PPI trying to force me to make a fraudulant claim

Jack407

About 3 - 4 years ago I was swayed by relatives who had made several successful PPI claims and so I made a claim through 'Fast Track Reclaim' because they said they didn't need precise details and there was no backward time limit to the claim they just needed names of the lenders as best as could be recalled.

Mine were very old claims but should have been substantial ones. One was a for an insurance based mortgage, long since settled, this at the time when you just couldn't get mortgages without jumping through hoops and another for a car lease purchase. My job (now retired) had PPI built into the company benefits so at the time I was a bit niffed that I had to take out the lenders own PPI as the only way to get the loans.

I heard nothing from FTR for about six months and because the accounts were quite old and I only had the names of the lenders I thought they had given it up as a bad job. Then I received a letter with a form to complete saying I had a claim against Santander and I needed to complete the enclosed form, sign and return it. I phoned them and told them I had never had dealing with Sandtander and therefore couldn't complete the details they were requesting and besides, both the accounts I thought I was owed PPI on were from a period before Santander even had a UK presence plus I have had no loans of any kind since Santander did appear on the UK scene, so to proceed would be fraudulant and could they please stop.

That call was ignored and I began receiving, text, emails, mobile calls and post pestering me to proceed with the claim against Santander. Over a period of about 12 months or more I emailed them, spoke on the phone and also wrote to them but still they kept pestering me with text and emails and the occassional letter. I put a blocker on my mobile but some calls still got through so ended up having to change my mobile number and I also changed my email address. They seemed to then go quiete for some months in the run up to the first lock down and during lock down 1 & 2 nothing at all from them so I thought they had a last got the message. Then this morning I receive from them, a letter of authority to proceed with the claim against Santander which I am expected to sign and return. To do this would be fraudulant for the reasons mentioned but how do I get them to stop pestering me.

It's really beginning to stress me out now at a time when we have some serious family health issues which I need to be more concerned with but how on earth do I make them stop, I really don't want to go to a solicitor for a 'Cease and Desist Letter' as these things can start to get out of hand. Is there a less stessful route available.

dunstonh

About 3 - 4 years ago I was swayed by relatives who had made several successful PPI claims and so I made a claim through 'Fast Track Reclaim' because they said they didn't need precise details and there was no backward time limit to the claim they just needed names of the lenders as best as could be recalled.

CMCs frequently just sent your name and address to the banks with no complaint reason other than asking them to investigate the sale.      

both the accounts I thought I was owed PPI on were from a period before Santander even had a UK presence 

But were these with companies that Santander now has responsibility for? (e.g. Abbey National or a range of store cards)

but how do I get them to stop pestering me.

make a complaint

Jack407

dunstonh said

But were these with companies that Santander now has responsibility for? (e.g. Abbey National or a range of store cards)

No! I did check that. One was Cheltenham & Gloucester BS (now owned by Lloyds) using a Royal & Sun Alliance element for PPI (and they are a PLC) the other is Black Horse and their Parent is also Lloyds.

but how do I get them to stop pestering me.

make a complaint

That was the core of my question, having complained to the CMC directly both by phone and in writing asking them to stop just seems to generate a renewed interest in pestering me. I just wondered if anybody had experienced something similar and had successfully stopped the pestering. I can only think of a solicitors 'Cease and Desist' letter or maybe contacting the Financial Ombudsman but either route seems to be a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I just want them to pack it in.

MalMonroe

Hi, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman and you can even fill in your complaint form online. Unfortunately, though, they are taking at least two months before actually getting back to folk because they are inundated at the moment. I lodged a complaint about a company in March and was contacted on Friday by a representative of the Ombudsman who had been allocated to my case. We spoke on the phone and first thing he did was apologise for the delay. I don't think they would think of it as being a sledgehammer to crack a nut at all. But if they did, they'd let you know. 

You can send your own 'cease and desist' letter, you don't have to use a solicitor. But after that if they keep writing, you can just shred their letters and dispose of them responsibly. You don't even have to respond to anything they send. You have made your decision now and they should respect that. As you have discovered, rattling their cage just provokes renewed interest. Ignore them. 

dunstonh

Once you have made the complaint and had your response from them, you have 6 months to refer your case to the FOS if you disagree with the outcome.    If you have left it too late to contact the FOS then you are stuck with legal options.

phillw

dunstonh said:

Once you have made the complaint and had your response from them, you have 6 months to refer your case to the FOS if you disagree with the outcome.    If you have left it too late to contact the FOS then you are stuck with legal options.

But if they start harassing again and you complain, then surely the time starts again?

[Deleted User]

phillw said:

dunstonh said:

Once you have made the complaint and had your response from them, you have 6 months to refer your case to the FOS if you disagree with the outcome.    If you have left it too late to contact the FOS then you are stuck with legal options.

But if they start harassing again and you complain, then surely the time starts again?

No, you can't just keep opening new complaints and resetting the timebar, it's 6 months from the initial complaint about that problem