Warning! Rant mode engaged!

  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:13:18 48,870 posts
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    So, last night the Mrs and I are checking our bank accounts etc, and I notice a direct debit which I don’t recognise.
    Odd.
    £44.99
    That's a LARGE direct debit coming out of my account. It couldn't be a household bill, as they come out of the joint account.
    Quick check reveals it came out in December too.
    Taken by: Bankers Insurance.

    Who the frig are they? I'm wondering to myself as I phone the bank. The bank lady gives me the details, and a phone number (most helpful) and cancels the direct debit for me.

    So I get in work this morning, and phone them. Turns out they're a compnay that offers insurance (dur) and one of their clients is the HFC bank (part of HSBC) who ALSO happen to be the bank who sorts out all the financial agreements out for Currys.
    Last year I got a laptop from Currys on a "Buy now pay in 9 months interest free" jobby. Which I paid off in 9 months.
    We get to October, and I get a call from the HFC (about the 4th telesales call from them) asking would I like an insurance policy to cover my wage should I become unable to work.
    Not interested says I.
    They talk a bit more.
    I think "Hmm… work *may* be facing redundancies, I'll have a look"
    They say: "We'll send you some info through the post then"
    "Fine."
    It arrives, I look at the price, in the bin it goes, and where it should have stayed.

    Oh no… They've set me up on one. Without a signature, without a signed direct debit mansdate or ANYTHING.
    They've set me up using my bank details given at the time I went to Currys.
    Apparently they set you up and then you have to CANCEL it!

    W. T. F. ?!

    Letter of complaint has been written… And I's going straight to the Financial Ombudsman.

    /is so livid he's jiggling more than Nemesis.
  • quantumsheep 18 Jan 2005 11:16:04 3,129 posts
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    Still... cunts aren't they?
  • Deleted user 18 January 2005 11:18:34
    Its the same stale tactic that all the energy companies use. its a window sales mindset.....
  • Retroid Moderator 18 Jan 2005 11:19:29 45,464 posts
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    Arsehats.
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:21:52 48,870 posts
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    WOPR wrote:
    /points

    He went to Currys!
    Meh, only needed a basic laptop and a TV.
  • Deleted user 18 January 2005 11:22:18
    Ring-raisins
  • Khanivor 18 Jan 2005 11:24:23 44,800 posts
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    Quick, get out the carpentry tools and channel that anger.
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:25:03 48,870 posts
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    Khanivor wrote:
    Quick, get out the carpentry tools and channel that anger.
    "I'm going to the shed to saw a plank of wood in half!"
  • Blerk Moderator 18 Jan 2005 11:25:15 48,222 posts
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    Bastards!

    So how much do you reckon you've lost, then?
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:26:57 48,870 posts
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    Blerk wrote:
    Bastards!

    So how much do you reckon you've lost, then?
    £89.98, plus the fact I was actually in my overdraft when they took the cash, so any interest there.

    I've made sure they understand I want that back too.
  • Mike_Hunt 18 Jan 2005 11:32:20 23,524 posts
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    So what did they say on the phone when you said you hadn't signed anything and you wanted your cash back?

    [MH]
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:33:42 48,870 posts
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    Mike_Hunt wrote:
    So what did they say on the phone when you said you hadn't signed anything and you wanted your cash back?

    [MH]
    I have to write to them request a refund.
    So I did, in style, and sent the letter to the HFC, the Bankers Insurance Company and the Ombudsman.
  • Blerk Moderator 18 Jan 2005 11:34:27 48,222 posts
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    Could've been worse then, I guess. When you said 'last year' I was thinking 'January 2004'. :-o
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 11:38:40 48,870 posts
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    Blerk wrote:
    Could've been worse then, I guess. When you said 'last year' I was thinking 'January 2004'. :-o
    That was when I got the laptop.

    I'm just glad it IS only 2 months.

    Actually... no I'm not. I wish it was 12 months, I'd have £540 coming my way then! :D
  • Mike_Hunt 18 Jan 2005 11:55:50 23,524 posts
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    Lutz wrote:
    Mike_Hunt wrote:
    So what did they say on the phone when you said you hadn't signed anything and you wanted your cash back?

    [MH]
    I have to write to them request a refund.
    So I did, in style, and sent the letter to the HFC, the Bankers Insurance Company and the Ombudsman.
    Cheeky sods! They take money off you without asking, yet you have to jump through hoops to get it back?!

    I would've given them a piece of my mind if I had any to spare.

    [MH]
  • Lutz 18 Jan 2005 12:15:30 48,870 posts
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    Mike_Hunt wrote:
    Cheeky sods! They take money off you without asking, yet you have to jump through hoops to get it back?!

    I would've given them a piece of my mind if I had any to spare.

    [MH]
    I know! You wouldn't credit it would you! Cheeky bastards.

    Wonder if I can get them on the DP act too...
  • Lutz 24 Jan 2005 14:27:10 48,870 posts
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    Well, one very nasty letter later, and I've got my money back plus £50.

    \0/
  • tannerd 24 Jan 2005 14:35:18 2,691 posts
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    It is quite worrying how easy it is for companies to set up direct debits without actually having a signed mandate.

    My credit card company asked if I wanted to set one up to take the minimum payment out to stop me having to do it by hand each week. I said yeah, send me the details and promptly did nothing.

    End of the month, paid by hand (well, online) same as normal.

    Then another payment went out and knocked me over my overdraft limit. I check, and they've set up the direct debit without any agreement from me other than a vague conversation on the phone.

    Now, admittedly, it has saved me bothering to fill the form in/post it back/etc which does appeal to my lazy side, but it has got to be a dodgy practice.
  • Dirtbox 24 Jan 2005 14:39:30 92,595 posts
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    Post deleted
  • dadrester 24 Jan 2005 14:44:11 2,560 posts
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    Lutz wrote:

    Oh no… They've set me up on one. Without a signature, without a signed direct debit mansdate or ANYTHING.

    you win! they loose. make them pay your overdrawn fee too. they have to by law. similar thing happened to me!
  • Dirtbox 24 Jan 2005 14:45:37 92,595 posts
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    Post deleted
  • dadrester 24 Jan 2005 14:45:50 2,560 posts
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    Lutz wrote:

    Oh no… They've set me up on one. Without a signature, without a signed direct debit mansdate or ANYTHING.

    haha missed that... mans date!
  • Lutz 24 Jan 2005 14:49:19 48,870 posts
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    dadrester wrote:
    you win! they loose. make them pay your overdrawn fee too. they have to by law. similar thing happened to me!
    *ahem*

    LOSE.

    And they have done, hence the £50.

    "For any expenses, inconvenience, and distress" is what she said.
  • dadrester 24 Jan 2005 14:52:55 2,560 posts
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    Lutz wrote:
    dadrester wrote:
    you win! they loose. make them pay your overdrawn fee too. they have to by law. similar thing happened to me!
    *ahem*

    LOSE.

    And they have done, hence the £50.

    "For any expenses, inconvenience, and distress" is what she said.

    no. i menat they are loose. you know. with all their lawers and stuff. (stop digging) loose lawers. loose not lose. (bugger. lost this one)
    /coat
  • dadrester 24 Jan 2005 14:54:14 2,560 posts
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    that'll teach me to only read the first 5 posts.
    /feels stupid
    /gets coat
    /again
  • Lutz 24 Jan 2005 14:54:59 48,870 posts
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    dadrester wrote:
    that'll teach me to only read the first 5 posts.
    /feels stupid
    /gets coat
    /again
    And forget to check the dates of posts.

    And if it was "loose" then you missed a "'re"

    ;)
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