Beech Consultants? Legitimate?!

gottadothis

Hi

Hope anyone can help? I've not posted before!

We received a phone call from above consultants last week to inform us that they believed we had a valid claim for more than 4k further to a loan taken out several years ago with Norton Finance.

We have never explored this as a valid option before as we don't recall taking out payment protection, but we have had many different loans in the past through Norton, Paragon, Future Loans, Endeavour etc

I'm unsure how Beech have established this (they did have quite a few details re this particular account which has been settled for quite a while) but also understand that Norton Finance are no longer in business - so unsure if this can be addressed anyway?!

Just a few questions:

1. Beech want 25% of the money we get back plus VAT - is this reasonable? We knew nothing about this money in the first place - so, in one way we are thinking that it may be worth them pursuing (or are we being naive)?!?

2. Alternatively - are we able to address this ourselves? But given Norton have gone bust - I would not have a clue as to how or where to go! Could anyone point me in the right direction of any templates if they are available as I dont think I could write to Norton!?!?

3. I do not have any paperwork from the original loans (was during a particularly messy financial period!!) and unsure if this would have an effect on our success? If so - would Beech Consultancy be better managing this on our behalf?

4. Beech have mentioned that there is a higher settlement figure noted on the documentation when we paid the loan off early - which would suggest that PPI has been paid when we settled without actually agreeing to this? Is this a possibility?!?

5. Any advice on how we ought to take this forward

This has sparked my interest and it is the first time I have ever given PPI any thought and the money would come in very handy, but I don't want to get too excited - as it may simply be a "cold Call" and theyre simply trying their luck!

They have sent out a consent form to pursue and have made out that it would be relatively straight forward!???

If I were to address myself - how much is this likely to cost and also what sort of timescales are we looking at?

Many thanks in advance for any help that can be thrown my way!
Best regards - Much appreciated

[Deleted User]

gottadothis wrote: »

If I were to address myself - how much is this likely to cost and also what sort of timescales are we looking at?

It would cost 100% less* than Beech want to charge you, and would work to the same timescales.

*However, you would need to buy your own stamp for the envelope.

dunstonh

I'm unsure how Beech have established this (they did have quite a few details re this particular account which has been settled for quite a while) but also understand that Norton Finance are no longer in business - so unsure if this can be addressed anyway?!

It will be anything from a data protection breach (obtaining info from old staff), buying land registry data which is in the public domain (most likely as I have had several calls making similar allegations from unknown companies saying the same as what you have been told and I never had PPI). Or it could be a little bit of info with the rest made up.

1. Beech want 25% of the money we get back plus VAT - is this reasonable?

25% plus VAT for putting a form that you fill in into an envelope and posting it to the free of charge complaints process you would use if you were to post that same form directly yourself. So, in effect, 25% plus VAT for a stamp.

2. Alternatively - are we able to address this ourselves? But given Norton have gone bust - I would not have a clue as to how or where to go! Could anyone point me in the right direction of any templates if they are available as I dont think I could write to Norton!?!?

You complain to the broker, not the lender.

3. I do not have any paperwork from the original loans (was during a particularly messy financial period!!) and unsure if this would have an effect on our success? If so - would Beech Consultancy be better managing this on our behalf?

no they wouldnt.

4. Beech have mentioned that there is a higher settlement figure noted on the documentation when we paid the loan off early - which would suggest that PPI has been paid when we settled without actually agreeing to this? Is this a possibility?!?

it could easily be an early repayment charge or a debt that front loaded some of the interest and you got a penalty for paying it back early.

- as it may simply be a "cold Call" and theyre simply trying their luck!

as most cold calls are.

gottadothis

Thank you so much for your quick response! You mention that I ought to complain to the broker, not the lender, as far as I am aware, Norton were the broker?! (I may be wrong) so if they have gone into administration - where should I send the letter to and where would I find this information out? (sorry - I know this sounds so very basic!! but not done anything like this before!!!)
If this was further than 6 years ago - is there anything I can request ie information to contact each of my previous lenders / brokers and is this held on some sort of central repository?
Sorry for coming across so clueless!!!!

jellie

What date did you take out the loan?

gottadothis

I think it must have been around 2005 or 2006
As I said I have no records / documents
Also, given Norton no longer in business - unsure where to send any requests for information to!?