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Partial Offer from Halifax. What to do now?

Hi

Any advice or stories about your experience would be much appreciated.

I claimed for 2 accounts with the Halifax.

One account claimed for was £1493.10 including interest. The other account was for £8586.29 including interest.

This is for the last 5 years. I am self employed yet the business is struggling.

They have come back and offered me £25 for the £1493.10 claim and £2,200 for the £8586.29 claim. This is to 'help me' out by refunding my charges from 2009 only. I have got this far by using all your letter templates, so THANK YOU.

I could really REALLY do with this cash, however I would like to hold out for the full amount if the experts out there recommend it but I'm getting a little confused about what to do next.

The acceptance form that I should sign and return says i accept this 'in settlement'. It does not say 'in full' or 'in final' settlement. Should i accept this and continue fighting or should I continue to push on with the Financial Ombudsman? If so, how long could that take? Can I accept this and continue fighting with the bank for the remainder or do i need to wait until the case is concluded?

I definitely qualify for Financial Hardship!

Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

Sally.

Comments

  • sally205 wrote: »
    Hi

    Any advice or stories about your experience would be much appreciated.

    I claimed for 2 accounts with the Halifax.

    One account claimed for was £1493.10 including interest. The other account was for £8586.29 including interest.

    This is for the last 5 years. I am self employed yet the business is struggling.

    They have come back and offered me £25 for the £1493.10 claim and £2,200 for the £8586.29 claim. This is to 'help me' out by refunding my charges from 2009 only. I have got this far by using all your letter templates, so THANK YOU.

    I could really REALLY do with this cash, however I would like to hold out for the full amount if the experts out there recommend it but I'm getting a little confused about what to do next.

    The acceptance form that I should sign and return says i accept this 'in settlement'. It does not say 'in full' or 'in final' settlement. Should i accept this and continue fighting or should I continue to push on with the Financial Ombudsman? If so, how long could that take? Can I accept this and continue fighting with the bank for the remainder or do i need to wait until the case is concluded?

    I definitely qualify for Financial Hardship!

    Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

    Sally.

    I think I have answered you already here. It would be accept but negotiate based on your priority debt arrears and amounts owing to the bank since the money would be repaid into the account where the charges came from.
    I have not worked for NatWest Bank since February 2009

    This username is no longer active.
  • Thank you NatWestStaffMember! I was hoping it would be you that responded! You did answer yesterday, I didn't have the letter to hand so just wanted to give you some more facts.

    They have not said they will stop any more charges being applied, should I request this. Also do you recommend I should negotiate on phone or by letter?

    Sally.
  • Hi NatWestStaffMember

    So I spoke to the Bank tonight and they said that this is the maximum offer they will make to me.

    The gentleman was very nice and friendly but it doesn't increase my offer! He told me another letter is en route offering me £28 for the other account (like that helps!).

    He explained that it takes approx an hour to go through each application and is based on certain criteria. What i don't get is how somebody i know got £6k and she is employed! I am unemployed and i got offered £2k????? Madness.

    Since i sent my form back i am now a further month behind on my mortgage, should i alert them to this or should i just take their offer now and wait for the test case to complete?

    Sally.

    ps. THANK you so much for helping me. It really is appreciated.
  • sally205 wrote: »
    Hi NatWestStaffMember

    So I spoke to the Bank tonight and they said that this is the maximum offer they will make to me.

    The gentleman was very nice and friendly but it doesn't increase my offer! He told me another letter is en route offering me £28 for the other account (like that helps!).

    He explained that it takes approx an hour to go through each application and is based on certain criteria. What i don't get is how somebody i know got £6k and she is employed! I am unemployed and i got offered £2k????? Madness.

    Since i sent my form back i am now a further month behind on my mortgage, should i alert them to this or should i just take their offer now and wait for the test case to complete?

    Sally.

    ps. THANK you so much for helping me. It really is appreciated.

    Sally, the difficult thing for me is that I can try and get you through the process and hopefully get something but as to how one person gets £6k and another gets £2k is beyond me since I don't see their I&E form. Remember they must have been in severe financial hardship and sometimes people are embarrassed to talk about that sort of debt.
    I have not worked for NatWest Bank since February 2009

    This username is no longer active.
  • Thanks NWSM! You'll see on the other forum i put a wee question up but i'll leave it there rather than duplicate it - you have enough work with these forums!

    Thanks so much again.
  • natweststaffmember
    natweststaffmember Posts: 12,063 Forumite
    edited 2 September 2009 at 2:26PM
    sally205 wrote: »
    Thanks NWSM! You'll see on the other forum i put a wee question up but i'll leave it there rather than duplicate it - you have enough work with these forums!

    Thanks so much again.
    Found it, ooops. And have answered :)
    I have not worked for NatWest Bank since February 2009

    This username is no longer active.
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