* Consumer Refund Service* What to do next.

hybernia

This morning a letter popped through the door (addressed only to 'The Houseowner') from Consumer Refund Service Ltd. I've been around the block too many times ever to fall for a fancy name, no matter how impressive it might sound, so am aware that this is just another PPI claims firm chasing new business.

My reason for posting here then is not to ask about this "service" but to ruefully admit that claiming PPI is something I've never seriously thought about until now. My own fault. The situation hubby and I are in is one which will likely be familiar to many on here, that of knowing we had PPI some time / whenever but have no documentation now to confirm that.

The PPI we were required to pay was in respect of a re-mortgaging from Barclays in 1989. It was paid until 1994. We were given no option about having / not having it: PPI was a fixed condition.

I've now read through the paperwork from Consumer Refund Service. I'm invited to sign up by post or complete an online form or telephone the company to ask for "your FREE PPI check". I'm told that the firm will then do the checking and, as for any claim arising, either I can make it myself or the firm will handle it on a no-win, no-fee basis.

There's no mention of the commission chargeable in the event of a successful claim but I expect I'd be told that if I was inclined towards dealing with the company -- which I'm not. (The company's web address is https://www.consumer-refund.org; I have a distinct aversion to any commercial enterprise deliberately trying it on with that suffix . . .)

What I'm wondering is this:

If it's as easy as Consumer Refund Service makes out -- the claim document they'd like me to fill in is a single page seeking name and address contact details, and then a series of box-checkable financial institutions (of which Barclays / Barclaycard is one) -- then I might as well do it myself.

Questions, then:

Have others here gone their own way and lodged a PPI claim without resorting to a claims company? If so: how torturous was their experience?

I should emphasise that OH and I are entirely realistic; a claim may succeed / may not succeed. Who knows?

I've also no complaint to make about Consumer Refund Service, or its assertion "£2m RECOVERED EVERY WEEK" because I'd expect sophistry from any outfit riding the PPI gravy train: the company seems remarkably careful not to say that it is recovering that amount of money each and every week, but merely. . . imply it.

Yeah. Right. I believes ya.

Nasqueron

If you use a claims firm you still have to provide all the information, evidence and complaint reasons as if you did it yourself, all they do is send off generic template letters which will largely harm your case as they will allege all sorts of stuff about the sale (even contradictory stuff like saying you didn't know you had it but you were forced to take it out). If you can complain to them, you can complain to the bank directly.

If you took the mortgage out with the PPI with the bank, you could complain though if it was a requirement of the lender to have the policy or no loan, then there is no complaint - you accept it and take the loan or reject it and don't take the loan. Given the age and the requirement though, are you sure it wasn't MIG which WAS a mandatory product to protect the bank against you defaulting and was perfectly legitimate or possible life assurance which again, if it was mandatory to get the loan, isn't miss-sold

hybernia

Sincere thanks for that help, Nasqueron. Much appreciated.

The passage of time has meant that we have absolutely no documentation in regard to the details of the re-mortgage, nor do we even recollect our account number with Barclays.

Although I know it's fashionable (and in many cases, entirely justified) to go after 'evil' banks, it's actually not our style to hop on whatever gravy train may be passing by in vague hope of picking up. . . something: it can waste a third party's time and also get in the way of a third party dealing with issues of much greater, proven, credibility.

Having considered your email, I've decided that no, we aren't interested. We won't attempt to pursue a PPI claim.

Sincere thanks again.

babyblooz

My mum and dad have just received a letter from these people today. It thanks them for requesting them to assess if PPI has been applied to loans and credit cards. Mum doesn't understand why they have contacted her as she hasn't asked them to them to.

What is bothering her is that the letter is addressed to them using their full names and the name of their bank.

Is this likely to be a speculative letter? If it is, then how have they got hold of their full name and address etc.

I can ring them but it's Bank Holiday tomorrow so will have to wait while then.

amersall

A claims co do not have access to bank details, are you sure one/both of your parents did not sign for this, or accepted over the phone and were not aware this was a claims co?.
Does the letter ask for signatures or does it sound like a done deal?.

Only the claims co can tell you when you call.

Nasqueron

babyblooz wrote: »

My mum and dad have just received a letter from these people today. It thanks them for requesting them to assess if PPI has been applied to loans and credit cards. Mum doesn't understand why they have contacted her as she hasn't asked them to them to.

What is bothering her is that the letter is addressed to them using their full names and the name of their bank.

Is this likely to be a speculative letter? If it is, then how have they got hold of their full name and address etc.

I can ring them but it's Bank Holiday tomorrow so will have to wait while then.

Ring up, see if they have a contract that your parents forgot about or not. If not, write to them, get free proof of postage, mark it as a complaint and demand they cancel any further contact with you. If they have signed a contract, you're stuffed

babyblooz

It's asking them to sign a letter of authority, which is attached. It lists their names, dates of birth and address. I very much doubt they have asked them to act for them as they haven't had loans for donkeys years. They are both mid eighties and don't go out at all without me as they aren't mobile. My mum just puts the phone down on unknown calls, she has difficulty hearing anyway.

The bank they detailed hasn't been their their main account for over twenty years, just one my dad has a tiny pension paid into.

amersall

If they don't sign the letter of authority, problem solved.
The claims co are trying it on, it is just a speculative letter with only the name of the bank and no account details.

babyblooz

That's what I was hoping. It's going in the bin but I am going to call in at the bank tomorrow and ask if they know how they got their details. Thank you all :beer:

amersall

You are welcome glad you found out before they actually signed:o

babyblooz

My mum might be in her eighties but as we say round here 'she's still got all her onions' and is your typical canny Yorkshire woman.