Jump to content


  • Tweets

  • Posts

    • Yes typed it, how would I input it any other way, probably timed out took over half hour. H
    • You typed it in? actually typed it all out? if so, maybe you took too long or something, like session timed out. Does the status show defence filed or no change?
    • Hi just typed all defence clicked next and it's deleted all. Any help
    • I forgot to say, there is one last possibility and that is that they will receive your letter of rejection and simply fold, accept the rejection and refund you. Don't wait too long for this. Seven days maximum – but in that seven days you could send your letter of claim anyway and when that you don't hear from them or when they start mucking around at least you are seven days closer to beginning the legal action – and they will know it (which is the important thing).
    • Okay that is excellent that you have an email between the garage and the warranty company confirming that there is a serious problem with the gearbox. That is very powerful evidence. I think the situation is this: you have sent them a letter of rejection but the reputation of big motoring world is that they won't take a lot of notice and they will try to prevaricate and maybe even blame you. Clearly you don't want the car any more and anyway it sounds as if the cost of repairs is going to be enormous. You don't know if the warranty company is going to step up to the mark but the whole thing is going to take a long time and I understand that you have lost confidence in big motoring world because of this event and also their reputation which you are now discovering on Facebook and on this forum and no doubt elsewhere. On the basis that you don't want the car any more and you want your money back, you need to hurry things along. I think the first thing is that you need to decide if you are prepared to bring a claim in the County Court. Even without the warranty money, the claim is worth more than £10,000. For actions less than £10,000, you bring a "small claim" and this means that even if you lose the case you won't be liable for the other side's costs. If you win the case then not only will you get your money plus interest but also you will recover all of the costs of the action. For actions more than £10,000, you go to something called the "fast track" and in the event that you lose the case, then you could be liable to reimburse the winner some of the costs. This means that in addition to not recovering your own money, you would lose your own court fees and also you would have to to bear the costs of the other side probably something less than £5000 – but as a rough guess. If you bring your court claim then your chances of success are almost 100%. Frankly if you brought a court claim then I can imagine that big motoring world will put their hands up and pay you out rather than face go to court and losing and getting a judgement against them. However, it you need to consider that this is a risk factor – although my view it is a negligible risk factor. If you did bring a court case, it wouldn't be instant. If they put their hands up then it would probably happen very quickly. If they didn't put their hands up then you could take anything up to a year for the matter to be resolved and during that time you would be without your car and without your money and in the middle of litigation. I'm explaining this to you say that you understand how it works. Bring a court case would be really the last resort when everything else has failed. However, I'm quite certain that you would win and it would be stupid of big motoring world to try to resist. In order to bring a court case you would have to send a letter of claim giving them 14 days to accept rejection and organise the refund otherwise you would begin the claim. Don't imagine that you could bluff this. If you did send a letter of claim then you would have to go through with it otherwise you lose all credibility and you might as well pack up and go home. So with this in mind, here are possible courses of action you could take. You can simply wait and see what their reaction to your letter of rejection will be. However they may not reply or else they may find some other reason to delay and of course during that time you will be without your car and without your money blah blah blah, not knowing if big motoring world were going eventually to start acting sensibly and respectfully towards you. The second thing you can do – and I think this has been suggested on Facebook – is that you can go along there and simply make yourself present and talk to other customers and generally speaking make a nuisance of yourself and embarrass them to the point where you would be explaining to other potential customers to be careful, to look on Facebook, and to do some careful research before they put their business to big motoring world. This has a reasonable chance of success although you would have to be careful. You should go accompanied by a friend and there should be no anger, no arguments, nothing that could be considered as being overly aggressive so that big motoring world would have no justification in kicking you out or even worse, calling the police. If you did this, then I would suggest that you record everything on the telephone carried in a pocket. A fully charged battery will probably keep a voice recorder and a telephone going for more than 20 hours or 30 hours. The other person can video any incidents so that everything is clear and you can inform big motoring world then it will be going up on the Internet. If you did this, my favourite option would be to issue the letter of claim giving them 14 days, and then going along to big motoring world with a copy of your letter of rejection and a copy of the exchange between the mechanic and the warranty company and a copy of your letter of claim – all settled together – and probably about 20 or 30 copies in all and I would start handing them out to any customers who came in. Big motoring world will soon get the picture and they will either move your the premises in which case you stand outside and carry on doing it or they will finally give in. Of course there is a chance that they won't give in and they will simply call your bluff – but in that case I think you have no choice other than to follow through with your 14 day threat in the letter of claim and to begin the legal action. At the same time you should be putting up reviews on Google and also trust pilot explaining exactly what has happened and also explaining that the mechanic has confirmed to the warranty company that there is the serious problem, that you have asserted the right to reject and that this is been ignored by big motoring world and that you have now sent a letter of claim and that you will be starting a legal action in 14 days. Once again, don't bluff about the legal action. If you threaten it – then you must mean it – and on day 15 you click of the claim. You don't need a solicitor for any of this. It's all fairly straightforward and of course we will help you all the way that it the decision is yours to make and I think you need to make it fairly quickly. I think the cost of starting an action for about £13,000 is 5% and then also if it goes to trial which I would say is almost impossible – there would be an additional fee. You would claim interest at 8%. A judge might award a lower figure but frankly if you can show that big motoring world is attempting to ride roughshod over your very clear statutory consumer rights, I can imagine that the judge will want to show displeasure by awarding the full 8% which is a pretty good rate – even though it's not compensation for the hassle and the distress you are going through. If you decide to get solicitor, then if you win the case, because it is over £10,000 you will recover some of your costs but you won't recover all of them. If the solicitor begins by having exchanges of letters then I doubt whether you will be up to recover the cost of those and you could easily find that you're chalking up 500 quid or even a thousand simply on initial exchanges of correspondence. Also you need to bear in mind that if after having exchanges with a solicitor, big motoring world cave in – then you definitely won't get those costs back because you won't have gone to court and therefore a judge will not have made the order for payment of those costs. I suggest very strongly that you avoid paying any money for a solicitor and that you do it yourself. It's not a big deal – although you will have to you react quickly to the help we offer on this forum. Also, an additional benefit is that you will learn a lot and you will gain confidence and eventually you will feel good about suing anybody else who gets in your way. Nothing not to like! If you do decide to instruct a solicitor then you must take control of the solicitor. Most of them prefer to sit in an office writing letters on the clock. If you do decide to instruct a solicitor then you must instruct the solicitor very firmly that they should send one letter of complaint giving seven days. A second letter – a letter of claim giving 14 days and that they must then begin the action. If you don't do this. If you don't take control then it will simply cost you money, you will be without your car even longer and of course without your money. The whole thing is a nightmare. I think I've laid out the options but please do ask questions. I hope you can see that this is the kind of advice that you won't be getting on Facebook. Nothing against Facebook. It's good as a meeting place and to make people realise that they aren't on their own – but after that the advice given is weak and confusing.  
  • 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

Claiming as a Couple and My own ESA


style="text-align: center;">  

Thread Locked

because no one has posted on it for the last 4308 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

Hello,

 

I was on ESA in Leicester England and moved in with a friend who is on full ESA in Wales. I had not passed my ATOS Medical Exam and was waiting for my Tribunal hearing in Leicester. But now that I moved to Wales, suddenly a couple of Compliance Officers made us claim as a Couple when we really are not a couple.

 

But anyway so now all of a sudden I received a huge package of papers from Leicester Job Centre, with all my Appeal stuff in it, and a letter saying something like that I will hear about my Tribunal Hearing soon.

 

Now I am just completely confused because from what I was told, I wouldnt even have to worry about getting any more sick notes from my doctor or having a Tribunal Hearing or anything like that, now that I am claiming as a Couple with my friend?

 

Can anyone please enlighten me about this?

 

Also, if I still DO have to go to a Tribunal Hearing, and lose it, what happens then to this filing as a Couple thing?

 

Thank you

Edited by AskingForAdvice
Link to post
Share on other sites

How did you meet these compliance officers? How did they 'make' you claim as a couple? I would have totally refused if I wasn't part of a couple. I guess because you have done you have provided firm evidence that you are indeed a couple.

 

What paperwork do you have that evidences your joint couple claim? What paperwork do you have that evidences that your old claim has been superceded by the new couple claim?

Link to post
Share on other sites

How did you meet these compliance officers? How did they 'make' you claim as a couple? I would have totally refused if I wasn't part of a couple. I guess because you have done you have provided firm evidence that you are indeed a couple.

 

What paperwork do you have that evidences your joint couple claim? What paperwork do you have that evidences that your old claim has been superceded by the new couple claim?

 

I wrote online to a place that SEEMED as if they were there to help people who had complaints and instead of helping me, suddenly I got a letter saying that a Compliance Officer was going to come out to the house. There is absolutely NOTHING that should have made them think we are a couple. We are merely friends.

 

But anyway, then we got a letter in the mail saying that they have decided we are a Couple. Blah Blah Blah.

 

Finally, after appealing, and then reading some things about it, and going to the Citizens Advice Bureau, it seemed to us that if we appealed it then lost, then that would end up being bad news, so we decided to drop the appeal and just go ahead and claim as a couple, although on the ESA form we put that we are only doing this because we feel that we are being forced to do it.

 

My friend now is receiving £139 every two weeks and I am receiving nothing.

 

Then suddenly I get this huge package in the mail from Leicester with all my former ESA stuff in it and this letter about the Tribunal Hearing.

 

And by the way, just because they SAY we are a Couple, does not mean that we are. Just like ...just because they SAY someone is able to work, doesnt mean they actually can work if they are disabled.

 

We both had gone online to a legal aid place and my friend got a lawyer and so did I, and when we told them everything about what had happened, both previously to me and the things that had happened since I had moved to Wales, the one Lawyer said, "This is just SO wrong".

Link to post
Share on other sites

So I didnt bother to even fill out my forms to authoize my legal aid lawyer to help me because I thought that I wouldnt even have to GO to a Tribunal Hearing now.

 

It is so confusing because even at the Job Centre, one person will tell you one thing, and another person will tell you something else. I was told by the Job Centre that I would not have to get doctors sick notes any longer now that we are claiming as a couple.

 

I had wanted to move out on my own. But I wasnt making enough money to live off of. Only £124 every two weeks. My friend was making £99 every week and he told me he was struggling to make it on that. So I had planned to try and wait till I had hopefully won the Tribunal hearing so that I would finally have the full amount of money to be able to get my own place. I had onloy been here in Wales about 2 months, but because I told the Compliance Officers I would be staying with my friend indefinitely, they are using THAT as their excuse for making us claim as a couple. Even though they already know WHY I hadnt yet gotten a place of my own. It seems ridiculous to me. Now I dont even have any independence of my own and am sleeping on the couch with a back problem and ankle problem, both needing surgery. We applied to get a two bedroom place as soon as I got here, just so I'd have a bed to sleep on. I was initially removed from my home in England, because of an abusive marriage situation and now I am basically ending up homeless.

Edited by AskingForAdvice
Link to post
Share on other sites

ah, so there is only one bedroom. I have heard that if people say they intend to live together indefinitely and there is only one bedroom that is evidence enough that you are a couple (in the eyes of the DWP).

 

As for the appeal pack, I would contact the DWP and they can close the claim as you have decided to claim as a couple now. You may need to tell the Tribunal service yourself though that you have closed your appeal.

Link to post
Share on other sites

That seems ridiculous to me since the next day after I arrived here we went to the housing place and applied for housing, a 2 bedroom place. They granted that to us, because of my disability, it raised his points... and we now can bid on a 2 bedroom place. The Compliance Officers KNOW THIS.

 

They also know that I had no intent on being with this person forever, we barely even know each other. The only reason I even came here was because the Government has left me with no place else to go, after Social Services removed me from my home in the first place. I had even told the housing officer that as soon as I could, I planned on getting a place of my own. And we even told THAT to the Compliance Officers.

 

To me it seems they pick out any little statement they can, to then twist it to mean whatever they want it to mean. It was just a way to rob me of the money I am entitled to. Just like when I went to the Medical Assessment and didnt pass it. They asked me "Do you watch TV?" Not having any idea how they were going to twist around what I answered, I said YES. Then I asked WHY? and the Nurse said because we are wanting to know if you can sit down for a long period of time. I answered NO I just told you that I cant sit down very long because my feet hurt and my left foot used to turn purple before I got a back injection. I also wrote in afterwards and explained that I SELDOM watch TV and when I do, I sit on an L-shaped couch with my feet up and have to get up all the time. But regardless of what I said, on the Medical Assessment Records they just put that I claimed that I can watch TV. And I was ASTOUNDED at the innacuracies they had on there, in light of what I had told them.

 

Also, the Compliance Officers said that even if we applied for a 2 bedroom house, they can still class us as a couple. I mean, really, why WOULDNT my friend have a one bedroom house when I first moved in there with him? LOL! Geesh.

 

But anyway thats beside the point, all I wanted to know really, was do I still have to go to this Tribunal hearing.

Edited by AskingForAdvice
Link to post
Share on other sites

Also when I told my Legal Aid Lawyer that they made a big deal that I was paying my friend £20 every two weeks to try to help out with gas and electric... THAT was supposedly indicative we were a couple. (according them them) And my Lawyer told me no matter WHAT I say, if I say I am NOT paying him anything, they will claim that means we must be a couple. So it really doesnt matter what you tell them.

 

I think its because I am an American and I married an English man. I do have Permanent Leave to Remain in the UK. But these Compliance Officers said to me, "Cant you do this same thing in America? Cant you go back there?"

 

Why SHOULD I It wasnt the American Government that put me in this situation, in the FIRST place.

 

But NO I dont have any way to get back there, and no where to go if I did get back there.

 

I think they have treated me this way because I am an American. Thats why my stepson and his girlfriend told me. I ended up having to stay in Leicester with them for 8 months, waiting to get on Council housing, only to find out after all that time, that I couldnt get on it since I hadnt been in Leicester for 2 years. But the only reason I even moved in with them in Leicester, was because Social Services had removed me from my house with not so much as an email or any contact to find out my entire situation before taking that action... and stuck me in a hotel on one meal a day with no money. The police just showed up at my house and I left there and they told me I'd only be in that hotel for one night. It was turning out to be 10 days, when I talked to some guys downstairs at the hotel and they said they had been stuck there going on two months. The Council people filled out a housing form for me and said "we cant guarantee that you will get on housing". So thats why I went with my stepson, who I barely even knew to stay with them in Leicester, which in itself turned into a nightmare situation, which was why I finally moved in with this new friend in Wales. I mean, I am 54 years old and he is 39, and we are NOT a couple. and the Compliance Officers KNEW all of this. Because I sat there and told them.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The Compliance Officers said that I should have STAYED at the hotel.

 

There I was, I had my Cat with me who is Elderly and has medical problems and I LOVE my Cat and there was NO WAY I was letting them take him from me. So the police let me take him with me, and to the hotel. I ran out of cat litter. I had a make shift cat box with no end on it... going up and down 2 flights of stairs with my bad back just to be able to go downstairs... and I was getting SO hungry. Getting one meal a day at 7:00 in the morning. I was sick as I could be because my husband had been depriving me of heat... and I felt like I was coming down with pnuemonia. The police men from Leicester said it was the worst they'd ever seen, the mold in our house, that neither the landlord nor my husband would do anything about.... and here comes my stepson offering to let me stay with he and his girlfriend? He took me to the corner shop and bought me some food, etc.. I mean, what would YOU do in that situation? I had no friends or family, I had kept myself isolated for 5 years because of my abusive situation.

 

And the Compliance Officers KNEW all that and sat there and blamed me for having left that hotel to stay with my stepson and his girlfriend... telling me that I should have STAYED at the hotel. Then when I told them how my stepson and his girlfriend were doing things like letting the electricity run out every few days so I would have to pay for it, and all sorts of things like that to where I ended up with NO MONEY... and him coming and yelling at me to give them more money... etc... the Compliance Officers acted as if I had done something WRONG to leave there to come and stay with this new friend in Wales. I had already told the Job Centre and so did my friend, that I was staying here, the minute I got here, and he called them even before I got here to let them know I was coming. They had no problem with it at all. When I got here and called they asked, do you share a kitchen, living room, bathroom? we said YES... (no other choice it is the only rooms we have) then they asked do we share a bedroom? we said NO ... that I sleep downstairs on the couch. This was right when I moved in here a couple of months ago.

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's a shame that you are not well enough to work, do you think that is likely in the short term? Once you have enough money for deposits and rent in advance you could rent your own place which would provide you security for the future. I can see that you feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. In retrospect it might have been better staying in one area as the LA don't have responsibilities to house you for a set period. Had you moved into a womens refuge you might have had ongoing housing support too.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 Caggers

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Have we helped you ...?


×
×
  • Create New...