American Express Blue CC

BeenWorried1972

Hi All,
I am new on the forum but have looked at moneysavingexpert for quite sometime.
I have had some good success with reclaiming PPI from HBOS last year, although was daft enough to let a company do the "far too easy, should have done it mself" work (the joys of hindsight!). Subsequently, ended up giving far too much money back to another institution.
Anyway, this is my dilema:

I got an American Express Blue Card via an online application approximately 10yrs ago. I did tick the box for PPI (just in case). I was employed full-time at the time of application. It offered cash back plus points. I set up a minimal d/debit monthly payment too. I also managed to pay more each month direct to American Express via cash at the bank. I will add, no i didn't pay the balance off each month (BIG mistake, have learnt from that!)
Anyway, all was well for a couple of years, ok so I will admit that a couple of times I went over my card limit, I got charged, my PPI was also taken out adding to the problem, this went on for a while.
The crunch came in the summer of 2003 when I lost my job. I got in touch with AE straight away & advised them of the situation. I was then asked to fill in a form sent to me from AE that I then had to send off to AE's Claims firm....
All this went on & on - form filling, send it off - round & round it went & I seemed to get more & more into debt with American Express.
What made it worse, the claims firm did not advise me that each time I had to sign on, I would have to get one of thier forms signed by the job centre... To add to the problem, the job centre then closed for a few months & I COULD NOT sign on... All the time the debt was increasing....
When I read the PPI pamphlet sent to me when I took out the Blue Card, as far as I was concerned, my PPI would help me out of the problem & from what I could see, would help clear the debt, some of my friends read it & thought just the same too! Boy oh Boy was I wrong...
Meanwhile the debt was increasing & I was also still paying the PPI insurance, despite actually trying to use (still can't get my head round that one either....), the late payment charges & interest charges were also mounting....
So I then found employment, and everyone wanted a BIG slice of my cake...
I was employed, but I was at rock bottom financially, I had also lost where I was living. I ended up living in a caravan for a few months too. I treid to talk to my debtors, I sent letters explaining & offering payments too. The biggest debt (as I explained by letter) was American Express, the debt collectors were appaling to say the least, they just didn't want to know. They accused me of being obstructive on the phone as I refused to answer just one question "what Car did drive?", I explained what it was, it's mileage & that it wasn't worth anything (which it really wasn't). Then I was effectively shouted at, told I was obstructive again. I then ended the call & wrote one final letter - Take me to Court. They didn't, I was chased for a while, but have not heard from them for sometime.

So I have explained the situation. I have still got 90% of the paperwork (statements, claims paperwork etc etc).
My question is this do I
1. Look at claiming my PPI back?
2. Do I risk, in doing that, having my debt (the CC debt is still there as far as I am aware) coming back to haunt me?

Please dear people - What do I do? :eek:
P.S One thing - I do not have a current credit card.....

di3004

Hi there

I would not use a claims company and have a go yourself, this way if successful all the refund will belong to you.

I am not sure on the debt matters as such if it was a long time ago I am not sure what happens, but there is a thread called debtwannabe that would know more on this part of it here.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76

To make a reclaim, its only a matter of completing a reclaim questionnaire, as shown on step 3 of reclaiming, send to the ones who set up the account/head office or complaints dept, and keep copies for your records, allow approx 8 weeks for a decision, good luck.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-credit-card-insurance

roonaldo

I did tick the box for PPI (just in case). I was employed full-time at the time of application.

this is a non-advised sale and you were eligible for it.

the claims firm did not advise me that each time I had to sign on, I would have to get one of thier forms signed by the job centre... To add to the problem, the job centre then closed for a few months & I COULD NOT sign on

you need to direct your complaint at insurer then, as not in anyway to do with the sale, it would be your responsibility to go to your nearest job centre. the terms and conditions of how to claim would be in the policy summary.

from what you have said you had problems claiming, which is after the event you taking it out, so no mis-sale.

BeenWorried1972

My main concern is if American Express (or who ever may have bought the debt) will come knocking at my door wanting payment if I go ahead & make a claim.
I don't think that the claims firm are at fault for not telling me about signing on - thats not really the issue. I would very much like to put the PPI claim in myself direct to American Express, using the help I can find on here.....:)

roonaldo

one of the biggest problems with the credit card PPI is that the costs are often not declared up front.

BeenWorried1972

Okay, well as far as I am aware the account (American Express Blue Card) went into default. So if I wish to put a claim in reclaiming the PPI, will I be cahsed for the remaining debt? I guess I could give the claimed money back to cover some part of the debt, but I have this horrid feeling it would just come back & bite me....:o

JuicyJesus

BeenWorried1972 wrote: »

Okay, well as far as I am aware the account (American Express Blue Card) went into default. So if I wish to put a claim in reclaiming the PPI, will I be cahsed for the remaining debt? I guess I could give the claimed money back to cover some part of the debt, but I have this horrid feeling it would just come back & bite me....:o

They are allowed to offset money to be returned to you against your debt without asking you first, so you probably wouldn't get any cash back. They may also point out that as you defaulted you did not pay for the PPI. They may then also send debt collectors after you.

In any event you were not mis-sold as you explicitly agreed to take the policy yourself by opting in. Your complaint would fall flat.