Really Unsure and Worried..Banksmart

melanieph

I have been with Bank smart for a number of years and have received about £70 throughout this time. Due to financial circumstances I needed to collate my finances and join an IVA company to help me consolidate my debt.

After a year of being with the IVA company I received a call from them to say I could only be with their PPI company therefore whatever money I had coming back to me would be paid off my debt and that I should cancel with bank smart.

I followed instructions and informed bank smart and told them my situation. I then started to receive letters for charges from bank smart. I got in touch with BS and they told me I would be charged at the time about £2000. I got back in touch with IVA company and told them what BS had said to me and they agreed I should stay with BS. I Email BS many time regarding this issue I was then issued with a summary and break down of what I was needing to pay. bills for sending me out the same letter many times.

I tried to speak with someone but could not get through to talk with anyone from BS. I then asked for help from the citizens advice although BS did not acknowledge there response. I was advised to get in touch with the ombudsman.

What are my next steps. I would rather appreciate advice

ty

-taff

read this thread and see if this applies
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70540780#Comment_70540780

Also, did they make clear that if you owed money to the compny you would be complaining to that you would have to pay them?

Have you still got a copy of your contract?

National_Debtline

Hi Melanieph,


This sounds like quite a tricky situation. You will need to check the terms and conditions of your agreement with Bank Smart and your IVA. Most IVA's have a PPI clause wrote into them, which means the IVA company will try and reclaim any mis-sold PPI and that is used to offset the debts. The fact that your IVA company told you to leave Bank Smart but then go back to them is a bit odd - hopefully your contracts could shine some light on this.


But, realistically, if Bank Smart are billing you for something that you believe is incorrect and you cannot resolve it with them directly then you do need to escalate this to the Financial Ombudsman now. Did this affect your IVA at all or is that still running ok?


Laura
@natdebtline

dancingfairy

What charges were you expecting to pay bank smart? The charges/Cancellation charges/ exit terms and conditions should have been spelt out to you when you signed up. Did you cancel in accordance with these terms and conditions?
If you don't have your contract with bank smart or the terms and conditions you could probably do a subject access request (sar) . thus will cost you 10 pounds ( it's a set fee) and the company are obliged to provide all the documentation they have on you. I believe this should include a copy of the contract ( signed) and any relevant terms and conditions( someone else can advise if this is true). Following that you should be in a better position to know what's going on and how to address your complaint.
Df