Story: Diane Johnson
I know there is much hype out there surrounding PPI (Payment Protection Insurance) but a lot of people in Pitsmoor are probably owed some. You can easily claim it back and you don’t need to use a claims company
Here is a website you can have a look at and use to help you with any claims you may think you have: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com. It is a useful site and comes with templates of letters you can use to write to your lenders to start your claim.
The best thing to do is look over your statements from credit cards, loans, mortgages, catalogues and store cards, and check whether or not PPI is on there. Often you don’t even realise you were paying for it. To start your claim, contact your lender by a simple phone call and speak to them. Before you end the phone call, make sure you are given a reference number (this allows the lender to know you have made a previous call if you have to contact them again). Within days, you should receive a letter telling you they are investigating your claim.
Remember every lender has their own way of dealing with claims. Some you will hear from quite quickly, others may take time. However, if they do not respond, you can speak with someone at the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They can be contacted on 0800 023 4567. It's best to do this yourself as the claims companies will take a percentage of anything paid to you. Why pay for something you can do yourself? I myself was reluctant to claim, but I did. I have made a successful claim after making the phone call to the lender myself. The money will sure be useful at the moment. Good Luck, it really is worth a try.