Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

[strugglingmum]

Just briefly, a colleague at work has asked me to help her daughter reclaim, they recently (december) had a new baby, baby's dad lost his job last week due to not passing his driving test.

Both have charges, baby's dad roughly about 3k and babys mum about 1k

I did SAR for them both, baby's dad has a closed account with hsbc, apparently he had charges which meant he couldnt repay his overdraft of £500 which is now being re-paid through solicitors.
I have searched high and low for an example of a letter to send the solicitors to put this on hold while he challenges the charges.

Is there a template letter for this anywhere :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

Also, neither of them have tyheir statements yet obviously but can we just put a claim in for therm both anyway based on 'all charges from x date to x date' just to get these claims in? xx

Thanks in advance xxx

[Amethyst]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

Yes you can put a claim in pending the SAR....as you say for 'all charges' and specify the hardship aspects of the case.

will get the account in dispute letter. when you say solicitors - is this an inhouse DCA or other company? What will most likely happen is the account will be referred back to the bank....I would though carry on making payments as he can afford even if £1 a month as a 'goodwill gesture' just to save any problems cropping up through stopping paying it.

[Amethyst]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

needs amending but basically



Dear Sir or Madam,

ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxxxxx

I am writing with regards to {the payment plan arranged in order to clear} my debt with [bank/cc].

I consider the debt to be in dispute as the majority of the outstanding debt is made up of unfair charges. This complaint has been formally raised with XXXX (the bank).

For your information, I will not be making any more payments to yourself until this matter is resolved.

Currently the amount outstanding on the account is £xxxx.xx . The disputed sum totals approximately £XXXXX.

On the resolution of this matter I will resume making payments on any outstanding sum.

I would like to make you aware of The Office of Fair Trading Code of Guidance in which it states: putting pressure on debtors or third parties is considered to be oppressive This includes: Ignoring disputes about whether money is owed and refusing to freeze action if the debt is in dispute.

I therefore hope to receive your full co-operation in this matter and would like to request a written response to that effect.

Yours Sincerely



Your Name

[strugglingmum]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

HI thanks Amethyst,

Ive got that letter ready for him the solicitors is Jeffrey Parker Bourne, he said originally it was with equidebt. I will keep you updated, he wanted to offer a token payment of £1 a month hope thats ok. He is currently paying it off at £80 a month.

xx

[Amethyst]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

Should be, but all depends on their income/expenditure.

Will look up this JPB cause i havent ever heard of them. edit: these ones? Geoffrey Parker Bourne Solicitors ?

[strugglingmum]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

Thanks Amethyst. At the moment he's claiming job seekers, new baby in December and rented accomodation, they wont get full HB it will be about £300 short of their rent and they're 4 1/2 months into a 12 month contract. I have no idea of what debts they have but do get the feeling there's a few. xx



Edit: yes thats the address I have for them

[Amethyst]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

Okay def get that hardship claim in, try and find out what their debts are, and if you can encourage them to come post their selves it may be of more help to them as we can then try assist with the overall picture. You know what bits to put on the hardship letter, if you do want any help shout. Definately need to get that debt and arrears list off them.

Re the housing benefit - neither are now working and they have the baby - they should be getting local housing allowance (they private rented accomodation?) although I think there is a period after leaving employment they have to wait before receiving it. Do you know how much their rent is a month and how much their local housing allowance is? Think they are entitled to a two bed house rate. do you know why there is going to be such a shortfall?

[strugglingmum]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

They dont have the internet at home which is why theyve asked me to help them, they rented at £850 a month and the LHA is about £550 for two bedrooms and theyve got 3 beds :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

I'll see what details for their debts I can get them to give me I think theyve done so well just asking for help so I dont want to intimidate them x

[Amethyst]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

sigh, moving time then if he doesn't get back into work forthwith.

No I agree, don't pressure them, you will need to know the debts/arrears to get the hardship claim sorted, so you can slowly sort out where they are and help with those bits once the claim is underway and they have done their IE sheets.

Good on you for helping btw :kiss: absolute star

[strugglingmum]

Re: Help for colleague - hsbc and Abbey

Just an update on this today.

Followed both claims with second letters, a bit dramatic on my behalf as I do tend to wander off from the standard letters lol
Abbey complete refund letter received today :beagle:SOOOOOOOO PLEASED! (Almost 1k)

HSBC have for the second time however sent the bog standard letter back (I haven't got my eyes on the latest letter yet) but have been told it says theyre waiting for the outcome of the courtcase apparently??

Anyway, will meet up with them this week and get the last letter off them, thing is they are really struggling, they live off her maternity pay, he cant sign on as he didnt pay enough NI apparently and they had a new baby in December, they've had to move house (because they couldn't afford the rent) and luckily have been given a house (holiday home) to rent by a relative. He has a ccj from HSBC for his unpaid overdraft and a total of just over 3k charges, which I wrote to ask be removed in the first letter, and the debt collecting agency who he had being paying off the debt with accepted my letter to them offering a £1 a month whilst the account was in dispute. They had a bailiff letter for unpaid ctax but i wrote to them and they've accepted a reduced payment for the next 3 months and said they will review after that.

Any advice welcome

SM xx