I was looking for a loan and came accross Wentworth Direct Finance. I filled in some details online and within 30 mins I had a phone call from them. The person I spoke to said that they could help and offered very good rates. They told me that they needed the long card number from the front of my debit card just so they could prove I had a bank account that could except direct debits. They did not say anything about the £69 charge they were taking. Beware that the only details they need to do this is the long card number and the expiry date. They do not ask for the three digit security code that most companys ask for. When I contacted my bank they told me that this was all they needed to take the payment from my account. When I phoned Wentworth to complain and demand my money back I was left on hold and told I was in a que. When I got to number 1 in the que I was just cut off. I tried to call over a period off 3 weeks with no joy. I managed to find another number for tham and did get an answer but the person just gave me abuse and hung up. I was not going to give up and they had angered me so much I decided to take some advice from the finacial ombudsman service. They were brilliant, infact superb. The first thing I did was write to Wentworth including my ref number. I informed them in the letter that I had taken advice from the FOS and that I wanted a response within 7 days from the date of the letter I had sent. I had a reply back from Wentworth within a matter of days 3 or 4 infact. They said that they would refund my fee of £69 less a £5 admin fee. However they needed to see a utility bill and a payslip with my name and address on it. I had these and sent them off with another letter demanding my refund or I was going to ask the Finacial Ombudsman Service to take up my case. Within 4 days I had a cheque for £64 and paid it straight back in to the bank. I am now going to get my £5 admin fee back from them because they had no right to have a single penny from me. Anybody looking to get money back from this company should firstly write a letter, explain that you are going to go to the FOS and ask them to take your case on. DO NOT TRY AND PHONE! It is a premium rate number and will cost you. Make sure you ask for a refund and put your ref number on it. If you have them include a recent payslip and a utillity bill. Send the letter recorded and make sure you state that you want a response within severn days or you will seek further advice from FOS. It has now been 16 days since I sent the first letter and I have had my money refunded less £5.
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