GE Money PPI claim rejected due to Time Bar...

KevinM2

I had a 4 page final response letter from GE Money this week, rejecting my complaint on the basis of it being time barred...

They say that a letter would have been sent to me in the past, giving me 3 years to make a PPI claim (which I sure don't recollect receiving), and that my complaint was initiated more than 3 years after the letter was sent to me...

I have asked them for a copy of this letter, so I can see it, and also see the date it was sent...They are going to look into this for me. But, in general, is my case basically closed now? 

It has taken them over 18 months to come to this conclusion, as my PPI claim was initiated in early 2019.

Is it normal that the final response letter, that rejects a claim for being time barred, would generally include a copy of the initial letter commencing the 3 year countdown? or am I simply supposed to accept their word for it?

Very frustrating, especially as they have taken so long to come to this conclusion...but it also has the undertone that they have only time barred it because it is a valid complaint, and this is a get out for them...otherwise would they simply state that no valid claim was found?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Deleted User]

Yes, the case is closed.

They haven't time barred it because you had a valid complaint.  They time barred it because it was time barred, meaning your complaint wasn't looked at, as it was already invalid.

They wouldn't normally send another copy of the letter.

dunstonh

I have asked them for a copy of this letter, so I can see it, and also see the date it was sent...They are going to look into this for me. But, in general, is my case basically closed now? 

Timebars are set by FCA rules.   So, only if the timebar is being applied incorrectly would your case be reopened.

Is it normal that the final response letter, that rejects a claim for being time barred, would generally include a copy of the initial letter commencing the 3 year countdown? or am I simply supposed to accept their word for it?

You would accept their word for it as they would not hold a copy of the letter sent to you in most cases.  It would be on a list of names that were sent "template letter xxxxxx".  

The FCA fines companies millions of pounds if they are found to be telling lies (and the FCA sample complaints on compliance visits).   And it then imposes mandatory reviews that force all the cases to be looked at during a period that costs millions more.   There is also reputational damage and the FCA will take a closer look at that company for a number of years.

but it also has the undertone that they have only time barred it because it is a valid complaint, and this is a get out for them

That is an incorrect assumption.   The timebar rules set by the regulator are decades old.     About half way through the period of PPI complaints, the regulator confirmed that layout of the timebar letter that firms could use if they wished to start the process to close the PPI issue.  It required firms to write to policyholders inviting them to complain if they feel they were missold.    The positive is that you get to cap your liabilities within 3 years.  The negative is that you may generate more complaints during that period as people that were not going to complain may feel they have reason to.

ph55

Hi  I have got a ongoing complaint now,  and 6year 3 year rule nearly closed my complaint,  I got through it, as I had gone paperless,  the options were on online banking,  and I took email/ text message   due to mail going missing,  because they sent a letter  rather than my previous agreement with the bank of email or text message they lost that argument, and my case is now taken on by  ombudsman,  just a thought if you did go paperless and had reason for that,  maybe  have another  go 

ph55

The bank said to adjudicator that there was no evidence of me requesting paperless,  but the evidence was the fact that statements went on line not through me letterbox.