Credit card protection query please help Martin

Hyder_2

Hi all, I hope Martin reads this!!!

Here goes!.. Back in 2000 at the turn of the millenium I lost my mobility and hence my job and home which came with the job. I had to claim on the payment protection plan I had ticked on the box of my MBNA card. I must say now at the time they were great and dealt with the claim very quickly. I was sent forms from their insurers London and Edinburgh every 3 months which I had to get signed by my doctors. I thought everything was being taken care of, then we moved and I informed both parties and the forms carried on until the insurers said they had paid the total balance of £2,400. I assumed all had been dealt with, that was until about October 2003 when I was contacted and told that I was being court proceedings were about to be actioned against me.(they had sent letters to my old address) I asked why as I thought my account had been sorted, to my shock they said I now owed just over £3,000. I hastily made arrangements to pay a minimum amount as I was now disabled and on income support. I have now been paying £40/£50 every month for the last 4 years and still have a bit left to pay (less than a quarter). I have contacted them by phone many times to query this as after some early enquiries I found out that while London and Edinburgh sent me forms every 3 months and settled that bill, MBNA were hitting me for late payment fees and other charges for the 2 months inbetween the insurers payments. I questioned these charges and the subsequent black mark on my credit report, but always seemed to get some narky assistant who was always less than helpful. I'm sure this is wrong but don't know how to approach them regarding this as it's now been 2 years since last questioning it, i've just carried on paying to stop getting anymore grief.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

Hyder

Hyder_2

Bump!!.. Sorry but I really need some advice on this

Hyder_2

Bumpbumpbump

inmypocketnottheirs

OK, another angle of attack.

You say the balance is due to late payment charges. Well, as you may know by now, these are not lawful, and can be reclaimed. Follow the advice elsewhere on these boards.

Good luck!

Hyder_2

Hi Inmypocket and thanks for the reply...

It's not just late fee's, they had over limit charges too, this was all during the time the insurance company were handling my payments, prior to claim I had made regular payments of atleast double the minimum payment. I find it quite shocking when I sit and think about it, I mean the insurance company paid off the initial £2400 balance over the few years, so basically the £3100ish they chased me for is made up of interest and all sorts of charges.

I have tried to talk to them but find them very cold and unhelpful in the past, I want to write but don't know what to say. I have a progressive illness and stress is no good for it so writing may be the better option to phoning again. But if i'm honest, I'm a bit scared to take on big organisations now. During this claim my health deteriated quite bad, My lung collapsed and due to a hospital !!!! up I was left with a clot where my left leng should have been, !.5 kilos/litres in size. Keyhole surgery turned to major surgery. (I was told the pressure would have caused my other to collapse so they "had to open me up" and excavate the clot. Suffice to say I claimed and after 3 years or so I was advised to accept £3500. My solicitors last letter showing legal aid costs I recieved 3 months or so prior was for £8500 The reason I should accept was down to a report that said due to my since diagnosed illness (finally diagnosed 6 months after lung incident) My life had been inhibited anyway, The fact I was left handed and have lost a big percentage of it's use didn't matter to them.

Sorry for the essay

Hyder

inmypocketnottheirs

Hyder wrote: »

Hi Inmypocket and thanks for the reply...

It's not just late fee's, they had over limit charges too, this was all during the time the insurance company were handling my payments, prior to claim I had made regular payments of atleast double the minimum payment. I find it quite shocking when I sit and think about it, I mean the insurance company paid off the initial £2400 balance over the few years, so basically the £3100ish they chased me for is made up of interest and all sorts of charges.

Hyder

Hi Hyder. Sorry to hear of all your problems. It is an amazing knack that the banks have to be able to add to problems when you really could do with their help.

The over limit fees are also recoverable. I know that it may seem a mountainous task to write to them but follow the links on the home page to the template letters. If the situation that you are in has been caused by their charges, then you really should claim these back.

All the best.

Hyder_2

Thank you again Inmypocket!... It's been a trying day and I need something to direct some anger at. Will start on that task in the morning.

Hyder_2

Ok, now i'm just getting confused. I'm on the main site looking at the reclaiming page. Mines for credit card reclaiming so what is actually the 1st link/download I actually need. Sorry for sounding a right numpty

MSE_Martin

I think a combination of reclaiming the fees - but more importantly go and speak to the Consumer Credit Counselling service or Citizens Advice bureau about the debt immediately

Martin

Hyder_2

Thank you, thank you Thank you Martin!!! :beer:

I contacted the CCCS after explaining my situation they put me intouch with the Financial Ombudsman. They are taking up my case and are starting complaint proceedures against MBNA and also their insurers who handle the payment protection claims.

I feel like I have had a great big weight lifted already, I know it's going to be a while and will probably involve filling in some forms and stuff, but to know I have someone helping has lifted me no ends.

Thanks again...

Hyder

P.S, The Ombudsman made a comment when we were discussing my payments since my account was froze after the claim, it was when i mentioned i'm still getting charged interest, I got the impression i shouldn't be????

Hyder_2

Hi all... Recieved my letters from the FO confirming they've written to MBNA. I should recieve letters back shortly off MBNA and their insurers.

Don't know how long they will take to get back to me exactly? but shortly could be a couple of weeks....

Wheels are in motion... Fingers crossed it goes well.

Will keep you updated on progress as and when I recieve correspondents off them.

Hyder