Crack the EGG - claim back your Credit Reference Fees!

Jon_brown_3

As one of the 'pay the balance off in full every month lot' I'm fairy hacked off with the wording of the Egg letter - Our lending policy requires us to keep our portfolio within acceptable level of risk - is the bit that does it for me. If they had just been honest and said 'you never pay any interest and so cost us too much' I'd have accepted it.

But they were not honest so I've emailed-

• Egg asking for an apology for their libellous letter.
• OFT as FSA has passed on the complaint from Nigel Griffiths M.P.
• Nigel Griffiths MP. Anyone else who has received the letter (and has an excellent credit rating) may like to let Nigel know as he is looking at tabling a Commons motion demanding a full inquiry.
  
  I think it's worth contacting them for reimbursement, even if you don't get it a payment the administration costs will hurt them.

lisyloo

Egg asking for an apology for their libellous letter.

I don't balme you for complaining but I think that technically you are incorrect about them being libellous.
If they had publibally declared that Jon_brown was a credit risk then potentially it would be libellous but because nothing has been said about you to other people then I don't think it qualifies leglly.

I'm not saying there right so don't shoot the messenger, I'm just saying that legally you have no case on ground of libel.

Dylanwing

Definitely worth complaining. Even if they respond negatively, just persist - The cost to Egg of responding to the letters will still be significant. They have been less than honest, have still made no effort to correct the initial assumptions that the closure was due to bad credit risk. They deserve all they get, and maybe it will deter other Banks from lying to customers. It's not the amount, it's the principle.

Jon_brown_3

lisyloo wrote: »

I don't balme you for complaining but I think that technically you are incorrect about them being libellous.
If they had publibally declared that Jon_brown was a credit risk then potentially it would be libellous but because nothing has been said about you to other people then I don't think it qualifies leglly.

I'm not saying there right so don't shoot the messenger, I'm just saying that legally you have no case on ground of libel.

Absolutely right, it wasn't that I was off to court in the hope of suing Egg. I just want them to understand how very miffed I am and of course an added bonus is that it will cost them more money to keep replying to me.
The problem with the letter is that as so many of us that received the letter had excellent credit ratings i.e. account paid off in full at the end of the month and no other debts. So when you're told you are a risk completely out of the blue you immediately think have I been subject the of identity theft and feel that you need to sort it out quickly so contact credit a credit agency. JB

UK007BullDog

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

lisyloo,

When this kicked off 10 days ago people on here were saying they'd obtained their credit reports immediately, ie they'd paid for the circa £16.95 service - only to find nothing (in their opinion) amiss with their reports.

I think it's this higher fee that the OP is suggesting people reclaim, not the £2 fee for a statutory report. OP, perhaps you could confirm?

Yup, I meant the higher cost, where one gets instant info via the website. Not the £2. But why not try to claim that too?! Plus postage and admin costs... :rotfl:

lisyloo

Yup, I meant the higher cost, where one gets instant info via the website.

Can you tell me why you think this is justified?
I think I can agree with the argument that you might want to get your credit report (or all 3) after being spooked by the letter as I agree it's not the best letter in the world, but why do you need to have the £16.95 service when it's available for £2?

Yes it costs Egg money to respond to people (if they are going to respond) but they might think it's worth trying to save £14.95 * 161,000, so they might allow a test case to go to the ombudsman.

All speculation of course.

UK007BullDog

Because the £2 report is not instant and takes weeks to get.

So all that time one will have to worry something is amiss. Plus the fact that due to the data losses by the government they have to produce even more reports than usual along with all the sub prime stuff going on. So people went for the quick fix which is understandable.

And they should be compensated, £2 or £16, it does not really matter, it's the principle of it.

realaledrinker

I always pay off my egg card every month but haven't received a letter. This has quite stressed me out. Can I claim compensation from egg for the pain and suffering caused?

Compensation culture gone mad in my opinion.

lisyloo

Because the £2 report is not instant and takes weeks to get.

It should take about 1 week in my experience not multiple weeks.

So all that time one will have to worry something is amiss.

I am not sure that Egg should have to compensate people for nuerotic type personality traits. The letter didn't say "your credit report is now really bad".

So people went for the quick fix which is understandable.

No it's totally over the top. The letter did not say there were problems with people's credit reports.

And they should be compensated

Why?
Credit is not a right?
Egg are entittled to end the contract just as you are.
Do credit card companies get upset and ask for compensation when people close their cards? No.

Compensation culture gone mad in my opinion.

Too right.
Stop being soo touchy.
Card issuers don't get touchy when you end your contract.

UK007BullDog

Lisyloo..... do you work for EGG or the Credit Report companies? LOL

I am not advocating compensation for every little thing, but here a large conglomerate has gone into gear without thinking of their impact on the small people. With all the negative publicity of personal data going amiss people have the right to be touchy and to be worried when a letter like the one EGG sent hits their welcome mats.