Claims Advisory Group

DBF1

I hate the bad press that Claims Management Companies bring.

I work for a firm of Solicitors (please don't hold that against me!) and we handle all types of legal work, including PPI claims. Unlike Claims Companies we're not actually allowed to cold call people - it's against the rules for Solicitors firms to do so.

Whenever we take on a PPI case, we advise our client that they can pursue their lender themselves, without the need for a Solicitor. Sometimes though, people prefer to have us do it for them. We don't charge any up-front-fee and if we are successful in the claim, our fee is 20% +VAT of any funds we recover, which I believe is fair. We don't have a base fee limit either, so if we only recover a small amount, our fee is small too (our lowest fee has been £14).

It annoys me that we have to compete with Claims Companies who give it the hard sell, charge up front fees and charge a high percentage when the case is successful.

My advice is always to handle the case yourself if you're happy to do so. If you prefer to have someone take on the case for you, then please use a Solicitor and not a Claims Company.

Joanne

marshallka

Really and truely though most often neither a solicitor or claims company is needed to just claim back PPI. A solicitor has no better chance of a claim being accepted than a consumer doing it themselves and more often than not the claim is then sent to FOS. The consumer has to know their own reasons for making a claim so it only a form that is sent off to the firm.

DBF1

As I said above, I agree that you should first look to handle your claim yourself.

I find that a lot of people who ask my firm to handle their claim do so because they don't wish to contact their lender directly though. In which case, I would far rather they used a Solicitors firm than a Claims Management Company, as we have considerably more knowledge, are regulated more stringently, do not charge up front fees and, as in my firm's case, charge a lesser percentage when successful. I should add that most of my firm's PPI work comes from word of mouth recommendations (clients recommending friends and family).

I am well aware that Solicitors are usually tarred with the same brush as Claims Companies. You'll certainly never be pestered by endless cold calls from a Solicitor though.

maxdp

DBF1 wrote: »

I hate the bad press that Claims Management Companies bring.

I work for a firm of Solicitors (please don't hold that against me!) and we handle all types of legal work, including PPI claims. Unlike Claims Companies we're not actually allowed to cold call people - it's against the rules for Solicitors firms to do so.



Joanne

No perhaps the Solicitors do not cold call they pay call centres to do so for them. I was told by a Solicitor when I demanded to know how they had got my name etc that they buy names and info from Databases and use call centres to make the initial contact.:D

maxdp

DBF1 wrote: »

I hate the bad press that Claims Management Companies bring.

I work for a firm of Solicitors (please don't hold that against me!) and we handle all types of legal work, including PPI claims. Unlike Claims Companies we're not actually allowed to cold call people - it's against the rules for Solicitors firms to do so.

Whenever we take on a PPI case, we advise our client that they can pursue their lender themselves, without the need for a Solicitor. Sometimes though, people prefer to have us do it for them. We don't charge any up-front-fee and if we are successful in the claim, our fee is 20% +VAT of any funds we recover, which I believe is fair. We don't have a base fee limit either, so if we only recover a small amount, our fee is small too (our lowest fee has been £14).

It annoys me that we have to compete with Claims Companies who give it the hard sell, charge up front fees and charge a high percentage when the case is successful.

My advice is always to handle the case yourself if you're happy to do so. If you prefer to have someone take on the case for you, then please use a Solicitor and not a Claims Company.

Joanne

And do not forget everyone that when your Solicitor lets you down you can complain about them as well as I have had too. If you are lucky you will get compensation.

DBF1

My posts on this thread were made in good faith - to add to the warnings about some Claims Management Companies.

I can see though from the replies that people do have a tendency to tar Solicitors with the same brush as Claims Companies. If I didn't work at a good Solicitors firm, perhaps I would think the same.

It's a bit like when you make a Will. You can choose to draw it up yourself or you can ask a Solicitor to do it for you. It's the same with a PPI claim - do it yourself or instruct a Solicitor. As long as you don't instruct a Claims Management Company, who charge excessive fees and who have no expertise or knowledge of the law, then I'm happy.

maxdp

DBF1 wrote: »

My posts on this thread were made in good faith - to add to the warnings about some Claims Management Companies.

I can see though from the replies that people do have a tendency to tar Solicitors with the same brush as Claims Companies. If I didn't work at a good Solicitors firm, perhaps I would think the same.

It's a bit like when you make a Will. You can choose to draw it up yourself or you can ask a Solicitor to do it for you. It's the same with a PPI claim - do it yourself or instruct a Solicitor. As long as you don't instruct a Claims Management Company, who charge excessive fees and who have no expertise or knowledge of the law, then I'm happy.

That is fine but the comments made on here are from people who have been stung by Solicitors usually working alongside Claims Management Companies. If you search back through this thread you will find people that have used Solicitors and have been let badly down.

I can only quote from my own experience there are good and bad Solicitors and there are bad and worse claims companies so I suppose you come slightly further up the pile than them when it comes to PPI reclaiming as at least your complaints ombudsman seems to work as opposed to the MOJ who do not seem effective with complaints against CMC

marshallka

DBF1 wrote: »

My posts on this thread were made in good faith - to add to the warnings about some Claims Management Companies.

I can see though from the replies that people do have a tendency to tar Solicitors with the same brush as Claims Companies. If I didn't work at a good Solicitors firm, perhaps I would think the same.

It's a bit like when you make a Will. You can choose to draw it up yourself or you can ask a Solicitor to do it for you. It's the same with a PPI claim - do it yourself or instruct a Solicitor. As long as you don't instruct a Claims Management Company, who charge excessive fees and who have no expertise or knowledge of the law, then I'm happy.

But most people that have been missold PPI don't need to quote the laws either if using the FOS. That is what FOS is there for.

lancsubuntu

Forewarning I do NOT nor have I ever worked for this company at any point in my life so please do not flame me down

I have worked in telesales however and do understand when no means no, and I do NOT, I repeat NOT do the pressure sell, I hate it myself when done to me.

A few points to ask if your constantly being harrased by a company:

1 Their address for legal correspondence
If you do this nicely enough it scares the pants off most of the pushy operators.
2. Remember that your name is on a database and likely held on a computer somewhere so you have the right to view and have them amend that data if it is wrong, (for example saying you want to receive constant calls at all hours of the day and night) by writing(only in writing though) to the Data Controller at the address from point 1.
3. Tell them you are going to record the call, then go away make some sort of clicking noise like a tape recorder, and then warn them that they are making an illegal act under the telecommunications act, and ask them for their details. Works for me every time ;-)

If 3 refuses to work, complain them to their industry watchdog, in this case the FOS and then also make your request for point 2.

That is how I deal with it.

Oh and when in a shop and dealing with pushy sales people, answer yes or no questions only. EG, are you ok. yes. (nothing else, no pleasantries) Can i help you, no.
They will spot they cant engage you and soon go away.

Works a treat in certain high street mobile phone shops I can't mention

Also it seems to me the people that say yes to these guys are the ones who are not motivated to use this site, or any other simple tools and just want an easy ride so CAG are not really doing anything illegal, just playing on peoples inate laziness. Unless of course they are up to something that I have not read here.

It is ok When I first came back to the UK a few years ago capital one were offering me "Fantastic deal on a credit card to help me build my credit rating over the next 12 months".
39.9% APR!

Young lady got very offended when I told her that the mob would not charge me as much to which her response is that Capital one are a licenced lender lol!!

maxdp

DBF1 wrote: »

I hate the bad press that Claims Management Companies bring.

I work for a firm of Solicitors (please don't hold that against me!) and we handle all types of legal work, including PPI claims. Unlike Claims Companies we're not actually allowed to cold call people - it's against the rules for Solicitors firms to do so.

Whenever we take on a PPI case, we advise our client that they can pursue their lender themselves, without the need for a Solicitor. Sometimes though, people prefer to have us do it for them. We don't charge any up-front-fee and if we are successful in the claim, our fee is 20% +VAT of any funds we recover, which I believe is fair. We don't have a base fee limit either, so if we only recover a small amount, our fee is small too (our lowest fee has been £14).

It annoys me that we have to compete with Claims Companies who give it the hard sell, charge up front fees and charge a high percentage when the case is successful.

My advice is always to handle the case yourself if you're happy to do so. If you prefer to have someone take on the case for you, then please use a Solicitor and not a Claims Company.

Joanne

Clarke hits greedy solicitors as he scraps no win, no fee deals;)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1324044/Kenneth-Clarke-hits-greedy-solicitors-scrapping-win-fee-deals.html#ixzz13XiQy4tc

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1324044/Kenneth-Clarke-hits-greedy-solicitors-scrapping-win-fee-deals.html