Claims Company

C0nfused67

I signed up to a claims company in the summer on the off chance I had a claim after my own attempt was rejected. That too was rejected so I thought "oh well".
Now they are emailing me again to say they are continuing with my claim with regards the new court ruling. Can they do this? I have asked them to tell me how and when I have authorized them to continue the claim in my name but so far I have been 'threatened' with having to pay them compensation if I want them to stop. This seems ludicrous to me. I didn't ask them to continue my claim. All my attempts to speak to them have been blanked, cut off or the receptionist is "just a receptionist, so can't help me and no one is available to take my call, please email us"
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks

Brie

Do you have a copy of the T&Cs that say what you signed up for?  They may give a time period where they will still represent you or something about changes in legislation.

And what is it that you were trying to claim and what do they say about the "new court ruling"?

C0nfused67

Apologies, I wasn't very clear....it was to do with the car finance thing. I originally tried on my own with no luck so thought I would try with a bit of clout behind me but got the same result. I thought I had nothing to lose. 
After the latest ruling in October (I think) they are now emailing me telling me they are continuing with my claim. I thought the claim was dead.
Unfortunately I haven't kept any of the terms and conditions because I thought it was over with. I nuw realize how stupid that was. I have asked them for a copy of what I signed up to. Still haven't had any reply.
If only I had known then what I do now. 
Thanks for your reply 

dunstonh

Now they are emailing me again to say they are continuing with my claim with regards the new court ruling. Can they do this? 

That is what you employed them to do.

 I have asked them to tell me how and when I have authorized them to continue the claim in my name but so far I have been 'threatened' with having to pay them compensation if I want them to stop.

You said in your first sentance that you signed up to them.  So you did authorise them.

 This seems ludicrous to me. I didn't ask them to continue my claim. 

And when did you ask them to stop? 

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks

Either let them complete or pay their cancellation costs detailed in the contract you signed.

Probably best to let it play out, as rejections only occurred where there was no commission to repay.  If there was a commission, then the case would not have been rejected but put on hold.    A zero payout means zero fee to the CMC.

C0nfused67

I get that I signed up etc. Not disputing that. I am disputing the fact they emailed me to say it was unsuccessful etc but now months later have reclaimed for me. So if this one is unsuccessful can I expect them to claim again for me after any new court ruling? 

singhini

When you "had a go" at this yourself, i'm guessing you were asking about a "discretionary commission arrangement" 

Then you instructed a claims company to do the same (you felt they might have more "clout")

Now the claims company are continuing with your claim with regards the "new court ruling"

Perhaps they are now looking into the other types of mis-selling (other than DCA):-

- Unfairly high commission (high commission where the commission is equal to or greater than 35% of the total cost of credit and 10% of the loan)

- Contractual ties (contractual tie between you and the broker that provided them with exclusivity or a right of first refusal). 

I don't know, its just a guess. 

Ayr_Rage

You employed them and they confirmed that under the initial rules you did not have claim.

The goalposts moved.

They did their job after that happened and are checking again.

Wait for that outcome and then see if they will agree to terminate your agreement.

sourcrates

C0nfused67 said:

I get that I signed up etc. Not disputing that. I am disputing the fact they emailed me to say it was unsuccessful etc but now months later have reclaimed for me. So if this one is unsuccessful can I expect them to claim again for me after any new court ruling? 

When you engage a claims company to act on your behalf, that authority continues indefinitely, not only for that claim, but any other event you may be able to claim compensation for in the future as well, until cancelled by yourself in writing.

Up until a couple of years ago they could also re-claim tax refunds as well, but the law was changed to stop that as it was being abused on a grand scale.

People really should read the terms and conditions of what they are signing up for, a claims company will have no more luck in getting you compensation than if you were to do things yourself and use the ombudsman, and you would save the 30/40% cost of their "service" as well.

Regardless of the outcome here, you must send a letter telling them you no longer require them to act as your representative in these or any other matters, date and sign it, and send recorded delivery.

C0nfused67

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.
Since my original post I have tried calling the company, tried requesting callbacks, I have sent emails asking them to show me where I signed up for multiple claims etc and have had no reply to any of these requests..... only an email to inform me how well my current claim is going. They aren't answering the questions that should be easy to answer if what they are doing in this case is lawful, in my opinion. They could very quickly shut me up but aren't even willing to engage.