Serious bank error-Ombudsman?

Jumblebumble

Cupranod said:

I will try to be brief-all opinions appreciated 

My bank made a serious error which has led to major problems for me,financially and personally.

A bank employee input the details of another individual,with the same name,during a PPI claim I had. It created a link to another address I have never lived at,and ever since,I have had debt solicitors and agencies chasing me. It has ruined my credit rating and cost me thousands of pounds,not to mention the stress and worry.

The bank investigated and accepted liability for their error;-they offered me £2.5k-which I think is derisory. I almost lost everything,my credit is still destroyed. My business has been affected,I have incurred debt and been unable to obtain credit for a remortgage. I have had 18 months of strong anti-depressants.

Should I let the ombudsman decide;or negotiate with the bank on compensation?

The ombudsman may take the view that you could have responded to the debt collection agencies and solicitors with a  "prove it " cease and desist letter instead of getting stressed.
This would probably  have shortened the investigation considerably.
Having said this you could ask the person dealing with what figure they have the authority to agree to put the matter to bed.

Manxman_in_exile

You're suggesting asking the bank what the maximum figure is they would agree to?  

ItsComingRome

Why would solicitors and debt collectors suddenly start sending you letters just because you have an extra address link on your file?

Debts are linked to people, not addresses.

born_again

Jumblebumble said:

Having said this you could ask the person dealing with what figure they have the authority to agree to put the matter to bed.

Not any hope of getting a answer to that....

Far better to say this is what I'm looking for. Then see where it goes.

MalMonroe

Cupranod said:

I will try to be brief-all opinions appreciated 

My bank made a serious error which has led to major problems for me,financially and personally.

A bank employee input the details of another individual,with the same name,during a PPI claim I had. It created a link to another address I have never lived at,and ever since,I have had debt solicitors and agencies chasing me. It has ruined my credit rating and cost me thousands of pounds,not to mention the stress and worry.

The bank investigated and accepted liability for their error;-they offered me £2.5k-which I think is derisory. I almost lost everything,my credit is still destroyed. My business has been affected,I have incurred debt and been unable to obtain credit for a remortgage. I have had 18 months of strong anti-depressants.

Should I let the ombudsman decide;or negotiate with the bank on compensation?

Hi, this is a very serious error indeed. The bank's offer, I agree with you, is derisory, particularly as you have been affected not just financially but emotionally as well for a long time. They can never compensate you for that.

Is the £2.5k they've offered you their final offer? Or is it something for you to consider? If you feel up to it you could write to them and list all the problems you have encountered since the error was made and how it's affected you, in every way. DO stress the impact it's had upon you because that's very important in this particular case. Normally I'd say just stick to the facts but in your case, there are a lot of facts to be considered. Then tell them how much it would cost them to make things right for you.

If the bank has made their offer - or even if you don't feel like you want to bother with them any more - then I'd definitely recommend turning to the Ombudsman. You can do it online, here - https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact-us/complain-online

They have a build up of cases at the moment but I think it's worth filling in the online form and sending it off anyway because they will get around to dealing with yours.

They helped me earlier this year with what I now realise, at the side of your experience, was a very minor issue indeed. But they did not make me feel that it wasn't worth bothering with and I was successful in obtaining the outcome I wanted. The Ombudsman's representative who was allocated to  me was very kind, patient and understanding. 

You need someone with a bit of clout on your side now, it does seem that you have exhausted yourself on this. 

Ask for the Ombudsman's help. They can only say 'no'. But I don't think they will somehow.

ciderboy2009

OP - I would suggest that you really should speak to somebody legally qualified rather than relying on a bunch of strangers on the internet with no verified legal qualifications and who have only a very brief story to work on rather than the full facts.

You will possibly find that the amount you have been offered is generous - bear in mind that it's often cheaper for a large company to offer you more that you would get from the ombudsman or court proceedings that it is to defend such proceedings.

Sandtree

ciderboy2009 said:

You will possibly find that the amount you have been offered is generous - bear in mind that it's often cheaper for a large company to offer you more that you would get from the ombudsman or court proceedings that it is to defend such proceedings.

In principle I agree that large corporations tend to be more pragmatic and less emotional and as a consequence can choose to settle something rather than defend their position as its more cost effective. The counterpoint however is that they have to consider the risk of opening the floodgate to copycat complaints etc (appreciate slightly harder to do in the odd situation of the OP).

As an example in a previous employment two complaints came in about the choice of hold music being "insensitive" to the customers personal position with both asking for a couple of hundred in compensation for damaged feelings. Both cases the complaints weren't upheld and both escalated to the Ombudsman and so in theory cost £1,000 in FOS fees rather than the £400 in compensation. 

born_again

ciderboy2009 said:

OP - I would suggest that you really should speak to somebody legally qualified rather than relying on a bunch of strangers on the internet with no verified legal qualifications and who have only a very brief story to work on rather than the full facts.

You will possibly find that the amount you have been offered is generous - bear in mind that it's often cheaper for a large company to offer you more that you would get from the ombudsman or court proceedings that it is to defend such proceedings.

There is no need for legal advice. 
It's a simple case of either take the banks offer, try to get them to raise it or go to FOS.
But the OP does need to make a case for their claim. So needs to cover exactly what they are looking for, where these amounts come from & how they are made up.
That then gives them a strong case wit hthe bank for a increased offer or something that FOS can look at. 
Simply saying I want X amount is not going to cut it with either of the parties.

Going via the legal route is going to cost the OP and it will not be a  claimable expense.

Quantifiable loses is what is needed to prove their case. 👍

kaMelo

Sandtree said:

ciderboy2009 said:

You will possibly find that the amount you have been offered is generous - bear in mind that it's often cheaper for a large company to offer you more that you would get from the ombudsman or court proceedings that it is to defend such proceedings.

In principle I agree that large corporations tend to be more pragmatic and less emotional and as a consequence can choose to settle something rather than defend their position as its more cost effective. The counterpoint however is that they have to consider the risk of opening the floodgate to copycat complaints etc (appreciate slightly harder to do in the odd situation of the OP).

As an example in a previous employment two complaints came in about the choice of hold music being "insensitive" to the customers personal position with both asking for a couple of hundred in compensation for damaged feelings. Both cases the complaints weren't upheld and both escalated to the Ombudsman and so in theory cost £1,000 in FOS fees rather than the £400 in compensation. 

Please tell me that's made up, I despair for the future if that is where some people are at today.

Sandtree

kaMelo said:

Sandtree said:

ciderboy2009 said:

You will possibly find that the amount you have been offered is generous - bear in mind that it's often cheaper for a large company to offer you more that you would get from the ombudsman or court proceedings that it is to defend such proceedings.

In principle I agree that large corporations tend to be more pragmatic and less emotional and as a consequence can choose to settle something rather than defend their position as its more cost effective. The counterpoint however is that they have to consider the risk of opening the floodgate to copycat complaints etc (appreciate slightly harder to do in the odd situation of the OP).

As an example in a previous employment two complaints came in about the choice of hold music being "insensitive" to the customers personal position with both asking for a couple of hundred in compensation for damaged feelings. Both cases the complaints weren't upheld and both escalated to the Ombudsman and so in theory cost £1,000 in FOS fees rather than the £400 in compensation. 

Please tell me that's made up, I despair for the future if that is where some people are at today.

Nope...
Achy Breaky Heart - complaint from recent widow
Got you under my skin - complain from someone with a sever skin condition

There are potentially grounds to complain about being forced to at least one of these but not on the fact of the situation