I Know I Had PPI...But Cant Find My Old Account Details.How Can I Locate Acc Numbers?

Chrissywissy123

Hello all,

Probably a familiar story on this forum, but i have put off putting in a complaint for miss-sold PPI as i had previously thought it too complicated to deal with, and frankly resent the idea of paying a claims firm a high % to do it for me, but after reading this website and seeing that most people here are saying it's so simple to put in a claim yourself, i thought i'd have a go at it.

The problem is, on the forms / templates i have downloaded, it always asks for account numbers, and PPI account numbers, but also dates and branch details and all the rest...which unfortunately, i cant find, despite rooting through boxes of old paperwork, drawers, and the loft!

Does anyone know how i can locate the old account numbers, and PPI details, because i KNOW i was told by Natwest, when my Husband and I were courting and taking out loans for holidays etc, that they told us we couldn't have the loan without the insurance with it...i just can't find the blinking paperwork!

I thought the info might be in my credit report, but after following advice here to open a free trial account with Experian and Clearscore, the reports say nothing about old accounts etc...what else can i do?

I know if i went with a claims firm, they say i don't need my old paperwork or account numbers etc, as they will find out all the info for me...how do they do it, and can i do what they do to find the info myself?

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Christine.

[Deleted User]

A claims company will write to NatWest and ask them for the information.

You could do the same for the price of a stamp.

dunstonh

Account numbers are only required on cases where the data is old and the records filed under account number with no other way to trace them.

In most cases, account number is not required if they have other details (name, addresses, date of birth etc)

because i KNOW i was told by Natwest, when my Husband and I were courting and taking out loans for holidays etc, that they told us we couldn't have the loan without the insurance with it...i just can't find the blinking paperwork!

Whilst that is a mis-sale reason, it is also one of the weakest complaint reasons. Almost certainly there will be no evidence to back up that allegation. So, you may wish to consider if there are any other things they may have done wrong before you submit your complaint.

I know if i went with a claims firm, they say i don't need my old paperwork or account numbers etc, as they will find out all the info for me...how do they do it, and can i do what they do to find the info myself?

They dont find it out for you. There is no data about PPI you may or may not have held in the public domain. They just submit the complaints without the account number knowing that the lenders will be able to locate your data in most cases.

Chrissywissy123

Thanks zx81,

It's as simple as just asking the banks for the info on old accounts?

Getting a bit long in the tooth, i'm probably getting a bit cynical in my old age, but what's stopping the banks just saying they don't have any information to give me?

Especially if they suspect i'm asking for it regarding a possible PPI claim...

I've read here that people say the banks deny this and that, to get out of paying what they owe..so why would they be honest about the information, if they think it might cost them money?

(I did say i was getting cynical!)

I suppose i'll just have to trust them. Is it really as simple as writing to the bank's head office and asking them for all the information they have on file for me, if i include my old address, name and date of birth?

Thanks again.

Christine.

[Deleted User]

Chrissywissy123 wrote: »

I've read here that people say the banks deny this and that, to get out of paying what they owe..so why would they be honest about the information, if they think it might cost them money?

What do you suppose the reaction of the FCA would be when it came to light that a bank was deliberately lying about PPI records?

Chrissywissy123

Thanks for your reply dunstonh,

Unfortunately, the accounts both my now Husband and i were regularly getting loans out with, are quite old..going back to the early to mid 90's...but i distincly remember being told by the bank that the insurance was compulsory, or basically we couldn't have the loan.

We were told it was part and parcel of getting the loan, take PPI or you can't have a loan sort of thing. Being young back then, and wanting holidays in the sun, a car or whatever, and being quite naive, meant we didn't know any better.

I hear what you're saying about our complaint being based more or less on hearsay...but since there is a precedent now set, that this form of miss-selling was basically almost the standard part and parcel of the banking business model of the time, i would have thought that would carry a fair bit of weight?

To back things up a little, we were not told of any alternatives to the bank's PPI, like private insurance, employers sick pay (we were both employed by good companies which had fair sick pay entitlements)..it litterally was take PPI or you can't have the loan(s).

If a claims company just writes to the banks and asks them for the info, then i agree with both you and zx81, there's no reason why i can't do that myself!

Is there a standard form letter downloadable from here or elsewhere do you know? I am still quite naive financially, and lacking the proper terminology that might get better results.

Thanks once again,

Christine.

Chrissywissy123

Hmmm...good point.

Out of the frying pan into the fire scenario i suppose!

Thanks...(I'm trying not to be too conspiritorial! )

dunstonh

I hear what you're saying about our complaint being based more or less on hearsay...but since there is a precedent now set, that this form of miss-selling was basically almost the standard part and parcel of the banking business model of the time, i would have thought that would carry a fair bit of weight?

There has been no precedent and it carries no weight whatsoever. The available evidence from either side has to point towards a wrongdoing being likely. Each case is looked at on its own merits.

Very few complaints get upheld on unprovable allegations. Although many people who use that reason do succeed on their complaint because of another failure being identified.

To back things up a little, we were not told of any alternatives to the bank's PPI, like private insurance, employers sick pay (we were both employed by good companies which had fair sick pay entitlements)..it litterally was take PPI or you can't have the loan(s).

There is no requirement to do let you know of alternatives. However, if you have very strong employer sick pay (such as 12 months) then that can be a good reason for complaint for short term debts (not mortgage but works well on credit card and loan PPI).

-taff

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance

closed account method

sun73

Deleted_User wrote: »

What do you suppose the reaction of the FCA would be when it came to light that a bank was deliberately lying about PPI records?

FCA fine them heavily like they did when Clydesdale Bank were found to be misleading customers who complained about mis-sold PPI.


In my experience I've had three banks state in writing there was no record of me having PPI with their products. Fast forward two years and the evidence was found. Why wasn't it available earlier, I don't know, other than they seem to find more details when they are put under pressure.


I've come to the conclusion the information is there buried in microfiche, although I agree with Dunstonh a search of these archives requires an account number.


Back to the OP's question, you might be able to obtain copy statements dating from October 1992 from NatWest if you send a DSAR, and if the loan was unsecured it was more than likely set up as a single, upfront premium which you can use as your complaint reason.

ICan'tStandIt

I found an old Natwest credit card account number by contacting the bank who'd paid the monthly direct debit, as the direct debit reference number (the credit card number) was still held on their systems.

Hope this helps.