Soldier's missing cheque cost ?450

I am in the armed forces and have recently returned from six months abroad. While away, I was due to make a payment in final settlement to First National Tricity Finance for a computer.

My father sent a cheque for £1,296 on 10 August, in time for the final date of 19 August.

On 7 September, he saw that the money was still in his bank account. First National said it had not received the cheque and claimed I now owed a further £450 in interest. I have made the extra payment, but I do feel cheated.
KB, Hereford

First National, owned by Abbey National, still says that your father's cheque was not received. Because the money did not arrive in time, the computer jumped in and started deducting payments.

But the lender admits that, when your father said he had sent the cheque recorded delivery, customer service staff should have investigated before activating interest charges. First National has agreed to refund the £450 you paid and is sending £50 for out-of-pocket expenses.

'I was mis-sold an endowment'

I believe I was mis-sold an endowment mortgage by the Halifax in 1998. I already had one endowment and explained at the time that I was planning to move abroad within a couple of years. I am about to leave the UK and realise the difficulties of being paid in one currency and making payments in sterling.
AP, Armagh

Halifax has checked the file on your interview with its adviser, but says there is no record of verbal statements. This means the bank cannot confirm whether your move abroad was in fact discussed. Because of this doubt, Halifax has upheld your complaint and agrees that a repayment mortgage would have been more appropriate. It is offering you the difference between your position today and the amount that would still be owing if you had taken a repayment loan. This is £293, but Halifax has increased the payment to £400 to compensate for the inconvenience.

Name confusion delays share pack

I have not yet had my share pack from Bradford & Bingley, even though the return deadline is 24 November. On 2 November they said the problem was that they had two names for me on the computer, but that I would receive a share pack within two weeks. I have not.
HV, Storrington

Bradford & Bingley admits your complaints were not well handled. The computer did not recognise your account and so skipped your name when sending the mailings. A share pack was posted last week, which you should receive in time for the deadline. If you don't, B &B says you will lose out only if you want to sell your shares immediately.

Giving Life's Essentials a miss

I have a Gold Barclaycard and on a recent statement noticed £59.95 debited in favour of something called Life's Essentials, which meant nothing to me. After a number of phone calls, the money was returned.

It appears that Life's Essentials sells herbal remedies and discounted membership of fitness clubs. In theory, I am told, Barclaycard holders all receive a phone call about the firm's products, but I had no such call. I find it horrifying that my card number should be bandied about quite so liberally.

Barclaycard say its conditions say I have agreed they can pass on information to 'people who provide a service to us or are acting as our agents'. Nowhere does it make clear that this includes my card number.
PS, Woodbridge

Barclaycard has negotiated discounts with Life's Essentials on various products. It targets which customers to call by analysing the spending pattern revealed by their statements. The only details agents like this are interested in are customers' credit card numbers.

Barclays is going to listen to its taped conversations to see if this explains why your account was wrongly debited, but otherwise cannot explain. This is another reminder to check your statements.

How are annuity rates quoted?

Are annuity rates quoted net of income tax? What is the position for those who pay other than standard rate tax?
AC, Beckenham

All annuity rates are quoted gross of tax, but payments are made with tax deducted.

With compulsory purchase annuities (those you buy with your pension fund), adjustments for tax are made through your tax coding. With purchased life annuities, higher-rate taxpayers pay the extra through their self-assessment form; non-taxpayers and 10 per cent payers can reclaim an overpayment from the Revenue.

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