Enough Is Enough - Settled In Full!

[Tosh]

Mariana,

 

Your husband's Regimental Administrative Officer should be able to provide some one-to-one debt councilling! If he's below the rank of Sergeant and he doesn't end up bankcrupt; there should be no major implications about future promotions.

 

There are options available to your husband, with regard to his pay, that civilians don't have.

 

(I'm guessing you're a 'pad's wife'; since you live in Salisbury and he comes home for lunch).

 

Also, check all his paystatements carefully. Pay errors are common with army pay; due to their complexity; ensure you understand and check his LSSA, LSSA rate and accumulated LSSA (you don't want to miss a one-thousand-pound bonus).

 

Check his increment level is correct also.

 

Soldiers are also rubbish at claiming allowances and travel expenses. If he's been away on any courses over the past two years; make sure he's been reimbursed.

[Spiceskull]

You are doing everything correctly. By the time you come to make your claim, you should have enough information/responses to amend the claim to the correct amount. Missing statements, the £200, interest, it is important that the claim reflect your actual losses on the day it is raised.

 

Good luck - keep us posted.

[Mariana]

Mariana,

 

Your husband's Regimental Administrative Officer should be able to provide some one-to-one debt councilling! If he's below the rank of Sergeant and he doesn't end up bankcrupt; there should be no major implications about future promotions.

 

There are options available to your husband, with regard to his pay, that civilians don't have.

 

(I'm guessing you're a 'pad's wife'; since you live in Salisbury and he comes home for lunch).

 

Also, check all his paystatements carefully. Pay errors are common with army pay; due to their complexity; ensure you understand and check his LSSA, LSSA rate and accumulated LSSA (you don't want to miss a one-thousand-pound bonus).

 

Check his increment level is correct also.

 

Soldiers are also rubbish at claiming allowances and travel expenses. If he's been away on any courses over the past two years; make sure he's been reimbursed.

 

Hi Tosh - wow - are you psychic? Everything you have mentioned is spoton. I do manage to get hold of his paystatements - usually unopened in his bedside draw! I have sent him on a mission this week to make sure all the items you have mentioned are checked. He is also owed £175 as study pay! I pester him everyday about this.

 

Thanks for the good advise - why so knowledgable? A case of been there, done that?

[Mariana]

You are doing everything correctly. By the time you come to make your claim, you should have enough information/responses to amend the claim to the correct amount. Missing statements, the £200, interest, it is important that the claim reflect your actual losses on the day it is raised.

 

Good luck - keep us posted.

 

Thanks Spiceskull. Your comments noted. Will keep you informed.

[Tosh]

Hi Tosh - wow - are you psychic? Everything you have mentioned is spoton. I do manage to get hold of his paystatements - usually unopened in his bedside draw! I have sent him on a mission this week to make sure all the items you have mentioned are checked. He is also owed £175 as study pay! I pester him everyday about this.

 

Thanks for the good advise - why so knowledgable? A case of been there, done that?

 

I used to be a Warrant Officer in the AGC(SPS). I was the FSA - Financial Systems Administrator; responsible for the pay and allowances of 500 or so soldiers and officers; I was basically a battalion or regiments pay-roll manager.

 

Although not formally trained, I've have had to deal with many soldiers who've gotten themselves in the poo; debt-wise.

 

Ironic really; when I'm in the poo myself.

 

Anyway, if things get really tough; get your hubby in to see the RAO. No-one need know about it; but he has options that civillians don't.

[Mariana]

Thanks for the info Tosh. Yes, my husband had all those issues checked and all are fine. LSSA will kick in next year when they deploy on another operational tour. As you know LSSA only starts accumulating as soon as they have been away for more than 10 days. Funny that they always manage to finish on the 9th day of an exercise...

 

Anyways, I am really starting to get paranoid now. I have telephoned Halifax today for a progress report on this matter. I was told that: "As my collegue told you on Tuesday (!!!!), your request will be dealt with as soon as." Was told that all requests are being handled on a first come first serve basis. I then pointed out to him that my husband's request was sent in the same day and he received his statements last week! I then asked him when I can expect to receive my cheque for £200, the refund they offered, and was told that if I do not accept it on their terms, no refund will be made. They are willing to up their offer to £400 but no more. I then confirmed to him that I will be proceeding with court action....

 

In the meantime, I am receiving about 3 - 4 telephone calls from Halifax everyday, presumably wanting to arrange a payment plan for my overdraft. The annoying thing is, that everytime I answer the call, it cuts out .... So Frustrating!

 

Starting to feel very intimidated by HALIFAX!!!!

[Spiceskull]

Regarding the telephone calls - you need to write to them, expressly forbidding that they contact you by phone. If you make a request that their correspondence is by post only, they will need to comply.

 

If you search the forums, you will find various mentions of the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1947 - one of these posts goes into great detail about this, as it amounts to harrassment.

[mechs]

In the meantime, I am receiving about 3 - 4 telephone calls from Halifax everyday, presumably wanting to arrange a payment plan for my overdraft. The annoying thing is, that everytime I answer the call, it cuts out .... So Frustrating!

 

Starting to feel very intimidated by HALIFAX!!!!

 

Mariana, how do you know that the calls are from Halifax when the phone cuts out? Do you get their number by dialling 1471?

[Mariana]

Mariana, how do you know that the calls are from Halifax when the phone cuts out? Do you get their number by dialling 1471?

 

Hi Mechs

 

I did speak to them earlier this week and recognise the number that shows on my mobile. When I try to ring back it only states that "one of our representitives have tried to contact you earlier. We will try another time."

 

I will read through forums and will sent letter this weekend.

[Mariana]

Regarding the telephone calls - you need to write to them, expressly forbidding that they contact you by phone. If you make a request that their correspondence is by post only, they will need to comply.

 

If you search the forums, you will find various mentions of the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1947 - one of these posts goes into great detail about this, as it amounts to harrassment.

 

Thanks Spiceskull - will do.

[thewifeandI]

Have a look at this on the OfCom site: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/03/nr_20060301

 

I intend to ask all callers whose calls start off as silent calls for their company name and then hang up. I will log their call date and time and write to the company informing them that in future I will not stay on the line to wait for the call to be connected to an operator. If they wish to phone me they will have to do so by getting the agent to dial the number themselves when they are free to make the call. I've worked in the call centre systems industry and I know exactly how these things work.

 

Silent calls are nuisance calls and should be reported as such to OfCom. Let them know the dates and times and the company involved. You can also report it to your telephone company.

 

There are also a number of other regulations concerned with harrassment that are worth looking at.

[Mariana]

Thanks - I will do just that!

[mechs]

if you are with bt you can actually register to stop companys making these phone calls, its free and you just dial a couple of numbers.........one problem is it takes up to 3 months for the calls to stop secondly you have to remember to dial the numbers each year to block these calls

[Tosh]

Another good tactic when dealing with unwanted calls is to say that you're not the person they're after.

 

Tell the unwanted caller that you'll go and get the person in question.

 

Put the phone down, then go and watch some TV, do some gardening; cooking; whatever.

 

I've had an MBNA 'thug' on the phone for approximately 12 minutes once, before he hung-up.

 

Try it; it's fun!

[Mariana]

Hi all

 

Will be posting the following letter to Halifax today ...

 

I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the amount and frequency of phone calls I have been receiving from Halifax. Each time I answer the phone call, there is a pause and then it cuts out, to great annoyance and irritability by me.

 

My account is over its limit, and is mostly due to your excessive charges over previous years which have caused a snowball effect and have resulted in this situation today. I have put Halifax on notice of my intention to take court action to recoup these unlawful charges and am confident that this matter will be resolved within the next few months.

 

In the meantime, I am not in the position to repay my overdraft at present, and I request that an agreement with Halifax to pay £50.00 a month, as advised by Citizens Advice Bureau, be put in place.

 

I also request that ALL charges incurred on this account since May 2006 be removed instantly from this account. If not, I am and will pursue this matter further for a FULL reimbursement of these unlawful charges.

 

I have listed the following cheques which, due to necessity, have been written, as follows:-

 

Cheque no Amount

 

XXX XXXXX

 

I will set up a standing order to pay £50.00 by the 4th day of each month. I expect that you cancel all direct debit and standing order mandates on this account, and to cease with ALL account charges, as these will be claimed back from Halifax. However, I do accept that interest is payable on the outstanding amount.

 

 

Please note that I do not want to be contacted by telephone at all, and all communications should be made in writing.

 

Previously, I requested that my telephone call with one of your members of staff be confirmed in writing, given the serious nature of this matter. However, I was informed that as a rule you do not confirm telephone calls in writing, even if an agreement has been made. I find this highly unprofessional and incompetent to find that a large banking institution, like Halifax, can proceed carte blanche.

 

I demand the phone calls stop immediately. I have enquired about the legalities of your actions, which can be classed at harassment, and I am familiar with the terms of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act, Protection from Harassment Act 1970, Article 8 of the Human Right Act 1990 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. Halifax’s behaviour is in breach of all of these.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Already received 2 phone calls again this morning. Same thing - cuts out as soon as I answer!! Hopefully this will do the trick .......

 

PS: Still no statements for my account....

 

 

 

[Spiceskull]

That's a good letter - very to the point. Well done and good luck.

[Mariana]

I AM FUMING MAD!!!!!!!!

 

Right, the story in a nutshell .....

 

I have a HALIFAX personal loan - which comes directly out of my HALIFAX current account. I have opened a Natwest Step account, and both our salaries have gone in there today. I have not informed HALIFAX (Personal Loan Dept) of the change and telephoned them today to 1) make a payment which becomes due tomorrow, and 2) to set up a new direct debit instruction.

 

Now, do not fall off your chairs of laughter becuase of the next policy from HALIFAX ....

 

I was told today by HALFIAX (including managers in customer service AND collections department) that because my account in not in arrears they are unable to take a card payment over the phone!!!!!!! In order to pay the balance due tomorrow, I have to visit a Halifax branch. I explained that I am unable to do that and by adopting this policy they are in effect FORCING me to go into arrears and incur a late payment charge. They can only accept a card payment once the account is in arrears!!!!! HOW ABSURD!!!

 

I asked why that is, and they said, well, once the account is in arrears, we want our money back. I said, BUT I AM OFFERING YOU MONEY TODAY, A DAY IN ADVANCE OF THE PAYMENT DUE!!!!!!, and you don't want it!!!!!

 

Any calming advice will be much welcomed.......!!!!!!

[jackie123]

I have just read all of your posts and i feel better about taking on the Halifax. I have gone through very similar experiences, BUT NO MORE!! thanks for the help

[Mariana]

I have just read all of your posts and i feel better about taking on the Halifax. I have gone through very similar experiences, BUT NO MORE!! thanks for the help

 

Hi Jackie! I hope you have "hairs on your teeth" and a good supply of calming aromatherapy ....!!!! Keep us posted.

[adamb76]

hi,just read your thread(thanks vampiress!)I'm having the same thing with halifax myself,over 20 calls in the last week and when i answer ,nothing!

sent my letters on friday requesting my charges back so we'll see what happens

Good Luck!

[Mariana]

hi,just read your thread(thanks vampiress!)I'm having the same thing with halifax myself,over 20 calls in the last week and when i answer ,nothing!

sent my letters on friday requesting my charges back so we'll see what happens

Good Luck!

 

Yes, it is very annoying! I received 4 more calls yesterday, did not even bothered to answer it. Hopefully, today, they would have received, scanned and took notice of my letter ....

 

Good luck!

[Mariana]

oops

[Mariana]

Update ....

 

Just been looking at my calender ... and realise that Halifax said they would let me have statements by next week. Have received nothing so far, so I telephoned them today.

 

Spoke to Rafael and then to Wendy ... both very pleasant, and it was actioned while I was on the phone. Wendy did say it is an overnight response, so statements should be with me in the next couple of days.

 

Hmmmmmmm:rolleyes:

 

Also, Monday is expiry of the 14-day notice on husband's account - have already drafted the necessary on Moneyclaim for both his and mine. The notice period on my accounts expires on Wednesday.

[Mariana]

Can someone help me please!!!

 

As stated in above, I am preparing to make a claim through MCOL. However, The amount of charges is £4901.00, interest is £335.75 and court cost is £120.00. Therefore my claim is for £5356.75.....

 

I have read in this forum that your claim should be limited to £5000.00, this figure NOT including interest and cost ... and I right?

[Spiceskull]

It depends if the interest is s.69 8%APR interest or not.

 

In a nutshell, the £5K limit is everything you are claiming, EXCEPT court fees (£120) and s.69 interest (8%)

 

Is the £335,75 calculated from the spreadsheet? If so, then your claim is within the limit. Good luck.