PPI Claim rejected because Hidenda missed the deadline

rbutler

Don't know if anyone can help with this. I (foolishly) got the claims company Hidenda to deal with a PPI claim to GE Money last August. I signed up with Hidenda well before the deadline and filled in the form early in August for them to approach GE on my behalf. In mid October, I received a letter from them saying that GE Money had acknowledged four cases of PPI and enclosing a questionnaire forms to complete and sign - which I did. As the months rolled by, and having become frustrated by the lack of communication from Hidenda, I started phoning GE money myself on a regular basis to find out what was happening. Three weeks ago GE issued a final response on one of the cases rejecting it as they said it was brokered by Freedom Finance from Wilmslow Financial Services who have since gone into administration. I know that this can still be claimed via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme but have, as yet, heard nothing from Hidenda at all about this case - not even telling me that it's been rejected let alone what they intend to do about it next. Today GE told me that the three other cases have been rejected because Hidenda applied for the PPI after the deadline. Hidenda have no phone line and usually take ages (and repeated attempts) to respond to emails so I wanted some advice. I know I should have approached GE myself in the first place but, that aside, if GE money are correct, and Hidenda missed the deadline on my behalf, is there anything I can do about it? Or is it likely that GE are just rejecting it for a spurious reason and hoping that's the end of it? I don't understand why they rejected the first complaint for a different reason - surely if Hidenda missed the deadline all four complaints should have been rejected for that same reason.  Any thoughts/ideas welcome (as long as it not to say that I was stupid to go with Hidenda in the first place, please, as I have been dealing with the results of that poor decision for months). 

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately it's the risk you take when asking someone else to post your complaint form for you.

Nothing you can do about it now.

dunstonh

Three weeks ago GE issued a final response on one of the cases rejecting it as they said it was brokered by Freedom Finance from Wilmslow Financial Services who have since gone into administration. I know that this can still be claimed via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme but have, as yet, heard nothing from Hidenda at all about this case - not even telling me that it's been rejected let alone what they intend to do about it next.

You are correct that the PPI deadline does not apply to the FSCS.  However, the FSCS only cover sales of PPI made after 14th Jan 2005.   

Or is it likely that GE are just rejecting it for a spurious reason and hoping that's the end of it? 

Are you suggesting that they are committing fraud and risking multi-millions of pounds worth of fines and regulatory sections for something very easily spotted?

An error is quite possible but suggesting widespread fraud without any evidence is a bit much.

 I don't understand why they rejected the first complaint for a different reason - surely if Hidenda missed the deadline all four complaints should have been rejected for that same reason.

GE can only respond on complaints that they have liability for.   3 of the complaints they have liaiblity.  The 4th they do not.  As you already know, the 4th one is not timebarred.  So, if GE Money had told you it was timebared it would be wrong information.

rbutler

So if Hidenda did miss the deadline is there nothing that can be done? Would they bother proceeding if they knew they'd missed it? They must have know if they didm't apply the claim in time. 

[Deleted User]

You're talking about otherwise unemployable people sticking stamps on envelopes.

They're really not going to know or care whether a deadline has passed.

dunstonh

So if Hidenda did miss the deadline is there nothing that can be done? Would they bother proceeding if they knew they'd missed it? 

Some of the banks have considered post deadline complaints if it was evidenced that the complaints were made prior to the deadline and the CMC messed up.  However, that is purely voluntary on their part.  

The_squirrell

rbutler said:

So if Hidenda did miss the deadline is there nothing that can be done? Would they bother proceeding if they knew they'd missed it? They must have know if they didm't apply the claim in time. 

They will try! My happiest moment was on the 30th August last year when a courier arrived with three "complaints" from a CMC. He had been sent from Manchester to the South with just one envelope.Such a shame it arrived too late!

-taff

rbutler said:

So if Hidenda did miss the deadline is there nothing that can be done? Would they bother proceeding if they knew they'd missed it? They must have know if they didm't apply the claim in time. 

Why don't you ask them since you employed them?