I received a letter from company A today, in response to my butt kick, extract as follows:

"..I refer to our previous correspondence in which we explained that we expected we would be able to provide a final response to your complaint.

I apologise for the further delay but assure you that we are continuing to investigate your case and do everything to resolve your complaint as soon as possible.

we are very sorry about the continual delay.."

pp'ed by the customer relations manager.

Well my thoughts are as follows:

1 Apologies are very nice but achieve nothing, ie fine words butter no parsnips.

2 Their letter of Dec siad that I would have an answer by 31 Jan, now they do not even give a deadline.

3 I predicted some time ago (see earlier posts) that the sheer volume of complaints would overload the system..sad to be proved right.

I will give them a little more time then kick harder by telling them that I will reveal their name on my website.

I received this today from one of our fellow endowment holders, edited extract...

"Hello Ken

Re: Endowment Mortgage Action Group

Great news - Today, after letters, faxes, emails and phonecalls, the £375 fee that I paid to ***(edited out) in August 2000, plus the documents I had supplied , was returned minus £2.16 postage!!! So they get to keep the interest for 2 years plus. Is this what is called sharp practice?

When your newspaper (edited) contact rang some months ago she was told that the scheme was being suspended because they were unable to obtain legal expenses insurance. The paper (edited) was advised that people would get their money back. When I rang yesterday to enquire about the delay the secretary first asked me if I was a new member of the group, so it looks as if the game continues. Curiouser and curiouser.

Now that I am back where I started two and a half years ago, I am pursuing my claim with the lender and of course, as you know, it is a slow grind.

Best wishes.."

My reply, edited extract..

"Hi ...,

Bit of a curate's egg really isn't it?

You get your money back but have wasted 2 years time and effort, plus lost interest income.

I agree it is a very slow grind....

best regards,

Ken"

Extract of the letter sent today to company A to remind them that they have fallen behind schedule...

".....I refer to your letter dated 6 December (ref 62648), in which you advised me that you would have a final response to my complaint by 31 January.

I have heard nothing since then; please can you advise me as to the status of that response, and clarify the reasons for the delay.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely...."

You will see from my post of 8 Dec that company A had promised to give me a final judgement by 31 Jan. That date has come and gone!

No letter, or communciation, from them.

Time to "kick butt!".

I will draft an appropriate "butt kicker" over the next 24 hours.