Fined £270 Even Though I Had Car Insurance - Fighting Since June 2009!

rev_henry

Marv02 wrote: »

Hi, I just thought I'd give you guys an update.

after my claim being transferred to the appeals department, on the 9th of august I received a letter stating: "I am in the process of investigating your request for a refund and will contact you in due course with an update."

The problem is this was on the 9th of august and currently it is the 2nd of September. So I've been waiting a full 3 weeks for a follow-up.

The even worse part is, no contact number was left on the letter, when I called up the """ they said they only have an internal number and if I would like to get through to them I would have to write them a letter, and that is what I want to do.

I'm just not to sure what to write, I was thinking along the lines of a short letter, setting a dead line. What do you guys think?

Call them up and say you want to speak to the person, so they need to put you through, and you're not going until they do so. Failing that contact a solicitor; this is beyond a joke...

Marv02

rev_henry wrote: »

Call them up and say you want to speak to the person, so they need to put you through, and you're not going until they do so. Failing that contact a solicitor; this is beyond a joke...

See, the thing is, this super secret number was so secret I wasn't to know it even existed. But the man I was speaking to said it at the slip of a tongue that he "spoke" to the woman and I asked him "by phone?" and he replied yes. I asked the number but he said it was an internal extension and no one is allowed it blah blah.

I would contact a solicitor, but I'm trying to get out of this as pain free as possible. I was even going to include in the letter a refund for all the phone calls I made over the course of a year... Which came to something like £50...

I agree, this is beyond a joke. I was advised before to set a dead line, but forgot to put it into the letter, that's why I wanted to set a 7 day deadline or something along the lines.

Any tips and an extremely short, but threatening letter?

Farzackerly

If it were me, I'd be looking seriously at rattling their chain a bit by letting them know the deadline and that if they don't pull their fingers out, publicity will follow; the Met don't much like negative publicity.
Then, I'd look at the possibility of pursuing a small claim via https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk
but of course, check out whether the Met can be sued.
Remember to include all your out of pocket expenses.

rev_henry

Farzackerly wrote: »

If it were me, I'd be looking seriously at rattling their chain a bit by letting them know the deadline and that if they don't pull their fingers out, publicity will follow; the Met don't much like negative publicity.
Then, I'd look at the possibility of pursuing a small claim via https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk
but of course, check out whether the Met can be sued.
Remember to include all your out of pocket expenses.

I'm fairly sure they can't using MCOL, but you can take them to court by other means; hence my suggestion of a solicitor. I'm sorry Marv this is so out of the ordinary I think we're all at a bit of a loss as to what to tell you...

Did you pay the £260 by credit card or Visa debit by any chance?

Marv02

rev_henry wrote: »

I'm fairly sure they can't using MCOL, but you can take them to court by other means; hence my suggestion of a solicitor. I'm sorry Marv this is so out of the ordinary I think we're all at a bit of a loss as to what to tell you...

Did you pay the £260 by credit card or Visa debit by any chance?

Yup, £270 paid to the met via debit card, and statement to prove it. You need to understand that I included a copy of the ticket, my insurance which proves me being insured, and a copy of the statement underlining the £270 that was taken. I clearly stated that I will be including the following. In the letter I got back, they gave me the impression that they checked everything out and are now in the process of refunding me.

But I guess not. That is why I wanted to send one last letter to remind them that I am still waiting, it could be that they just put me to the bottom of the list becuase I never set a deadline. As mentioned before, I suck at this whole letter thing. It took me over 50 replies from you guys just to lay out a template on what to be written. But I had in mind something like this:

"Dear Miss XXX

I am still waiting to hear the outcome of my appeal for a refund for XXXX. It has now been 21 days and I still haven't heard from you regarding this matter. As of today, I am setting a dead line of 14 days, on which I hope to have this issue resolved, and to be refunded before this deadline is over.

With regards,
Mr XXX."

That's all I've gotten so far. Again, I would like to save going to a solicitor as that is going to cost me a fair penny, and I just don't have the free cash to through around right now...

Oh and PS... thanks for all the help over the passing few months, if it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't have gotten where I am today. Thanks again.

MX5huggy

Have you tried you MP yet? they have these secret numbers, a letter or phone call from an MP's office always got people jumpy in the Job Centre (DWP). Similar in the NHS with my wife.She was called 2 days before our baby was due because an MP had written to the trust chief exec.

Marv02

MX5huggy wrote: »

Have you tried you MP yet? they have these secret numbers, a letter or phone call from an MP's office always got people jumpy in the Job Centre (DWP). Similar in the NHS with my wife.She was called 2 days before our baby was due because an MP had written to the trust chief exec.

Thanks, I was going to WAY back then but that was when I was getting nowhere. At least now I've gotten a hold of the dept I need to get in touch with, its just I guess there not taking it to seriously to "hurry" up, but they can't ignore me and they know it seen as everything I've done is via recorded delivery.

cyclonebri1

Stinker of a situation:mad:, keep mse posted :money:

pinkteapot

In ye good olde days, insurance was taken out through a broker who could provide you with a cover note (proof of insurance until the certificate was received) on the spot. I'm not sure all this modern technology has improved things very much. You'd think insurers could issue a cert or note on the spot via email, but of course official bodies never accept any documents that have been printed off a computer.

Quentin

Nowadays a printed certificate is no proof (the holder could have had the policy cancelled)