MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

[Cartoon Bankers]

I am currently running into problems because I made an application to set up a Claims Company but have been told by the Ministry of Justice that I cannot run the site whilst I am in the process of getting myself authorised (I am going to call the company, Redwood Legal, which will handle claims whilst cartoonbankers.com stays, 'information-only').

It could take as long as 7 weeks to process, and I am loathe to be down for that long, particularly at such a critical time for the sector. I wondered if I could use the opportunity to canvas you as to how many people use the site and find it useful?

In an attempt to turn a negative into a positive I also thought I could use the site to gather a little bit of market intelligence. Please do let me know what could be improved.

Depending on feedback I may simply leave setting up the claims arm until later or not at all!

I did try to get their agreement to let it run, but have fallen foul with a 'contact us' page which has been considered to be unauthorised trading'. I have not received any business from it, and in fact have never received any remuneration at all from this site, but they are sticklers for this sort of thing!

Thank you very much indeed in advance for your feedback.

Many thanks,

Alex Woods

[Budgie]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Your opinion would appear to extend to 'solicitors' being a waste of space, also?
Presumably, your opinion could also extend to Counsels Opinion?

I am quite capable of giving my own opinion please do not to presume to do so for me !!!

I have yet to meet a Solicitor capable of doing something better than I could do the same thing myself. Maybe I just haven't met a good one yet, sadly I have met an awful lot of bad ones !!!
I haven't seen anything in Alex Wood's performances to date to lead me to believe he is likely, as a Solicitor, to be breaking the mould !!

As for the rest of your last post, even though you prefer not to do so yourself, you suggest that a general Consumer with a complex consumer credit matter should consider seeking advice from a CMC.

You are of course entitled to your opinion but I must say that your viewpoint is totally at odds with the philosophy of this site.

[Angry Cat]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

by Budgie:
IMO...From my own point of view it simply re-enforces an opinion that all CMC's and Solicitor's are a waste of space.

Your opinion would appear to extend to 'solicitors' being a waste of space, also?
Presumably, your opinion could also extend to Counsels Opinion?

by Amethyst:

Employing a solicitor is entirely different to a CMC - you instruct them to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Track records and recommendations from others who have used their services should speak for themselves.

Exactly!

We have had, (have ongoing...) some brilliant results coming forth from dedicated legal firms; bless them!

Of course, they are making money and gaining feathers in their legal caps but why not?
After all, they are not charities!

For myself, I have never used a CMC firm, preferring rather to obtain advice from a specialist legal firm.

Times are hard though, it is nigh on impossible to obtain legal aid. Therefore, how on earth can a general consumer with complex consumer credit matters obtain proper advice?

Therefore, one shouldn't be too quick to shoot a fledgling firm down, before it's wings have fully expanded.

As always, I take the broad view...

[Budgie]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

There is no storm in a tea cup and I stand by my earlier comments. I may have come across a little harsh, but I mean everything I have said.

We are here to empower and inform consumers, to campaign and challenege the financial institutions. Voluntarily, because we are passionate about it, not to make money.

How many other claims management companies claimed to be ethical ?

Robertson Holbrook spring to mind, no upfront fee, campaigning for the good of consumer and talking about how they would donate x% of their fees to charity, blah blah.

What happened to them ?

Shall we make video recordings of all the calls and meetings we have on consumers behalf....at our own cost, with no aim other than informing and empowering consumers ? Maybe then we'd be more like Alex and satisfy you ? Mind you we could charge people a percentage of their ''winnings'' or debts written off too, we could charge hourly fees for the time we give to help people ? Then we'd be much more like Alex. Would you prefer that ?

I will not have CMCs touting for business on here. That is, basically, the end of it.

Go make money off it if you want but not on here.

I will protect people who use this site and if that does mean being over protective then so be it.

Employing a solicitor is entirely different to a CMC - you instruct them to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Track records and recommendations from others who have used their services should speak for themselves.

Shout all you like.

I am totally supportive of the above comments and didn't think that just thanking Ame on her post was enough.

[Budgie]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Yawn, comments in red

Wow - What a backlash and I do acknowledge that this is a "D.I.Y Forum" hence the creation of videos to detail my experience from the frontline. IMO your latest video is simply a promotional video advertising your services / contact details. Sadly it's not even a very good promotional video and doesn't inspire me with any confidence that you could successfully process a potential Customer's claim. Your posts on a couple of threads on this forum also clearly seem to be thinly veiled attempts to advertise your services..

I really thought the information I shared would encourage those brave souls who HAVE taken on the banks and also to help prepare them from a legal standpoint OR at least encourage them to read and do more research.
IMO I don't think it does anything of the sort. From my own point of view it simply re-enforces an opinion that all CMC's and Solicitor's are a waste of space.

I will repeat statement from first post -

Depending on feedback I may simply leave setting up the claims arm until later or not at all!

Maybe I should have asked the following questions:

1) Should I get an MOJ licence - even though I do not need it as I am a Solicitor currently working for a Law Firm in London. IMO, I wouldn't bother with the MOJ license, stick to helping people claim for compensation for tripping over paving slabs or whatever it is you are currently doing.

2) If i get a MOJ licence then will this stop people watching my videos.
IMO, the blatant advertising will stop people watching your videos.

3) What is worst an MOJ licence OR The Banks? There is nothing worse than a bank, they make no secret of ripping off Customers, CMC's claim to be helping Customers but all too often appear to be simply helping themselves!

4) Should I charge a subscription fee for the information I share on cartoon bankers? "If you like, having watched one video I certainly wouldn't be planning on subscribing" Far more information and updates are available on this site, free of charge and without the blatant advertising"

Thanks again for your responses and I have taken what has been said on board.

Cartoon Bankers will continue to be a informational site (as stated in the First post) and I have removed any reference to services that I offer.

Let's see how long that lasts !!

Alex Woods

CartoonBankers

[Angry Cat]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

There is no storm in a tea cup and I stand by my earlier comments. I may have come across a little harsh, but I mean everything I have said.

We are here to empower and inform consumers, to campaign and challenege the financial institutions. Voluntarily, because we are passionate about it, not to make money.

How many other claims management companies claimed to be ethical ?

Robertson Holbrook spring to mind, no upfront fee, campaigning for the good of consumer and talking about how they would donate x% of their fees to charity, blah blah.

What happened to them ?

Shall we make video recordings of all the calls and meetings we have on consumers behalf....at our own cost, with no aim other than informing and empowering consumers ? Maybe then we'd be more like Alex and satisfy you ? Mind you we could charge people a percentage of their ''winnings'' or debts written off too, we could charge hourly fees for the time we give to help people ? Then we'd be much more like Alex. Would you prefer that ?

I will not have CMCs touting for business on here. That is, basically, the end of it.

Go make money off it if you want but not on here.

I will protect people who use this site and if that does mean being over protective then so be it.

Employing a solicitor is entirely different to a CMC - you instruct them to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Track records and recommendations from others who have used their services should speak for themselves.

Shout all you like.

Not sure if that volley was directed at me or, at others...?

However, I stand by original view:
http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...0&postcount=25
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
Further, I re-posted PT's post, as he made some valid points re: solicitors fees and the difficulty of obtaining after the event insurance.

by: pt2537
Ive gotta say, the ethical Claims management company , does sound appealing


The problem you encounter when you are instructing a firm of solicitors is firstly costs, if they wont act on a CFA then your looking at £180 per hour plus vat.

Secondly, even with a CFA, that dont cover Counsels fees, so, theres more to add.

And there are not many ATE insurers left, 6 out of the 7 we used pulled out after Carey and teasdale, the 7th has refused to cover our cases including the kotecha case due to the risk.

So depending on how it was funded, a cmc may be able to take the pressure off, i dont know.

it really does depend on how its set up how its funded and how it works in reality that will define if its any good or not

[Amethyst]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Also worth pointing out solicitors are regulated by the SRA, CMC's as of yet are not and are free to do as they please.
[/color][/left]

Indeed, and the MOJ CMR dept are spectacularly rubbish IMO.

[pompeyfaith]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Employing a solicitor is entirely different to a CMC - you instruct them to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Also worth pointing out solicitors are regulated by the SRA, CMC's as of yet are not and are free to do as they please.

[Amethyst]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

There is no storm in a tea cup and I stand by my earlier comments. I may have come across a little harsh, but I mean everything I have said.

We are here to empower and inform consumers, to campaign and challenege the financial institutions. Voluntarily, because we are passionate about it, not to make money.

How many other claims management companies claimed to be ethical ?

Robertson Holbrook spring to mind, no upfront fee, campaigning for the good of consumer and talking about how they would donate x% of their fees to charity, blah blah.

What happened to them ?

Shall we make video recordings of all the calls and meetings we have on consumers behalf....at our own cost, with no aim other than informing and empowering consumers ? Maybe then we'd be more like Alex and satisfy you ? Mind you we could charge people a percentage of their ''winnings'' or debts written off too, we could charge hourly fees for the time we give to help people ? Then we'd be much more like Alex. Would you prefer that ?

I will not have CMCs touting for business on here. That is, basically, the end of it.

Go make money off it if you want but not on here.

I will protect people who use this site and if that does mean being over protective then so be it.

Employing a solicitor is entirely different to a CMC - you instruct them to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

Track records and recommendations from others who have used their services should speak for themselves.

Shout all you like.

[Angry Cat]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Ive gotta say, the ethical Claims management company , does sound appealing


The problem you encounter when you are instructing a firm of solicitors is firstly costs, if they wont act on a CFA then your looking at £180 per hour plus vat.

Secondly, even with a CFA, that dont cover Counsels fees, so, theres more to add.

And there are not many ATE insurers left, 6 out of the 7 we used pulled out after Carey and teasdale, the 7th has refused to cover our cases including the kotecha case due to the risk.

So depending on how it was funded, a cmc may be able to take the pressure off, i dont know.

it really does depend on how its set up how its funded and how it works in reality that will define if its any good or not

Not forgetting PT's valid post.

And, the thought/possibility of "the Ethical Claims management company"...!

[Angry Cat]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

If, I were you, which of course I am not. And, unlike you I am not an admitted member of the Law Society.
Common sense would tell me not to set up the claims arm.

Your obvious expertise, would be better channelled by providing specialist PPI legal advice through your firm!

As stated prior, the general consumer distrusts CMC's: cost

Please, bear in mind that you could even end up with a 'big feather' in your legal cap.

My comments relate only to complicated PPI cases, of which there are many and, there could be many more.

by Amethyst:
I agree with Angry Cat.
And I apologise if I have come across a little harsh on this thread. I hope you understand why.
Ame
xx

Looks like there is now a storm in a tea cup?

IMHO, Alex is doing a brilliant job.
Pity, that there are not more like him.

[EXC]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Yes really! He expressed a thought as to why he's already stated the reason it depends on feedback

Never mind.

[righty]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Well not really.

''Depending on feedback I may simply leave setting up the claims arm until later or not at all!''

Legal Beagles Consumer Forum - View Single Post - MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

Yes really! He expressed a thought as to why he's already stated the reason it depends on feedback

[EXC]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

As to why he's setting up a seperate company thats a business decision between him & his gaffer & none of our business IMHO

Well not really.

''Depending on feedback I may simply leave setting up the claims arm until later or not at all!''

Legal Beagles Consumer Forum - View Single Post - MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

[righty]

Re: MOJ removal of CartoonBankers by Alex Woods

So based on this and going to the FOS and only getting the return of the premium and a bit of interest at 8% the consumer is missing out big time.:tinysmile_aha_t:

That's correct When its no longer the subject of ongoing litigation (& assuming we win) I'll post the POC for all to see