ITN: Hardship Claims

[Amethyst]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Its not our money yet....legally. I know we all know it is, and they know it is, but the charges are still stuck in ruddy court with this darn waiver, and in order to get any help we have to use the system and if you are in hardship then you have to go through this, or wait.

The financial difficulty side of things does need better clarification and the banks should have a more across the board approach - the way some banks need you to be in a cardboard box and others just need you to be a bit skinit this month is wrong and needs sorting. It is incredibly difficult tho to get an across the board definition because everyone in unique. I think its wrong that people who struggle hard and manage to pay their rent/mortgage at the detriment of food/heating aren't getting through on hardship.

The point is people are still getting their cases considered and payments for immediate needs paid, and to put such a huge downer on it really makes people who most need the help think its not worth asking for it.

So some positivity and some more clarity is needed.

Hardship cases need to use the phone, they need to write and pester, they need to show their income and expenditure and evidence of arrears etc. Its the way it is. They need to go to FOS with claims. Court is the wrong option for hardship cases, and they shouldn't be encourage to turn down payments, or direct to the arrears payments.

We can campaign in the background and publicly for change and directly to the FSA but not put people off claiming by telling them they may as well write to Santa without even knowing the individual circumstances.

[Tools]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Yes I agree it is difficult, morally the money IS ours, but legally (no matter how unfair) until the determination by the OFT's investigation and stage 2 of litigation, officially it's not.

I have recently had to negotiate repayments with MBNA and MINT to the tune of approximately £20K and with MBNA if I have had to go through and justify my IE once I've had to at least 8 or 9 times, it is demeaning, I know.

But the point is, it is a necessary evil. If you are asking for an interim payment on genuine hardship grounds and you face repossession etc, then no matter how embarrassing it may be to go through an IE sheet with them I know which I would rather do.

It is all about removing the imediate threat and if there is room to budget on your IE it will help prevent you getting back into that situation again in 1,2,3 months time.

I smoke and spend a fortune on cigarettes, I couldn't reasonably justify spending money on that rather than my mortgage arrears could I. Your disabled friends cleaning axpense ISNT a luxury and the banks shouldnt class it as such, I completely agree.

EDIT Sorry Ame, was posting at the same time as you by the looks

[Amethyst]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

:kiss:

[michael]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

There was this from an RBS memo:

Complaint correctly identified as being subject to the Waiver or not


Each case should be reviewed and confirmed that it has been correctly identified and recorded on database as either being subject to the FSA waiver or is exempt from FSA waiver due to it's meeting either Business or Hardship guidelines


NB: If any of the following trigger words/phrases (or similar words/phrases) appear in any correspondence from a customer, then the case should be flagged on the database per Hardship guidelines

• Financial hardship
• Mortgage arrears
• Credit card debts
• Repossessions
• Ill health
• No money for food or rent

So claimants should be encouraged to include and stress as many of these trigger words as possible

[Tools]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Thanks for that Michael.

That pretty much sums up what "difficulties" we have been saying are accepted by the banks when considering a hardship complaint.

Interesting they also mention "business", I wonder if they are looking to limit consequential losses if a small business goes under due to these charges?

[EXC]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Yes butthe whole point is, it's our money anyhow and having to have someone decide if your expenditure is reasonable to get it back is humilating and uneccasary.

Clearly it is necessary and this is where informed and responsible advice should be applied - to help people overcome the stigma of going through the motions, for their own good.

To be honest I've never heard anyone complain about it although I'm sure it's not easy for some people.

And frankly BF should know better than imposing his predjudices on people over quality evidence based advice.

[Emerald]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

And frankly BF should know better than imposing his predjudices on people over quality evidence based advice.

:confused2:

[Amethyst]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

:confused2:

What address to sent hardship claim to? - The Consumer Forums

[EXC]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

:confused2:

What are you confused about?

Surely you've witnessed the growing and unsavoury trend at CAG to blur the distinction between advice & opinion and editorial content & advertising?

It's not just a case of like, you know, when the Daily Mail underlines words to make you think what they want. People are being manipulated.

[Emerald]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

What are you confused about?

Surely you've witnessed the growing and unsavoury trend at CAG to blur the distinction between advice & opinion and editorial content & advertising?

It's not just a case of like, you know, when the Daily Mail underlines words to make you think what they want. People are being manipulated.

Confused about this

And frankly BF should know better than imposing his predjudices on people over quality evidence based advice.

The thread is about Roberts interview and hardship and what he said not what BF thinks.

As for the rest of CAG good solid advice went out of the window ages ago - I more or less give up all I see is a bunch of desperate people either dead set on debt avoidance, or being set up by a bunch of orange people to go into court on isues they know nothing about with complex defences written by students and wannabe lawyers who have no real concept of the consequences and further misery this is going to cause.

[EXC]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Thanks for being honest.

The thread is indeed about what Robert said, which appears to be BF's policy - based on his 'Santa' post.

[Emerald]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Thanks for being honest.

The thread is indeed about what Robert said, which appears to be BF's policy - based on his 'Santa' post.

Not neccasarily BF's view entirely - but no doubt it was discussed beforehand. Anybody who has ever done an interview live and not accustomed to public speaking on the subject will know how difficult it is to get your point across and say exactly the right words at the right time.
Me I'm just glad that someone who has been so prolific in the campaign and stood up against the internal politics and bullying of CAG and walked away for that very reason is still prepared to use their own time and resources to speak out, knowing that other ex site team members would spend more time putting the boot in than seeing the bigger picture for all. (That is not a slight on anyone here I hasten to add).

I personally hate everything that CAG has become, it is such a wasted opportunity but like someone in the middle of a bad divorce I still have some loyalty and can't let go entirely - and will stick up for those who genuinely care about what it was started for.

[Amethyst]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Think it was on another thread I said pretty much the same thing about it being hard to get your points across in front of tv cameras, I'd be a mess. Robert did well with the information he was given, I don't know how much direct experience of hardship cases he has. It is a shame it came across as a 'if you're in hardship don't bother you won't get anywhere' when every day people who need the help ARE getting somewhere. Otherwise yes good, it highlighted that there is still more work the FSA and banks need to do for people in difficulties, and the waiver still needs clarification.

[Emerald]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Think it was on another thread I said pretty much the same thing about it being hard to get your points across in front of tv cameras, I'd be a mess. Robert did well with the information he was given, I don't know how much direct experience of hardship cases he has. It is a shame it came across as a 'if you're in hardship don't bother you won't get anywhere' when every day people who need the help ARE getting somewhere. Otherwise yes good, it highlighted that there is still more work the FSA and banks need to do for people in difficulties, and the waiver still needs clarification.

It came across as don't bother but it was meant as what is the point when the banks are paying lip service to hardship, it was meant to be a questioning of the banks and their practices not putting people off claiming - it was also meant to be 20 minutes.

[natweststaffmember]

Re: ITN: Hardship Claims

Think it was on another thread I said pretty much the same thing about it being hard to get your points across in front of tv cameras, I'd be a mess. Robert did well with the information he was given, I don't know how much direct experience of hardship cases he has. It is a shame it came across as a 'if you're in hardship don't bother you won't get anywhere' when every day people who need the help ARE getting somewhere. Otherwise yes good, it highlighted that there is still more work the FSA and banks need to do for people in difficulties, and the waiver still needs clarification.

From a personal perspective, TV is difficult. You need to be extremely concise and precise on TV. In live TV if you say something that comes across as one thing then you cannot take it back immediately because already you have lost the argument. It is a pity that the difficulty of defining hardship was not emphasized and that people still have to jump through hoops to get anything done. Hey ho, at least it got some media attention.