CCLS - Consumer Credit Litigation solicitors - Burleys Solicitors CLOSED

marshallka

Says closed down on the above BUT it is only suspended on MOJ????

orc_2

Guidance from MoJ for customers of claims management companies that are suspended

https://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/userfiles/file/Consumer%20factsheet%20(suspended%20or%20cancelled)%20v2.pdf

From the Ministry of Justice web site

Claims Management Regulator Fact Sheet – Suspended or cancelled business

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If a claims management businesses authorisation has been suspended or cancelled it means that it will no longer be able to carry out any claims management services. As a result they will not be able to continue assisting consumers with their claims. If you find yourself in this position the following guidance might be helpful. [/FONT][/FONT]

What will happen to my agreement with the business?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If the claim has not been completed you might be entitled to repayment of any fee. You should contact the claims management business immediately stating you are aware they are no longer able to provide the service as agreed with you and seek a refund of fee for any work not completed. If you have a ‘conditional fee agreement (CFA)’ with the business you might be entitled to repayment of the entire fee. A CFA means where the business has guaranteed they would refund your fee if your claim was not successful. [/FONT][/FONT]

I have entered into an agreement within the last 14 days?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]All clients who have an entered into an agreement are entitled to a 14 day cooling off period. This means you can cancel the agreement and request a refund of any fees paid. You should contact the claims management business as soon as possible informing them that you wish to cancel. [/FONT][/FONT]

I paid for the service by credit card, what should I do?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If you did pay by credit card and the claims management business is no longer able to provide a service, you may be able to seek a refund direct from your credit card company. You should contact your credit card company and they will be able to advise if you have a claim. Consumer Direct also has useful advice on how to request a refund.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/making-complaint/template-letters/consumer_credit/ [/FONT][/FONT]

I paid for the service by debit card, what should I do?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Some banks and building societies operate voluntary schemes similar to those for credit cards; you will need to contact your debit card provider for further information. [/FONT][/FONT]

I have paid in cash, by cheque or banker draft

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If you have paid by any of the above means then you will not be able to recover the fee you paid other than to write and ask the business if they would be prepared to refund you if they have not provided the service or they are unable to provide the service as they are no longer authorised. [/FONT][/FONT]

My claim has been sent to a third party (loan provider or solicitor), what should I do?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Contact the provider or solicitor and ask them to deal directly with you about your claim as the claims management business is no longer authorised. You should also write to the claims management business at their registered office address and lodge [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]a complaint as they are no longer able to deal with your complaint. This may be helpful if the business goes into liquidation as your claim for a refund of fee, partial or otherwise, can be registered with the administrators. [/FONT][/FONT]

My claim has been sent to the Financial Services Ombudsman?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If you know that your claim has been sent to the Financial Ombudsman then they will already have the claim documents. There is no need to contact the Ombudsman as they will contact you in due course. If you are not sure if your claim has been referred to the ombudsman please contact then to confirm they have details of your claim. [/FONT][/FONT]

Can I take any other action against the business?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]You might have a right to go to court for breach of contract, if a claims management business is no longer authorised. We would strongly recommend that you seek independent legal advice before taking any court action. Details of providers of free legal advice are below. [/FONT][/FONT]

General

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]We would advise you to put any requests in writing and to send all letters by registered post or obtain proof of posting. Always keep copies of all communications including letters or emails and a record of any telephone calls. [/FONT][/FONT]

Useful contacts

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Talk to your bank or [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]credit card provider they might be able to help. If you find [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]yourself in financial difficulties, you should let your bank know as soon as possible. [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]Further information on how your bank may be able to help is available on: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]http://www.bba.org.uk/content/1/c6/01/50/33/Dealing%20with%20debt.pdf [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]You can get free, independent advice from any of the following: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]* Advice UK Phone: 020 7407 4070 Website: http://www.adviceuk.org.uk [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]* Citizens Advice :You can get the phone number of your local bureau from the phone book, the local library or from the website: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]* Consumer Credit Counselling Service Phone: 0800 138 1111 Website: http://www.cccs.co.uk [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]* National Debtline Phone: 0808 808 4000 Website: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]* Payplan Phone 0800 917 7823 Website: http://www.payplan.com/ [/FONT]

[/FONT]How do I contact you?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]You can contact us in any of the following ways: [/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Via our website: http://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/contact.aspx [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Arial]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]By e-mail: [EMAIL="info@claimsregulation.gov.uk"]info@claimsregulation.gov.uk[/EMAIL] [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]By telephone: 0845 4506858 / 01283 233309 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]In writing: MCU, 57-60 High Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1JS[/FONT]


Delayed service in claims regulation- fact sheet from MoJ

https://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/userfiles/file/Consumer%20Factsheet%20(delay%20in%20service).pdf





Consumer Fact Sheet - Debt Transfer Companies

Lenders regularly sell consumers debts onto debt collection businesses, why can’t consumers do the same?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Most lender agreements contain a term which allows them to sell/transfer the contract to the debt collection business. However, agreements rarely contain a term allowing the consumer to do the same. Therefore debts sold or reassigned cannot be transferred without the agreement of the lender. [/FONT]

[/FONT]What if I have an agreement with a debt transfer company?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Because the agreement/liability cannot be transferred, the consumer is still responsible for making payments in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. If payments have been missed you will be in breach of contract, the lender has the option to take recovery action and the consumer may incur costs. [/FONT]

[/FONT]What should I do now?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If you have missed a number of payments you will have a number of options! You can contact your lender and attempt to negotiate a suitable repayment plan to cover any arrears. Alternatively, you should contact an independent debt advice service for assistance. We would urge you to take action as soon as possible, as any delay may result in further charges being made by your lender. [/FONT]

[/FONT]I have paid fees out to the company, can I get them back?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Under our rules and the Distance Selling Regulations, anyone entering into an agreement for such a service is entitled to a 14 day cooling off period, with no charge to the consumer. You should contact the company advising that you wish to cancel and confirm this in writing. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]If you have already paid the company and the cooling off period has expired you should write to the company requesting a refund. If the company fails to provide a refund you have the option to pursue the company in the county court, for possible misrepresentation and/or breach of contract. However, we would advise you to seek further advice from Consumer Direct or the Citizens Advice Bureau, before deciding whether to take such action. [/FONT]

[/FONT]How will it affect my consumer credit reference file?

[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Because the debt cannot be transferred, any missed payments will be logged against a consumers file. However, any arrangement to repay arrears is also logged and can help to improve your rating.[/FONT]

[/FONT]Useful details/contacts:
[FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]Claims Management Regulation Monitoring and Compliance Unit [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial](www.claimsregulation.gov.uk or 0845 4506858 / 01283 233309) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]Consumer Direct (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or 08454 040506) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Arial]National Debtline (www.nationaldebtline.co.uk or 0808 808 4000) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]You can find details of your local Citizens Advice Bureau via the Citizens Advice website - www.citizensadvice.org.uk [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Arial]Further information concerning this issue can be found on the Office of Fair Trading website - http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2009/72-09[/FONT]

[/FONT][/FONT]

marshallka

Lets hope other organisations are also investigating now and that if they have nothing to hide (as they have always stated) then they have nothing to worry about. I am sure they will be up and running again in a jiffy if that is the case!!!

marshallka

Martin has spoken on why the Cartel thread was taken down here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=30982043#post30982043

orc_2

Guardian article re Cartel

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/18/justice-ministry-claims-management

Justice ministry shuts down claims-management firm

• Thousands looking to get debts written off may lose money
• Cartel Client Review was assisting 35,000 clients

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• Rupert Jones
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 18 March 2010 20.46 GMT
• Article history

One of Britain's biggest claims-management firms was effectively shut down by the Ministry of Justice – leaving in limbo thousands of people who have paid fees of up to £495 in the hope of getting their debts written off.
The MoJ said it had suspended the authorisation of Cartel Client Review, based in Manchester, and added: "This means CCR will no longer be able to carry out any claims-management services ... As a result, they will not be able to continue assisting consumers with their claims."
The firm's website does not appear to be working, and the MoJ is advising those who have paid money to the firm to seek a refund if their claim has not been completed. It is thought the company has as many as 35,000 clients.
Cartel Client Review claims to be "probably the UK's largest and fastest-growing financial claims-management company". It specialises in attempting to get credit card and other debts written off by proving financial contracts are unenforceable or flawed, and has succeeded in getting a number of high-profile cases publicised by the national press. It emerged earlier this month the MoJ was investigating CCR, and the firm that provided legal services for its clients, Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors, was last week shut down by the solicitors' regulator.
Last month, BBC Radio 4's Money Box claimed it had been contacted by customers who had paid – in some cases – thousands of pounds to get credit cards and loans written off, or to get compensation on their mortgages, but were still waiting for an outcome. In an interview with yesterday's Daily Mirror, Carl Wright, CCR's chief executive, said the money handed over by clients "is not available to be refunded back". He insisted the initial legal work had been done, and clients needed to find a solicitor to pursue the case.
The MoJ, which regulates claims-management firms, said: "Enforcement action is taken against businesses which fail to comply with the conduct rules ... Removing a business's authorisation is a serious matter which can only be taken after careful consideration of all the evidence and the consequences for clients of such action."
It added: "As with any suspended business, the MoJ will be monitoring the situation and considering next steps that may be appropriate. If you are a customer of CCR, your agreement with them, as with any provider, is a private contractual matter between yourself and the provider in which MoJ cannot intervene directly."
The MoJ said it was advising customers that if their claim had not been completed, "you might be entitled to repayment of any fee". Those who paid by credit card may be able to seek a refund from the card company. Those who paid with cash, cheque or banker's draft "will not be able to recover the fee you paid other than to write and ask the business if they would be prepared to refund you."

orc_2

The MoJ statement on Cartel Client Review re suspension of license to undertake claims management

https://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/index.aspx



CARTEL CLIENT REVIEW LTD

Due to the high volume of enquiries we have received about the status of Cartel Client Review Ltd’s (CCR) authorisation with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) we are making the following statement which responds and provides advice to assist customers of CCR.

The MoJ regulates claims management companies by enforcing the Compensation Act 2006 and underlying legislation. Enforcement action is taken against businesses which fail to comply with the conduct rules. A range of informal and formal actions are available including warnings, undertakings and ultimately the suspension or cancellation of a business’s authorisation to trade in claims services. Removing a business’s authorisation is a serious matter which can only be taken after careful consideration of all the evidence and the consequences for clients of such action.

MoJ has already confirmed publicly that we have been investigating CCR. As a result of this investigation, we have suspended the authorisation of Cartel Client Review Ltd, with effect from today 18 March 2010.

This means that CCR will no longer be able to carry out any claims management services. As with any suspended business, the MoJ will be monitoring the situation and considering next steps that may be appropriate.

If you are a customer of CCR your agreement with them, as with any provider, is a private contractual matter between yourself and the provider in which MoJ cannot intervene directly because it is not a regulatory matter for which MoJ has responsibility. Further information which might assist consumers can be found here.

Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors provided legal services for clients of CCR but were recently closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA have an information page about that closure on their website.

CONSUMER UPDATE: Factsheets issued
The Claims Management Regulator publishes the first set of factsheets aimed at clients of claims management businesses. The Factsheets seek to provide practical advice to consumers of claims management services where the business they have instructed is not providing the service as expected, if their authorisation has been suspended or cancelled or if you have instructed a business that claims it can have your debt transferred to them.

These factsheets are now all available on the For Consumers page of the website, and further factsheets will be made available shortly.

marshallka

Over at the Loancheck/Watsons threads on the PPI forum it may surprise some to learn that Cartel Client Review also introduced cases to Loancheck!!!!!!!!!!

People seem to be having problems with Loancheck much the same as Cartel but loancheck did not charge the client the fee of £495, instead people are at threat of paying the audit fees apparently that was paid over BY the solicitor to Loancheck for taking the case on and repayable to the solicitor if the cases did not progress. Most of the Loancheck companies are now in administration!!!!

This was a so called "free" no risk to the client service unlike Cartel but still looks like things have gone pear shaped.

Perhaps now MOJ are investigating Cartel they may come across Loancheck in their investigations.

orc_2

They won't go looking unfortunately marshallka.

They need high volumes of complaints right in front of them and a media focus.

It does not surprise me though.

orc_2

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/claims+management+firm+suspended/3583212

Claims management firm suspended

Source PA News

Updated on 18 March 2010



A claims management firm was suspended, leaving in limbo thousands of people who had paid it fees in the hope of having their debts written off.

Cartel Client Review's authorisation was suspended by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for "regulatory reasons". The move means it can no longer take on new business or operate on consumers' behalf.

The group is thought to have between 30,000 and 70,000 customers who have paid it up-front fees of £485 in the hope of having their credit card and other debts cancelled.

The group, whose website boasts it is "probably the UK's largest and fastest growing financial claims management company", claimed it could use legal loopholes to have people's debts cancelled.

The Ministry of Justice said: "Removing a business's authorisation is a serious matter which can only be taken after careful consideration of all the evidence and the consequences for clients of such action.
"MoJ has already confirmed publicly that we have been investigating CCR. As a result of this investigation, we have suspended the authorisation of Cartel Client Review Ltd, with effect from today, March 18 2010.

"This means that CCR will no longer be able to carry out any claims management services. As with any suspended business, the MoJ will be monitoring the situation and considering next steps that may be appropriate."

But it added that it could not help people who had paid money to the firm, as this was a private contractual matter between them and the business, and was not an area for which it had regulatory responsibility. Instead it advised people to contact the group and ask for a refund for any work that had not been completed.

People who have taken out a contract during the past 14 days are entitled to a cooling-off period and can cancel the contract and ask for their money back.

Those who paid their fee by credit card may also be able to get it refunded through their credit card company as Cartel is no longer able to provide the service it had agreed to. The group's legal services were provided by Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors but they were recently closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.

marshallka

orc wrote: »

They won't go looking unfortunately marshallka.

They need high volumes of complaints right in front of them and a media focus.

It does not surprise me though.

They may already have high volumes of complaints though!! We do not know.