried out quarterly inspections for the tenure of the lease.

 

When check out was done, an inventory check was performed by an independent inventory clerk. While I was present, there was no one from the letting agent present. At the end of the check out, the inventory clerk found no major issues with the property and was satisfied that it matched the check in state. As per his words, the maximum the letting agent could charge was for 1-2 hours of cleaning. I was not issued with any copy of his report which he said would go directly to the letting agent.

 

2 days later the letting agent called saying she was not satisfied with the cleaning of the carpet and the state of the walls in one bedroom due to condensation. The carpets in the house had been professionally cleaned 1 day prior to checkout at my expense and receipt submitted to the letting agent , but apparently this is not enough and wants to withhold money for further cleaning.

 

There had been condensation problems with flows running from ceiling to floor on certain walls and this has been highlighted by me to the letting agent at the periodic visits. The LA now claims that it is my fault (despite documented evidence of window vacuum seal failure, improper insulation etc) and is going to withhold money for painting. Out of good faith, I already painted one wall that was worst affected but now the LA wants me to paint all the walls.

 

1 week before checkout, the LA had done a pre-inspection check and I had confirmed in email what things needed to be done. These included only the two points above, which I completed and have evidence to prove that. But apparently the LA is not satisfied with the quality of the work.

 

I have not yet been provided an account of how much money is going to be withheld despite repeated requests neither has my deposit been refunded.

 

What do you think are my best steps forward? I was planning on writing a letter on the lines provided at the sticky on this forum on unfair deposit. Is really court action the best way? The TDS does provide an arbitration scheme but I am not sure whether they are truly impartial? I am even ready to pay £50-75 just to be rid of this headache, but the LA hinted at £300 or so (though nothing concrete has been said). I am quite sure that nothing of that scale has been damaged.

 

Your views are most appreciated.

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Planner,

 

Are you sure about that? As per this link:

 

england.shelter.org.uk /get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/deposit_protection_schemes

 

. Each scheme will contain an ADR service. When a dispute occurs, and if you and your landlord both agree to use the service, you will have to agree to accept its decision and will not be able to apply to the courts. If you or your landlord do not agree to use the ADR service then the dispute will usually go to the county court.

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Planner,

 

Are you sure about that? As per this link:

 

england.shelter.org.uk /get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/deposit_protection_schemes

 

Absolutley 100% positive. No company can remove our right to access to the civil justice system.

 

But why wouldnt you accept the findings of arbitration? They are impartial.

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Oh I will probably use the arbitration service, but just need to be sure of what I am agreeing to before I do that. Their website says decision is binding and gives the impression there is no recourse to county courts. I am not a UK citizen so not really sure what rights I have in this matter.

 

It is not the question for money, but I cant stand the thought of being ripped off by someone even after making best efforts to conform to the rules.

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Oh I will probably use the arbitration service, but just need to be sure of what I am agreeing to before I do that. Their website says decision is binding and gives the impression there is no recourse to county courts. I am not a UK citizen so not really sure what rights I have in this matter.

 

It is not the question for money, but I cant stand the thought of being ripped off by someone even after making best efforts to conform to the rules.

 

There website says there decision is binding in so much that they dont have a appeals procedure for decisions you dont agree with, it certainly doesnt mean (or say so as far as I can see) that this precludes you taking court action. You should note that any court case is likley to be significantly disadvantaged (I suspect in the same way going straight to court and not using arbitration in the first place) should you recieve a decision against you - sort of a catch 22!!

 

Are you an EU citizen? - you are better ringing the courts and asking who can and cannot use the court process.

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I am a permanent resident but not a EU citizen.

 

I agree with the Catch 22 and this is the main issue with ADR: I may not want to use it, but am forced to do so: the courts penalize me if I dont and I am uncomfortable with someone at the other end of a email conversation making decisions. For example they say they are "evidence based" and will consider only evidence produced. Fair enough, but in my case the check out report is only with the LA and they wont give me a copy.

 

How impartial are the ADRs given that the LL probably pays for the DPS?

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How impartial are the ADRs given that the LL probably pays for the DPS?

 

Well

 

TDS provides a number of case studys so you can see on whos side they come down on in various scenarios http://www.thedisputeservice.co.uk/index.php?p=206

 

And there are some further examples here:

 

http://www.idrs.ltd.uk/?p=9&lang=e

 

Your dispute seems reasonably straight forward.

 

In terms of the 'evidence' you have available, if you are concerned that the only 'evidence' is the check out report held by the letting agents what are you going to show in court where the onus to rebute the othersides case is likley to be significantly more?

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Thanks for the links.

 

Well what I have is photos, receipts of work done and email records of what was agreed. But the check out report is probably the key I would think since it is done by a neutral observer.

 

If LL does not present a check out report to the ADR or a judge in spite of having one, is it assumed to be a point against them?

 

A new development is that the LL went ahead and had the whole house repainted. I am assuming I will be hit with the cost. Even the current tenant said this is not necessary....(I know the current tenant).

 

The impression I am getting is that the LL can do pretty much what he likes and then present a bill. The tenant has to rely on the mercies of the ADR since courts frown upon people not using it first. ADRs have no powers to compel people to produce evidence, like a judge does.

 

So your advice would be to go to ADR and hope for the best?

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You talk as though using the ADR is a bad thing....

 

I believe it to be quite the opposite, the mediators seem to look favourably on tenants, and ask for a lot more 'proof' that perhaps a court would in most circumstances. The decision is NOT binding and you can still appeal to the courts afterwards should you wish.

I have seen many cases over various law websites, forums etc where tenants have done well using the mediation, and as the cost to you is nothing, I don't see why its not a good option.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Hello

 

An update on the above story:

 

 

I finally went in for the ADR. Both the letting agent (LA) and me agree on the amount not in dispute (around £900), and hence we went into joint declaration option from DPS which supposedly allows one to get the money not in dispute while the disputed amount is retained pending resolution of dispute.

Both the tenant and LA has to agree to the ADR facility, which I understand. While I signed up for it (and the LA initially agreed on it), the LA is now not responding to DPS. On contacting the LA, he claims that he is awaiting approval from the landlord: it has been 3 weeks since he is been doing that, and more than 45 days since end of tenancy.

 

I contacted DPS asking how long they will wait for the LA's response , and they said that there is no limit, it could be indefinite. Meanwhile, I cant go in for the single claims option (which allows one to claim the deposit because LA/LL is non responsive) because the LA does respond (one has to make a statutory declaration). So I am currently out of luck, cant even get the undisputed money.

 

And advice?

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