Synergy Financial Solutions

[Nikkio365]

I have just stumbled on this brilliant forum. I have just received quite a large claim from MBNA for mis sold PPI. I originally did this through Money Claiming experts who then turned into Lifesyle Claims.This all began in May 2010!!! I signed a letter of engagement and authority for Client Connection T/a Money Claiming Experts, Legal Redress Ltd and Gravity Financial Solutions. I heard nothing from the claim until early 2013 when the financial ombudsman contacted me to query a few points. Then on 24th Jan Synergy Financial solutions wrote to me claiming that Lifestyle solutions had referred me to them and that they had taken over my claim.They asked me to sign their letters of engagement etc - which I did not do. Then a month later MBNA sent me a cheque to settle the claim and also informing me that they would inform the third party of their action if one was used - which it was of course that being lifestyle. Do I pay the invoice to Synergy even though I did not sign their Terms of Business and Letters of Authority to confirm that they have a contract to continue? Their invoice says they were previously trading as Gravity Financial Solutions!! If you need any copies of letter etc,please let me know. Thanks for your help[

[TUTTSI]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi Nikkio

I have been discussing this very matter directly with the Ministry of Justice/ Trading Standards for another member and must remember to chase up a response tomorrow.

It is possible according to the original Contract you signed with Money Claiming Experts that it had a section that Gravity were to get a percentage of any monies which were recovered. If you have a copy of your original contract and terms and conditions if you could post that up excluding any personal details we could take a look at this for you. Now Gravity became Synergy so I understand. I also believed that Gravity did Mortgages and not Credit Cards but I could be wrong.

Do not pay anything at the moment until -

a) I have seen what you have signed with MCE
b) To give me a chance to chase up the MOJ on our previous members query which is pretty much the same as yours.

In the meantime if they contact you say you are taking legal advice on this matter.

I have just stumbled on this brilliant forum. I have just received quite a large claim from MBNA for mis sold PPI. I originally did this through Money Claiming experts who then turned into Lifesyle Claims.This all began in May 2010!!! I signed a letter of engagement and authority for Client Connection T/a Money Claiming Experts, Legal Redress Ltd and Gravity Financial Solutions. I heard nothing from the claim until early 2013 when the financial ombudsman contacted me to query a few points. Then on 24th Jan Synergy Financial solutions wrote to me claiming that Lifestyle solutions had referred me to them and that they had taken over my claim.They asked me to sign their letters of engagement etc - which I did not do. Then a month later MBNA sent me a cheque to settle the claim and also informing me that they would inform the third party of their action if one was used - which it was of course that being lifestyle. Do I pay the invoice to Synergy even though I did not sign their Terms of Business and Letters of Authority to confirm that they have a contract to continue? Their invoice says they were previously trading as Gravity Financial Solutions!! If you need any copies of letter etc,please let me know. Thanks for your help[

[TUTTSI]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Further to my post yesterday evening, I have now had a response from Chris Woods at the MOJ/TS at Burton on Trent. He has asked that you send all the documents that you have to this email address and mark it for the attention of Chris Woods and mention that you are from Legal Beagles and that Tuttsi has already beed in touch with him. He will then be able to respond and advise you or me. So please confirm once you have sent everything to him. I will be advising him of your on-line name so if you could mention that as well he will know it is the case we have discussed.

mailto:consumer@claimsregulation.gov.uk

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Thanks so much for the advise,I will get everything sent over to the email above consumer@claimsregulation.gov.uk and will let you know when I have done it all - funnily enough they chased me by phone last night!!!

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi
I have just sent the info over to Chris Woods - would you like a copy of the email?
Thank you so much for your help I really appreciate it

[TUTTSI]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Thanks Nikkio, I have received them with thanks and we are scutinising them and will revert back to you. You already had a contract with Gravity through MCE - who is now Synergy so why do they want to change the T&C's I think that is unfair. Do you remember what the fee was when you signed with MCE was it 20% or 25%?

Hi
I have just sent the info over to Chris Woods - would you like a copy of the email?
Thank you so much for your help I really appreciate it

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi
Just found paperwork from MCE and it was 30% so no difference unfortunately. Does the voucher for £352.49 stand for anything? I don't understand why Synergy wanted me to sign another agreement if they were already Gravity??

[TUTTSI]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Yep, I had queried that with Chris Woods at the MOJ/TS that very point and it appears that Gravity went broke and Synergy took over their business with the same authorisation number. I still don't get it really because when you go broke - the business is gone so how comes a new company called Synergy can carry on with the same authorisation number. I must give that some more thought really and try and get other peoples views. So that being the case how comes that Synergy want you to sign new T&C's that also does not make sense at all.

I saw the voucher and that in itself is absolutely useless as MCE/Lifestyle claims have gone into administration, so there is no money to be had there and wonder what the MOJ/TS will say about that as well. When would you have received the money for that voucher, I am asuming when your claim is complete?

Hi
Just found paperwork from MCE and it was 30% so no difference unfortunately. Does the voucher for £352.49 stand for anything? I don't understand why Synergy wanted me to sign another agreement if they were already Gravity??

[EXC]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi
Just found paperwork from MCE and it was 30% so no difference unfortunately. Does the voucher for £352.49 stand for anything? I don't understand why Synergy wanted me to sign another agreement if they were already Gravity??

Tuttsi asked me to look at the paperwork you sent her.

There's a few things that don't tally:

The letter of engagement with MCE is dated August 2010.
The notification that the claim has been referred from Lifestyle to Synergy is dated January 2013.
The offer of settlement from Synergy is dated March 2013.

Could you please answer the following:

1) In your first post you said that MBNA would inform the third party of your settlement. Did MBNA actually name Lifestyle as the third party?

2) Synergy asked you to sign a letter of authority but did they ask you to sign their terms of business or terms and conditions?

3) When the Financial Ombudsman contacted you in early 2013, or any any letters they sent you did they name any claims management company who the claim was being handled by?

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Yes on the back of the voucher it says when the claim has been completed and within 14 days of MCE receiving payment from me
Tks

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi
In answer to your questions:
1/MBNA did not actually name Lifestyle they just wrote - if a third were involved they would be given all of the calculations etc.
2/I still have their Terms & Conditions unsigned as well as the Letter of Authority To Act & Disclose unsigned (both their copy and mine)
3/I only had one phone call from the Ombudsman and as far as I recall no management company was mentioned only MBNA Bank.

Hope this helps, any more info required pls let me know - thanks alot

[EXC]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Hi
In answer to your questions:
1/MBNA did not actually name Lifestyle they just wrote - if a third were involved they would be given all of the calculations etc.
2/I still have their Terms & Conditions unsigned as well as the Letter of Authority To Act & Disclose unsigned (both their copy and mine)
3/I only had one phone call from the Ombudsman and as far as I recall no management company was mentioned only MBNA Bank.

Hope this helps, any more info required pls let me know - thanks alot

Ok thanks.

We need to establish which company MBNA gave the settlement calculations to and also which company forwarded your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You might be able to find this out by simply calling MBNA and FOS.

I suspect that it was Redhawk Legal Ltd (who bought the ongoing claims from the administrator of Money Claiming Experts) who referred your claim details to Synergy and if so you are on fairly solid ground not to be held liable for Synergy's bill.

[Nikkio365]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

Ok I'll see what I can find out from both of them
Thanks alot

[tony-g]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

I have just discovered Legal Beagles and have been reading with great interest all the comments and posts relating to Synergy Financial Solutions. So many contributors with more knowledge about this company than myself which is unusual as I have been the Director since its inception in 2008. To find out that my company has been "broke" and made a comeback from the dead is most alarming. We had a change of limited company name back in 2011 but I do not remember going bust. Anyway, I write this post to say that if any customer contracted to my company is unhappy with service received, all they have to do is make this known to me and it will be my mission in life to put matters right IF we are at fault. I have a file in my office for complaints but it only has 2 letters in it for complaints about Synergy.
TUTTSI - You are to be commended for your efforts in fighting for the little guy and upholding consumer rights - but please ensure that your facts are correct before making public posts. You even wrote "I must give that some more thought really and try and get other peoples views" . If you want to know anything about Synergy, its history and its business model, all you have to do is call and I will be very happy to answer any questions that you have. The call will even be FREE 0800 320 20 50. One question that I can answer immediately without waiting for any calls is that Synergy FS has NEVER EVER taken an upfront payment from a client for a PPI Claim. We only get paid if the client gets paid - full stop ! Please ask for Tony if you call.

[enaid]

Re: Synergy Financial Solutions

' it appears that Gravity went broke and Synergy took over their business with the same authorisation number'

This is what was stated in Tuttsis post, not that Synergy had gone bust