HSBC claim they cannot locate application

dugma1975

Hi All

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My Wife and I both recently wrote to HSBC requesting copies of our original application for loans and CC taken out several years back.

Both have now received the same response claiming they have searched extensively through their records and cannot find the application as its longer than 6 years ago.

We are both adamant that we had PPI but we have no records to prove so.

They have invited us to contact FO but my fear is with no evidence it will go against us.

Do people suspect this is there standard letter trying to worm out of it or would this be genuine and we are going to struggle to redeem what we believe is owed.

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

[Deleted User]

If you don't believe them, you could try a SAR for £10.

However, why do you want the application? The statements would show whether you had PPI.

Remember that if you do find you had it, it's not a question of redeeming it like a gift voucher. You need to make a complaint as to why it was mis sold.

dugma1975

Whats an SAR?

Also we are talking circa 1995 and do not have the CC or Loan statements anymore so no way of checking the amounts.

Also I am fully aware its not a gift and appreciate I need to make a claim. It wasnt meant to read as 'Oooh look free money' I would absolutely make a complaint but we want to be 100% sure we had PPI associated with these accounts.

Thanks for your comments none the less

[Deleted User]

SAR is a subject access request, where you would ask the lender to send you all the data they have on you.

But 21 years ago is more than 'several years back'. There is virtually no chance of them having the documentation. Your only chance is if statements were still being produced much, much later.

Bogalot

dugma1975 wrote: »

Whats an SAR?

Also we are talking circa 1995 and do not have the CC or Loan statements anymore so no way of checking the amounts.

Also I am fully aware its not a gift and appreciate I need to make a claim. It wasnt meant to read as 'Oooh look free money' I would absolutely make a complaint but we want to be 100% sure we had PPI associated with these accounts.

Thanks for your comments none the less

You're adamant you had PPI but you need the documents to check. Are your reasons for complaint equally woolly?

I don't understand how people question why banks do not have their documents, when they are one of thousands of customers, yet they don't have a copy themselves. Presumably this means they also don't have copies of any other evidence to back up their complaint.

societys_child

We are both adamant that we had PPI but we have no records to prove so.

Not sure what you mean by being "adamant" but if you paid any ppi on a cc it would have been itemised, on a separate line, on every monthly statement.

If by adamant, you mean you remember it was shown on the statements, then surely you'd have cancelled it at the time if you didn't want it?

dunstonh

Do people suspect this is there standard letter trying to worm out of it or would this be genuine and we are going to struggle to redeem what we believe is owed.

It is from over 20 years ago. Also, by the sounds of it, you no longer use them (as if you did you would be getting monthly statements and could clearly see if you had it on the credit card or not). So, it is fully expected that they would not have the original applications.

They have invited us to contact FO but my fear is with no evidence it will go against us.

The FOS would ask HSBC to take another look to see if they have records. If HSBC still cant find anything then the FOS cant rule the complaint in your favour as there is no evidence you paid any.

dugma1975

Thank you dunstonh.

For whatever reason other than yourself others seem to want to be agressive in response.

Quite frankly I came here to seek advise for something we think we signed up for. Until recently we thought the process to be long and difficult. It was only when a friend suggested they had been through the process to start an application. I used the template suggest on this site and this is where we are.

So I would appreciate people being positive in response like dunstonh. Its not a case of free money iots a case of being sold something which we were unaware of at the time.

Yes its been a long time and no we don't have a copy of the statements/contracts etc. I assumed our financial institutes would have regardless of time (how silly of me to make such assumptions)

Anyhow, thanks to those that gave sensible advise. It does make one wonder whether this is a forum I want to seek further advise from.

dunstonh

Yes its been a long time and no we don't have a copy of the statements/contracts etc. I assumed our financial institutes would have regardless of time (how silly of me to make such assumptions)

Data protection act requires firms to destroy records over time when they are no longer required. The regulator recommends 6 years after issue in most areas (some areas are kept longer or are held indefinitely in high risk areas). On closed accounts, you typically see opening records deleted after 6 years from closure. Some may go 10 years. When PPI complaints went mainstream, the FCA effectively told firms to not destroy data that may be needed in respect of potential PPI complaints.

Anyhow, thanks to those that gave sensible advise. It does make one wonder whether this is a forum I want to seek further advise from.

Do remember that around half of PPI complaints are try-it-on. From text written it is very hard to gauge the tone intended and sometimes you can read the posts in a way that was not intended.

Also, consider it an experience. If you do proceed with making a complaint, someone who hasnt met you and cannot infer your tone is going to read your complaint. They too may see inconsistencies or read it in a way you dont mean. So, it can help to be reminded that what you type/write can be important.

[Deleted User]

dugma1975 wrote: »

I came here to seek advise for something we think we signed up for.

21 years on, and with no documentation from your own archive, your chances of progressing with this are slim.

Sorry.