Alliance & Leicester (merged)

Becks_in_Debt

Well yesterday I decided to send A & L an offer of 20% discount on 1 account and 15% discount on the 2nd account, and i was going to post it 2day. Just spoke to OH and we have today received an offer of £440.00 from them, we were claiming for £780.39 (with interest), I am going to accept due to the hasstle that everyone else seems to be getting, and it is better than nothing, I am going to attach them a letter accepting the offer plus also requesting that the current balance get's wiped off as it all bank charges that I am currently paying back to them. Just spoke to CAB about it as we have been dealing with them for our debts, she isnt convinced that they will accept but it is worth a try.

magpie1892

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NORTHAMPTON COURT THIS MORNING SAYING THAT MY CLAIM HAS BEEN TRANSFERD TO MY LOCAL COURT.I THINK IM WAITING FOR AN ALLOCATION QUESTIONNAIRE( WHAT IS THIS ? ? ? ) .I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PREPARE FOR COURT, CAN ANY ONE HELP ME AS IM REALLY NERVOUS NOW.

albionmatt

Just look on MCOL and it says they have Acknowledged it...

The Defendant is allowed a total of 28 days from the date from when they are served with the claim to reply.

Yet yesterday the letter i got said they where defending it ..

Anyone got a clue whats going on..

Kurt_Hamster

Firstly please don't write in caps as it is considered shouting.

May I ask why you decided to take a national bank to court without doing your homework? You are going to have to take on the bank, their solicitors and the court system.

It isn't that difficult, but neither is it trivial or easy. You need to read up on it all (not just take the easy option and ask).

But to answer your questions.

You will have been transferred from Northampton to your local court as Northampton is the clearing court for MCOL.

An Allocation Questionnaire is to aid the court in deciding what claim track to put you on. Small claims, fast track and so forth. Ultimately it is based on the amount you are claiming. The likelihood is that you will receive a letter dispensing with the AQ because they know by experience of all the penalty charge reclaimants that you will need to go on the small claims track. If your claim is for more than £1500 you will need to pay a £100 allocation fee.

If you have no idea how to prepare for court why did you take it to court? You need to do your homework, like each and everyone of us.

Stephen_Leak

Firstly, push the Caps Lock key, so that the middle one of the three little green lights on your keyboard goes out. This will stop you typing in capital letters, which is the internet version of shouting. It also makes things so much easier to read.

Secondly, don't panic. Whilst taking a bank to court is not something to be entered into lightly, you have a right to justice. But, as Kurt says, you need to get everything right at this stage. The gloves are off and, to continue the boxing analogy, the exchange of letters was just a sparring session. I just hope your Particulars of Claim and interest calculations, etc. are OK.

Thirdly, read the article and the relevant threads on this forum. All the answers are there to be found.

Becks_in_Debt

Hello, just wanted some advice on the letter I am about to send to A & L

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing in reply to your offer of £440.00. I wish to accept this offer on the understanding that my current balance of £160.01 which I am currently paying back £4.00 per month as per agreed through Citizen's Advice Bureau is also cleared off the above account, due to these all being unlawful bank charges. I look forward to hearing from you soon along with my cheque.

Yours faithfully.

What do you reckon, it's straight to the point? not to brill on writing letters.

magpie1892

Hey Nadirish
Im In The Same Boat Aswell,did You Get An Allocation Questionnaire?or Do We Wait For That From The Local Court?

magpie1892

sorry about the caps button didnt realise it was on .all im asking for is a bit of help and guidance theres no need to be so abrupt kurt.im new to all this and its the first time in my life that ive done anything like this so give me a break please,it all looks so easy on the site and forums till it goes this far,now iam panicking ,but i wont give up,thanks for your comments and help anyway

magpie1892

as iam now unemployed do i have to pay the £100 allocation fee ? ? ?

Kurt_Hamster

If you are on jobseekers allowance or similar then you need to fill in the ex160 form...

Here's the guidance leaflet http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/ex160a_0406.pdf

If you didn't have to pay the initial court fee then you won't have to pay the allocation fee either.