Must I pay the fee?

andersonh

It was near the deadline for claiming and I foolishly instructed a company to try to see if I’d ever paid as one other company I used said I wasn’t due any refund. . To my surprise I received £1,700 of which £200 went in tax. The company, however, charged me 20% of the £1,700 then 20% VAT!  Can they do that?  It seems excessive. I’ve been ignoring their very persistent texts and letters demanding I pay. 
I’d welcome any advice. What will happen if I just ignore them?
Thank you in advance. 
Andersonh 

custardy

How is it excessive?
 Its the rates set out and the rates you agreed to.
Had they not done the work,you would be over £1K down than you are paying the fee

dunstonh

The company, however, charged me 20% of the £1,700 then 20% VAT!

Not sure why you consider the incredulous.   After all, it is the contract and fee that you agreed with them.

Can they do that?

Yes.   They tell you their fee.  You agreed their fee. So, it should not be a surprise to you that they charge that fee.

it seems excessive. 

Yes it is.   They use the same free of charge complaints service that you would have done had you complained. They send it to the same address. Often without any complaint reasons whatsoever.  Some even submitted spreadsheets with lists of names and addresses on with nothing more than that.   About 10 minutes of work.

However, you chose to pay someone to put a stamp on the envelope because you didn't want to do it yourself.  That was your choice.

. I’ve been ignoring their very persistent texts and letters demanding I pay. 
I’d welcome any advice. What will happen if I just ignore them?

One thing claims companies are very good at is getting people to pay.  They will take you to the small claims court and will win as you have no grounds to not pay them.  You will have their costs added too.

You really need to step up in your management of money and services.

First you were missold PPI

Then you employed a claims company to do something very simple

You didn't understand their costs but still went into a contract with them

Now you are refusing to pay a valid bill which will only end up with you getting a county court judgement if you keep refusing.

Pay them and learn from your repeated mistakes.

robber2

Harsh but fair

xxehz

I'm being sued by a ppi company in the small claims court. I realise that I should have paid and in fact have made payments to the company in respect of the debt
 My issue is the amount owed and I've tried negotiating but in the evidence I've been sent doesn't include any of the letters written by me to the legal department although I sent them by signed post and have copies. The copy of the agreement they've sent in their evidence doesn't look like my signature and the date is written in a way that I never use. I feel that I've been treated unfairly and at a loss as what to do next

TripleH

Then provide evidence of why you disagree with tge papers you've received and also the letters you sent along with proofs of postage and check confirmation of delivery.

dunstonh

The copy of the agreement they've sent in their evidence doesn't look like my signature and the date is written in a way that I never use. 

The date doesnt have to be completed by you.

I feel that I've been treated unfairly and at a loss as what to do next

Provide your evidence that says you didnt employ them.

fred246

IFAs are experts at charging a fortune for doing very little so they should know all about it.

fred246

I remember being in a group of people. One lady said she ran the biggest PPI claims company in town. Someone asked her if she had any tips about claiming. She said whatever you do don't employ a claims company. It's so easy to do it yourself and save a fortune. Refreshingly honest I thought.

[Deleted User]

fred246 said:whatever you do don't employ a claims company. It's so easy to do it yourself and save a fortune. 

Good advice.

Oddjob

I just rang lloyds and said I had no paperwork but my claim went back to 1999.  They asked a few details and said they had found my account and would send me a form to fill in which had to be returned within so many days.  I said I would be going away and wouldn;t be able to do it until I came back.  They said to ring them when I was back and they would give me the time from that date.  I forgot about it.  Then about a month later, rather a large sum appeared in my bank account from them and a letter followed.  They said that their records were incomplete so they had had to estimate the amount I was due.  As I knew that I had not paid much in PPI before I realised and cancelled, I was more than happy at the amount I received.

I t was so simple to do myself, I had not even filled in the form they sent.  I was certainly glad I had not employed anyone to do it for me.