Gladestone brookes, ASA, CAB and no refund.

Furrycatnip

Hi,

Can anyone help me with a situation I have had with Gladstone Brookes.

Back in 2009/2010 I used Gladstone Brookes (GB) to reclaim PPI.

I did this because I believed there was a time-limit. I even said on the phone at the time that I was using them to do a claim before I couldn't.

Turns out there wasn't a time limit.

I found that the ASA (advertising standards agency) ruled against GB and said their advert was misleading.

Via the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) I contacted GB through their website and asked for a copy of the contract I had with them, as I was unable to find my original contract.

GB ignored me.

I then sent two letters as dictated by the CAB in which I said that GB has breached the ASA and broken the Misrepresentation act 1967

Both letters were also ignored.

The CAB says there is nothing further they can do, and no ombudsman seems to want to help.

I cannot afford the smalls claims court as I am unwell and on ESA benefit and receive a weekly income of £71.40 per week (I claim no other benefit).

Should I write to a newspaper such as the Daily Mail money advisors or even try contacting the BBC's Dominic Littlewood. I tend to think I would be ignored, but what else can I do?

dunstonh

I did this because I believed there was a time-limit. I even said on the phone at the time that I was using them to do a claim before I couldn't.

Turns out there wasn't a time limit.

Technically, there is a time limit. You have three years from being reasonably aware of an issue to raise a complaint. However, companies have only recently started the timebar process.

Should I write to a newspaper such as the Daily Mail money advisors or even try contacting the BBC's Dominic Littlewood. I tend to think I would be ignored, but what else can I do?

You can do but you dont appear to have much of a case. You told them you were using them before you couldnt. That is not grounds for complaint unless they told you that you must use them.

Furrycatnip

Hello Dunstonh,

Thank you for your reply.

I do tend to think that getting business from false advertising is illegal. What surprised me, is that no one in any official capacity seems to care that I was fooled into thinking there was a time limit on claiming PPI.

If there had not been the false advertising I would not have thought that I had to claim within a time limit.

After seeing their adverts still on telly I googled Gladstone Brookes and ASA and found that there had been a ruling at the end of 2012. I complained in 2013.

Is there any actual route I can take in seeking recompense considering I can't afford a small claims court!

dunstonh

do tend to think that getting business from false advertising is illegal. What surprised me, is that no one in any official capacity seems to care that I was fooled into thinking there was a time limit on claiming PPI.

There is a time limit on claiming PPI. That is your problem. However, the way the adverts were presented was wrong.

s there any actual route I can take in seeking recompense considering I can't afford a small claims court!

The court is your only option.

-taff

Was their PPI complaint succesful?

What compensation do you hope to achieve by your complaint they led you to believe there was a time limit?

Alpine_Star

Furrycatnip wrote: »

After seeing their adverts still on telly I googled Gladstone Brookes and ASA and found that there had been a ruling at the end of 2012. I complained in 2013.

Not that it matters much but the relevant ASA ruling was published in December 2012.


As it appears that you have suffered no loss it is difficult to see what claim in compensation you could make.

[Deleted User]

Furrycatnip wrote: »

Is there any actual route I can take in seeking recompense

You've already taken that route by writing those letters. You could write some more, but since you aren't due any recompense you'd be wasting your time I think.