PPI Refund offer, debt management plan and universal credit.

-taff

If there is no letter of authority, they can't act on your behalf. But I have no idea if your contract is still legally binding. You've got yourself in a bit of a mess and you will have to plan accordingly.

You do not have the option to 'claim your refund'. The 'refund' is redress and will be given either to you or to any outstanding debt accordingly. The claims company will ask for their cut. You will have to dispute their ability to act on your behalf by asking for a signed contract from them. If you did employ them because you clicked on some ad or another, you will either have to keep disputing by referring your complaint against the claims company to the FOS and hope they rule in your favour. If they didn't make you aware that you were liable to pay them in the event that you had a successful complaint if the redress went to outstanding debts then you're in a better position for a positive outcome to your complaint.

In any case, you will just have to wait and see what's going to happe and try and save some money or stretch it like knicker elastic while you wait.