Getting refund from cancelled decree absolute search

Beckyy

My Dad needed a copy of his decree absolute. Tring to be the helpful daughter I got as many details as I could and sent a request to the Principal Registry of the Family Division with the £60 cheque (13th May), thinking I would suprise my Dad. However, he took it upon himself to get a copy from an office local to him after remembering some more details.

As my search wouldn't have been delivered to the office yet I called and spoke to a lady who took my details and said she would hand them to the mailing team to cancel my search. I asked if I should cancel the cheque and she said no as I would be refunded. I didn't get a chance to take her name down, this was 14th May

Since them the cheque has left my account and I've not recieved a refund. I emailed them and recieved no reply. So called this morning and spoke to somebody who didn't seem to understand very well, and said I couldn't have a refund, they then said they would look into it and call me back.

I'm guessing I should have just stopped the cheque now, however I haven't recieved the promised refund nor have I recieved the decree absolute (which I don't want/need).

Does anybody have an advice on how to proceed please?

Valli

Write a letter to them outlining the timescale of events, to whom you spoke or when, what was said and request a refund.

Keep a copy.

For future reference it's always a good idea to jot down date and times of key calls like this, what was said/agreed and to whom you spoke, just in case you need to follow up later.

Beckyy

Thanks Valli. I have the name of who I spoke to today.

However, it's not sounding very promising that I'll get my refund.

Surely they could work out who it was I spoke to first based on the date/time I called.

I guess I should wait to see if he calls back before writing a letter? Really hope I can get the money back as £60 is significant.

Valli

Beckyy wrote: »

Thanks Valli. I have the name of who I spoke to today.

However, it's not sounding very promising that I'll get my refund.

Surely they could work out who it was I spoke to first based on the date/time I called.

I guess I should wait to see if he calls back before writing a letter? Really hope I can get the money back as £60 is significant.

They should be able to work out to whom you spoke. With the benefit of hindsight you would have been better to cancel the cheque - but if they have done the work initially requested chances are they won't refund:(

Beckyy

That's what I was thinking. I was going to stop the cheque straight away but thought I ought to phone first, the lady was very certain that I shouldn't stop it so I took her word instead of paying the fee to cancel it.

I have the exact time I phoned.

If they have done the search I will just have to accept the decree absolute and take it as a lesson learned not to try and do helpful suprises in the future!

I've got a funny feeling they've cancelled the search and still cashed the cheque though as I'd have expected it to arrive by now.

Beckyy

She never cancelled it.

I had a letter in the post today to say the decree absolute is being forwarded to me. :mad: