Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

PaulinWeston

This is an appeal on behalf of my (computer illiterate) brother: He is owed over £7K in charges by his bank (LTSB) and has fallen behind on his mortgage payments. Using the excellent advice on MSE, we have registered his claim with the bank. In addition we have supplied a detailed budget sheet, a letter of support from the CCCS confirming that in their opinion he meets the FSA hardship waiver and copies of the correspondence from the mortgage company threatening repossession.
The Ombudsman has ‘acknowledged’ his complaint but suggests that the bank has 8 weeks to respond before they can even contemplate getting involved (his complaint with them was originally registered in 2007 but it’s only this year that he’s got into hardship). However, it is very likely that in eight weeks the situation will be a whole lot worse.
He spoke to those lovely people at the bank today (after about 3 hours of being shoved from department to department) and he was told by someone in Andover that “all hardship cases are now on hold” and that “the FSA and the FOS know and approve of LTSB’s position”!
So, please, does anyone have any suggestions please what on earth to do now?

rachelg125

I think you should get some advice from debt management company. Go to CCCS, CAB there are loads more but I know that they offer free advice.

natweststaffmember

“all hardship cases are now on hold” and that “the FSA and the FOS know and approve of LTSB’s position”

Can you ask your brother to get Andover to put that in writing please?

PaulinWeston

rachelg125 wrote: »

I think you should get some advice from debt management company. Go to CCCS, CAB there are loads more but I know that they offer free advice.

He's been to the CCCS and has a letter of support from them confirming that in their position he definitly meets the FSA hardship criteria - LTSB don't give a monkeys!

PaulinWeston

natweststaffmember wrote: »

“all hardship cases are now on hold” and that “the FSA and the FOS know and approve of LTSB’s position”

Can you ask your brother to get Andover to put that in writing please?

Yes we thought of that... he got the name of the person he spoke to and recorded the conversation...:D

natweststaffmember

PaulinWeston wrote: »

He's been to the CCCS and has a letter of support from them confirming that in their position he definitly meets the FSA hardship criteria - LTSB don't give a monkeys!

Does he have priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities)?
Are any of the arrears being paid off at all or are part of a payment plan to pay them off?

PaulinWeston

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Does he have priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities)?
Are any of the arrears being paid off at all or are part of a payment plan to pay them off?

He is in arrears with his mortgage and has a payment plan to maintain the status quo - however, the mortgage co. are threatening repossession - the money owed from LTSB would clear the arrears and allow him to tread water. I think he's done everything he possibly & sensibly can to mitigate his position - the challenge really is that the bank absolutely refuse to budge and it doesn't seem that the FOS are willing or able to help

natweststaffmember

PaulinWeston wrote: »

He is in arrears with his mortgage and has a payment plan to maintain the status quo - however, the mortgage co. are threatening repossession - the money owed from LTSB would clear the arrears and allow him to tread water. I think he's done everything he possibly & sensibly can to mitigate his position - the challenge really is that the bank absolutely refuse to budge and it doesn't seem that the FOS are willing or able to help

He needs a final response from LloydsTSB before he can go to the FOS unless Lloyds do not respond within 8 weeks. With the FOS on a clean claim it can be 12 weeks for a decision.

daz2bedebtfree

“all hardship cases are now on hold” and that “the FSA and the FOS know and approve of LTSB’s position”
that is totall bull hardship cases are not on hold , i have my case in with the ombudsman service at the moment(hardship team) and they are in contact with lloydstsb as we speak, dont give up !

natweststaffmember

daz2bedebtfree wrote: »

“all hardship cases are now on hold” and that “the FSA and the FOS know and approve of LTSB’s position”
that is totall bull hardship cases are not on hold , i have my case in with the ombudsman service at the moment(hardship team) and they are in contact with lloydstsb as we speak, dont give up !

Did you start your case with LloydsTSB and what stage are you at?
Did lloydstsb send a final response or did they not respond within 8 weeks?