But I HAVE paid it!!!!

AmyFlo

Has this ever happened to anyone before? I had a loan ten years ago as a student with Bank of Scotland. I paid the loan off when I got a job and actually paid a early repayment fee for paying it early.

When I tried to get a new bank account recently , it was declined, my credit report, once updated, shows that this has never been paid.

I have phoned the bank 17 times and written several letters. They have recently replied to say that I need to prove it, the money is still due and they have added £2500 (more than the loan was worth) in charges. they also did not send the file information that I requested and enclosed a £10 cheque for.

I am unable to produce any evidence or documentation as I destroyed it all three years after I paid off the loan. I have been a customer of the banks all this time, surely if there was a problem with an outstanding payment they would have contacted me? I have not been hiding, I have been a customer for 14 years and it is my main bank account!

Should I take this straight to a solicitor or should it go to the ombudsman?

kitchen_buff

If it has been paid off the bank will have a record of the payment in your account history. How did you pay it off?

AmyFlo

I paid the loan off through my account by monthly payments and then in a lump sum by balance transfer from another accountthat has been closed for years.

I also had a credit card with them that they say remains unpaid, but I did a balance transfer on it and settled the new card years ago too! That one should be easier to prove as I stillrecall most of the details and can remember which Company I transferred it to.

The problem is, BOS is now HBOS and no one seems to know where to turn. They say the computer says it is not paid and thier records do not reflect anything different.

Lavendyr

Can whoever your bank account provider was at the time provide you with statements that demonstrate the payment of the loan? They may charge a fee but they should undoubtedly be able to do this for you.

Rafter

You need to make a formal complaint if you have not already done so. Hopefully that will get them to investigate the matter and if they don't resolve it give you the opportunity to refer to the financial ombudsman service.

Good luck

R.

Chadsman

Go to the press.
Most (all?) of the broadsheets have a complaints/surgery type column at the weekend for agrieved customers who cant get the bank to listen. Most get cleared up very quickly with the customer offerred a little bit extra as a gesture of goodwill.

regularsaver1

you will need to provide proof - even the account that has been closed you can ask them to order account reports providing details about the transfers