Is there another avenue of approach?

rogermunns

I recently (early Oct.) wrote to Bradford and Bingley to ask them if I had PPI cover on a mortgage my wife and I used to have with them.
I had no paperwork, but did give them our full names, the exact address of the property and the year the mortgage was taken out. The reply said they could not trace any account in our names.

My (ex) wife was, however, after an exhaustive search, able to find an account number. So I wrote again, giving them this info.
I have now had a reply stating: 'Following a thorough search we are unable to find a PPI policy in your name'.


Somehow I still think there may have been a PPI policy attached to the mortgage.


Is there another way to check whether there was a PPI attached to this mortgage account? Does anyone happen to know which companies were used by Bradford & Bingley to provide this 'cover'?

dunstonh

Somehow I still think there may have been a PPI policy attached to the mortgage.

but did B&B sell it to you?
Was it perhaps life assurance? or MIG (depending on dates)

Is there another way to check whether there was a PPI attached to this mortgage account?

Your bank statements. B&B only sold monthly premium standalone cover.
Most B&B mortgages were not sold by B&B though.

ballisticbrian

I have a related issue, save starting a new thread. Coop bank wrote me one letter saying basically they don't have any accounts with PPI for me.
A couple of weeks later, they wrote me another letter stating they can't find my loan account.
I called them up today to say I have the account number here and they've asked me to photocopy and send to them.
When you are in touch with many companies going through this, it is a pain.
Why do you think they want me to photocopy it and not simply give them the acc. no. over the phone? Are they looking for the PPI figure on the statement because I'm sure it's wrapped up in the same payment rather than being itemised?

Nasqueron

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I have a related issue, save starting a new thread. Coop bank wrote me one letter saying basically they don't have any accounts with PPI for me.
A couple of weeks later, they wrote me another letter stating they can't find my loan account.
I called them up today to say I have the account number here and they've asked me to photocopy and send to them.
When you are in touch with many companies going through this, it is a pain.
Why do you think they want me to photocopy it and not simply give them the acc. no. over the phone? Are they looking for the PPI figure on the statement because I'm sure it's wrapped up in the same payment rather than being itemised?

I suspect they think you have proof you paid it, not just an account number. If the account was closed more than 6 years ago they may have deleted their records in line with the DPA so an account number just indicates you had a loan, nothing more

ballisticbrian

I suspect they think you have proof you paid it, not just an account number. If the account was closed more than 6 years ago they may have deleted their records in line with the DPA so an account number just indicates you had a loan, nothing more

So what do they do with such claims?

Nasqueron

ballisticbrian wrote: »

So what do they do with such claims?

Dig through their old archives, if they have deleted them, ask you to provide your records proving you paid it, or close the case without evidence you had it.

ballisticbrian

You would think they would know whether PPI was wrapped up in loan repayments generally (as opposed to being itemised) and if this is the case, they are surely aware no-one can prove the payments and they can just shrug and walking away in that case?

-taff

Companes are required to keep records as long as necessary [FCA recommendation is 6 years]
If you have no records and they have no records, there's no complaint to be made. They are not obliged to keep records. They cannot magic up records that don't exist. Neither the FOS nor a claims company can force them to find something that no longer exists.

dunstonh

ballisticbrian wrote: »

So what do they do with such claims?

Where there is no evidence of PPI ever being paid, they reject them.

Where they have no evidence, they are required to use what evidence you have. An account number is not evidence. A statement showing payment of PPI is.

You would think they would know whether PPI was wrapped up in loan repayments generally (as opposed to being itemised) and if this is the case, they are surely aware no-one can prove the payments and they can just shrug and walking away in that case?

Data protection laws require them to destroy data that is no longer required. The FCA recommends 6 years after closure of account. Although firms vary this and since the PPI issue, the destruction has slowed up. So, records of payment on older loans can be sketchy or non-existent.

Sometimes they can reconstruct data based on snippets here and there.

Sometimes loans are not sold by them but by a broker. In those cases, the broker has liability for the complaint. Not the lender. So, the paperwork can often show if a broker was involved or not.

ballisticbrian

Data protection laws require them to destroy data that is no longer required. The FCA recommends 6 years after closure of account. Although firms vary this and since the PPI issue, the destruction has slowed up. So, records of payment on older loans can be sketchy or non-existent.

I think you missed my point which was if the company has "knowledge" (not records) that PPI was wrapped up in payments at the time and not itemised, then they are knowing ly washing their hands of it when a customer can't point at a statement and show the detail.

Nasqueron

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I think you missed my point which was if the company has "knowledge" (not records) that PPI was wrapped up in payments at the time and not itemised, then they are knowing ly washing their hands of it when a customer can't point at a statement and show the detail.

Yes because you (as the accuser) cannot prove you paid it - you could have cancelled the policy the next day for example. If there is no proof you paid it, logically they cannot refund you anything