Lovetts Solicitors and Premium Credit Ltd Trading As HTC

DVardysShadow

Socialinsur wrote: »

.... And then the company or individual has access to template letters and then changes the address, reference and heading (I did think the letter was curiously generalized)?

There is a webpage on the Lovetts website called online access (I can't post the link because I am a new moneysavingexpert forum user):

"Our new Client web access gives you full case information plus the ability to instruct us through all stages of Debt Recovery."

So are you saying that the "client" is being allowed by Lovetts to use their letterhead and a standard letter and to use the firm as an address to send it from?

http://www.lovetts.co.uk/webaccess/default.aspx

Effectively, I think you are right about the process.

And it does seem open to abuse. In this case, it seems to me possible that some third party may be using the facility to send a few letters out to random addresses to create the impression that the lady opposing the mansion is in debt.

The correct thing to do, I think, is to pass this letter to the lady so that she can make complaints to the Information Commissioner or take any other action.

Socialinsur

Social Insur wrote on 19.11.2011:

So, set in the context of the FSA findings on data security systems and control and the change from HTC to SFP, doesn't this letter from Lovetts Solicitors in Guildford Surrey which purports to be on behalf of "Premium Credit Ltd trading as HTC" seem rather the tip of an iceberg? :eek:

Oh goodness, I really didn't see the following coming - I thought I'd be a bit of a Cassandra but looks like the legend will have to be re-written. HTC used to be a partnership between Premium Credit Ltd and HSBC (Insurance Brokers) Ltd. HSBC (Insurance Brokers) Ltd were already fined by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) (curiously not the Information Commissioner) in 2009 for failing to protect customers' data.

First fee paying schools (and Rupert Murdoch even wanting to set up a charity to send kids to fee paying schools with the Dowler settlement!), now fee paying care homes ... Talk about tip of an iceberg. What is going on?

HSBC fined $16m for mis-selling to elderly customers
The Financial Express 6th December 2011

"Britain’s financial regulator slapped a £10.5-million ($16.4 million) fine on HSBC on Monday for mis-selling products to elderly customers paying for care home costs, the biggest-ever fine for a retail banking offence.

"Europe’s biggest bank is likely to pay another £29.3 million in compensation to particularly vulnerable elderly customers, who were given inappropriate investment advice by HSBC’s NHFA subsidiary, the Financial Services Authority said.

"Advice given was unsuitable because in many cases the life expectancy of the individual was below the recommended five-year investment period.

"The average age of NHFA’s customers was almost 83.

"The fine comes at a time of low public trust of banks following the financial crisis, which required taxpayers to bail out lenders in several countries. In Britain, banks are also having to pay billions of pounds to compensate customers wrongly sold payment protection insurance (PPI), which allowed borrowers to keep up debt repayments in case of loss of income." [my italics]

I can't post links as a new user but:

Dear old ladies menace city titans with mis-sale risks by Jonathan Guthrie, Financial Times December 5 2011
[rather patronising jokey Ealing Comedy Ladykillers' tack for such a serious subject]

Also the Daily Mail, This is Money
HSBC handed record fine and ordered to repay £29m after ripping off thousands of care home residents by Ed Monk 5 December 2011

HSBC fined £10.5m for selling five-year bonds to over 80s
The Guardian, Jill Treanor Monday 5 December 2011

'Age UK, which had a relationship with NHFA from 2003-09, expressed its concern. "NHFA were a major adviser in the area of funding care home fees and were trusted by many including Help the Aged (now part of Age UK). We are urgently reviewing the findings to see if the announcement affects Help the Aged customers and how we can help them access compensation from HSBC," said Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age UK.'

And now from Sky News today [Tuesday December 6 2011]

"MPs warn of future care homes crisis by David Crabtree

"Britain is facing the risk of another care homes crisis on the scale of Southern Cross, according to the Public Accounts Committee, a powerful group of MPs.

"Southern Cross, the country's biggest care home provider, fell into debt and crashed earlier this year. More than 30,000 elderly and vulnerable residents were affected.

"They are now being cared for by other providers.

"Margaret Hodge, committee chair, said: "We are worried that the Department of Health has not got a grip and has not put together a strategy for understanding what's happening in the care market, for taking pre-emptive action where it can where the market could collapse and for dealing with failure if you get another Southern Cross."

And on the NHFA (formerly Nursing Home Fees Agency) website:

"HSBC Bank plc, which includes the NHFA business division, decided to close NHFA to new business from 1 July 2011. Giving advice on financial provision for long term care needs is a specialised service which HSBC no longer feels is consistent with its main banking business.

"Unfortunately, this does mean that NHFA is now unable to offer any further financial advice.

"If you are an existing NHFA customer a letter [my bold and italics] will be sent to you shortly giving you further information."

Oh dear, another letter ... :eek:

DCFC79

Did you write the letter as vuvuzela suggested ?