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HSBC debt maladministration
Our small (2 partners) business failed in Jan 2103 leaving around £9,000 owing to HSBC.
HSBC were involved throughout via our local branch and their advice was
'Leave it six months and do a deal with debt recovery'
We explained this was not acceptable and wanted to sort out a settlement with them directly - offering them £3,000 (a loan from an aged parent) - that was 18 months ago.
Nothing happened other than a bombardment of nuisance phone calls from call centres who didn't know the details or any of the correspondenence / communications.
We raised a complaint with HSBC and were referred to various departments - never one dept or individual (they even admitted in one call that the signature name on one form letter was made up!!). HSBC wrote requesting we complete personal income forms - but did not send the forms (we asked 3 times more), so we sent the information in anyway and were never told why this was not acceptable. HSBC then sent letters with nothing on them - one each! On every occasion we requested written responses and still did not get a response to our offer. We tried going to the local branch who didn't want to know now, referring us to a different department dealing with debt, or the debt collection agency (Moorcroft) "who are in the same building anyway"! (they have not admitted that).
Given this catalogue of ineptitude, and having had issues with HSBC charges on personal accounts previously - succesfully claiming via the Financial Ombudsman a claim for £430 compensation for maladministration - and even though HSBC admitted we should not have been advised as we were, and should not send blank letters ec - we recieved a paltry £100 offer from HSBC subsequently recommended via the FOS (whose side are they on!?).
The debt is now with Moorcroft Debt Recovery and again, we have sent all the information, offered to settle - and received no response.
Are we within our rights to send them a cheque for £3,000 - which is all we have, otherwise it's £10 a month for ever! -advising them that they either reply by return, but if they cash the cheque we will assume the matter is settled and account closed?? Or would they still have some come back?
Failing that - how can we force a response or a decision?
Any advice much appreciated.
HSBC were involved throughout via our local branch and their advice was
'Leave it six months and do a deal with debt recovery'
We explained this was not acceptable and wanted to sort out a settlement with them directly - offering them £3,000 (a loan from an aged parent) - that was 18 months ago.
Nothing happened other than a bombardment of nuisance phone calls from call centres who didn't know the details or any of the correspondenence / communications.
We raised a complaint with HSBC and were referred to various departments - never one dept or individual (they even admitted in one call that the signature name on one form letter was made up!!). HSBC wrote requesting we complete personal income forms - but did not send the forms (we asked 3 times more), so we sent the information in anyway and were never told why this was not acceptable. HSBC then sent letters with nothing on them - one each! On every occasion we requested written responses and still did not get a response to our offer. We tried going to the local branch who didn't want to know now, referring us to a different department dealing with debt, or the debt collection agency (Moorcroft) "who are in the same building anyway"! (they have not admitted that).
Given this catalogue of ineptitude, and having had issues with HSBC charges on personal accounts previously - succesfully claiming via the Financial Ombudsman a claim for £430 compensation for maladministration - and even though HSBC admitted we should not have been advised as we were, and should not send blank letters ec - we recieved a paltry £100 offer from HSBC subsequently recommended via the FOS (whose side are they on!?).
The debt is now with Moorcroft Debt Recovery and again, we have sent all the information, offered to settle - and received no response.
Are we within our rights to send them a cheque for £3,000 - which is all we have, otherwise it's £10 a month for ever! -advising them that they either reply by return, but if they cash the cheque we will assume the matter is settled and account closed?? Or would they still have some come back?
Failing that - how can we force a response or a decision?
Any advice much appreciated.
