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Wonga – what happened during the administration

The administration of WDFC, the legal company who operated the Wonga brand, was completed in August 2020.

The company was finally dissolved in December 2020.

See Companies House records for details.

 

 

Background to the administration – rising complaint numbers

A payday loan is “unaffordable” if repaying meant you had to get into more debt, by borrowing again or getting behind on bills or other debts. So you may have repaid all your loans but still have a good claim for a refund of the interest you paid.

When Wonga went under there were over 200,000 people with current loans from Wonga – many of them had a good case for the interest to be removed from their balance so they only repay what they borrowed.

The Administrators proposals set out the reasons why Wonga went into administration. These were the increasing number of affordability complaints, especially from Claims Companies, and the decision by the Financial Ombudsman that FOS could look at loans over 6 years old, going back to 2007.

There were 24,000 affordability complaints awaiting a decision by Wonga and 9,500 complaints against Wonga with the Financial Ombudsman when Wonga ceased trading on 30 August 2018.

Details on the Administration

The Administrators have made various progress reports (available from Companies House)  and statements during 2018-20:

  • in October 2018, the Administrators published their Proposals, detailing how they planned to handle the administration. Creditors voted to approve these Proposals.
  • progress report to end February 2019;
  • Witness Statement in April 2019;
  • progress report to end August 2019.

An online claim page was set up in April 2019 for Wonga customers to submit claims for refunds. The deadline for sending in a claim was 30 September 2019.

The Administrators assessed all claims using an automated tool. This took account of:

  • all loans, including those over 6 years old
  • how large a loan was compared to a customer’s income;
  • how often someone borrowed without significant gaps;
  • whether there were indications of hardship such as missed payments;
  • if there is a balance outstanding for the right of set-off.

Where it decided one or more loans were unaffordable, it calculated how much interest should be refunded and added statutory interest at 8%.

In August 2019 the Administrators starting sending emails to people saying whether their claims have been successful or rejected.

In September, the Administrators sent an update on progress up to end August 2019. Key points include:

  • at end August, 389,621 claims for unaffordable payday lending have been accepted by the administrators;
  • the total value of these claims is c £460million – an average of c £1,200 a claim.
  • £23m of outstanding loans have been collected. The Administrators say that outstanding loans are being taken into account and given the right of set-off where the customer has a claim for unaffordable loans.
  • The remaining loan book will not be sold to a debt collector.

At this point the Administrators were saying that payments would be made by 30 January 2020.

In October, many people with a balance still owed to Wonga received an offer to settle the debt for 25% of its value. This included some people who had made a Claim and had that upheld – the administrators withdrew these offers as they didn’t take account of the refunds owed.

29 January 2020 – administrators announce 4.3p in the pound

On 29 January 2020, the Wonga administrators announced that they will be paying 4.3p in the pound to unsecured creditors. This includes all the 400,000 people who are owed a refund for unaffordable lending.

The administrators have now given the final numbers:

  • they assessed 401,202 claims as being valid;
  • of these 358,129 are being paid 4.3% of their assessed compensation value;
  • the remaining 43,073 also owed a balance on a loan to wonga, so their compensation has been used to clear or reduce that balance.

What happens next:

  • the money should be paid within the next 4 weeks. This has come as a surprise as people had been told it would be paid by the end of January;
  • loans that are being refunded should be removed from your credit record in the next 6 weeks.

My comment – ripped off by Wonga and now let down by the regulators

The administrators told people they would get “significantly less” than that amount as there would not be enough money to pay the claims in full.

But many people will have been hoping for more than 4.3% and are very upset.

It is not the administrators’ fault there is so little money to be divided between so many people. It is the fault of the regulators – first the OFT and then the FCA – that they allowed Wonga to break the rules saying that affordability should be checked

And now the regulators have failed to ensure that these Wonga victims get the compensation they should have. When a PPI firm went under, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme stepped in and people with PPI claims got paid in full. But the FCA has not extended the FSCS to cover payday lenders.

This isn’t just a problem for the hundreds of thousands of Wonga victims. Borrowers from many payday lenders have been unable to get proper compensation after the lender has had to close. This will apply to QuickQuid, the money shop, Payday UK and Payday Express borrowers as well.

The FCA needs to rethink this and provide a safety net for people who were mis-sold unaffordable loans.

Readers comments – Shock and disappointment

This a brief overview of the hundreds of comments below this article.

Some people are happy to be getting anything:

  • “I am only getting just shy of £25 but for the sake of completing a 30 second form it’s not too bad.”
  • “I will be getting £79.93 of the £1854.17 I was owed. Better than nothing!”
  • “£35 out of a possible £800. I wasn’t expecting much anyway. I’m more interested in having the 25 wonga loans removed from my credit file.”

The administrators had said people would get “significantly less” than the claim, but many people were hoping for at least 10%:

  • “I got mine £88.67 – claim was £2057.05 – I was expecting at least a couple hundred.”
  • “Claim was 3034, getting 130. By considerably less I didn’t think it would be over 95% of it. That is ridiculous.”
  • “To receive £44.10 from a claim of £1023.00 is insulting to be honest.”
  • “Owed £1499, getting £63…what an absolute joke!”
  • “4.3% is an absolute disgrace. Although people are trying to be positive they shouldn’t have to. The people who made all the profit here would spend the biggest payout anyone has received on an evening out and not think twice about it.”
  • “Gutted…. was hoping for at least the 10% speculated.”

This reader blamed not just Wonga but the regulators:

  • “Over £11k accepted reduced down to £480 – my job, my marriage and 4 years of desperation followed by years of rebuilding my life – that’s what the regulators consider that to be worth! Shame on everyone involved in Wonga and the lack of regulation of lenders like them !”

Some are just delighted that Wonga has gone under:

  • “Heads up everyone…We have won in the end! They can no longer be a hindrance to any of us any more!”
  • “Mines going to charity. Best thing to have happened is for them to have gone bust”
  • ”Thank you Wonga you paid me to continue gambling, I lost everything. Good riddance.”

Many people are also disappointed and shocked that they aren’t being paid by the end of January. Some people getting these refunds are still in difficult financial circumstances and had planned to use the money to pay a bill or some debts.

February 2020 – some clarifications from the administrators

The remaining loans

The administrators have confirmed that no further payments are being accepted and the debts will not be sold to a debt collector. So you don’t have to worry about being taken to court or bailiffs.

But the debts are not technically being written off. They will remain on your credit record for 6 years from the default date on your credit record. If you don’t know what this date is, I suggest you check it now.

In practice, now the company in liquidation, if you contact a credit reference agency and say your Wonga debt is incorrect, you can ask the credit reference agency to “suppress” the record as Wonga can no longer say what the right entry should be. See How to correct credit records if the lender has gone under for details.

No deductions are being made for tax

The Administrators have said:

“the Joint Administrators have agreed with HMRC that the payment may be treated for tax purposes as set wholly against the interest and fees element first, and statutory interest second. As a result, where the distribution paid by the administrators to each customer does not exceed the interest and fees claimed by them, no withholding tax will be required to be deducted at source from payments made by the administrators in such cases.”

The simple version of this is:

  1. the administrators are not taking off any tax.
  2. there will, therefore, be no tax to have to reclaim.
  3. the vast majority of people will not have to pay any tax on any part of of the refund even if you are a higher rate taxpayer. The amounts don’t have to be declared if you complete an annual tax return eg if you are self-employed.

A small number of extra payments

A small number of customers were owed money by Wonga for a different reason, for example they may have overpaid on a loan.  These extra amounts are also being paid out and you will get 4.3% of them too.

If you were not using a claims company, you should have received a single email at the end of January which mentions both amounts.

If you were using a claims company you should have received two emails, each about one of the amounts. If you have only received one email and it mentions a claim which is smaller than the amount you expected, you can contact the administrators, it may be this is the “extra” payment.

Bank account issues

I asked the Administrators why some people are still getting emails asking them to update their bank details. They say:

These emails will be in response to customers’ requests received by the Customer Care team prior to 29 January 2020 providing a secure method by which customers can update their bank account details. Customers should respond to these emails.

I asked the Administrators what will happen if they make a payment and it bounces back to them because the account is no longer open. They say:

Where updated information is available from customers we will attempt to reprocess bounced dividend payments via electronic transfer. Alternatively, we will issue a cheque to the address held on file.

A blogger contacted the Administrators on the 14th February to ask why she hadn’t been paid and was told:

 “I can confirm that the joint administrators have commenced distribution of dividend payments to unsecured creditors, including those with redress claims. Given the volume of transactions that need to now take place, the administrators cannot guarantee an exact date when individuals will receive payment but are aiming to complete transactions within the next two weeks.”

February and March – payments started but with problems

I was told by the Administrators on Friday 28th February that 90%+ of payments have been made and they expect to make the rest of payments over the next two weeks by BACS. About 22,000 the following week, about 13,000 the week after. It looks as though the 22,000 group got their money. It’s not clear to me how many of the 13,000 group have.

Many people in the comments below this article were reporting probems. These included people whose bank accounts had never changes. Problems included:

  1. confusion over whether a claims company has been paid or they will be;
  2. Wongasaid payment was sent to a claims firm that hadn’t been used;
  3. Wonga said a cheque was sent to a house you no longer live it;
  4. Wonga said a payment has been made to your bank account but it hasn’t arrived ;
  5. Wonga has said a payment was sent to an old bank account despite new bank account details having been given and co0nfirmed as having been received.

On 2 March the Administrators said the payment process was taking longer than expected and payments would continue to about 40,000 people over the next 2 weeks:

The Joint Administrators have now attempted to make dividend payments to over 410,000 creditors… In addition to the payments that were not made we have had approximately 40,000 payments returned to us due to incorrect customer bank details recorded on file with Wonga. We will now begin contacting these customers whose payments were returned, by email, to obtain correct and up-to-date bank account details.

The dividend payment process is taking longer than anticipated and payments will continue to be paid during the next two weeks.

On 19 March the Admistrator’s announced:

The Joint Administrators have now attempted to make dividend payments to over 443,000 creditors representing 98% of the creditor population. This includes payments to creditors whose payments were briefly held back from the initial payment phase whilst additional validation checks were completed to new bank account and/or address details that were provided. The Joint Administrators now continue to focus on the remaining small population of unpaid dividends in order to complete the payment process.

From here on progress was very slow, impeded by lockdown.

End August 2020 – administration ends – do you still have a problem?

Have you not been paid?

The Administrators final report blames the payment problems of Wonga’s poor systems and on creditors who did not update their bank details when requested to. But as many comments below detail, people who had never changed their bank account or who had updated their bank details several times and had each confirmed also experienced prolonged delays.

At 28 Auguest when the administration ended, there were still c 49,000 payments with a total value of £632,000 that had not been made – an average about of £13 per payment. About 70% of these were for amounts owed before the administration, so not affordability complaints.

The Administrators have passed the £632,000 to the Insolvency Service. If any creditors want to claim an unpaid amount, they should email CustomerServicesEAS@Insolvency.gov.uk.

A problem with your credit record

If there is a problem with your credit record then you now need to contact the Credit Reference Agency where the problem is showing – Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Say you can no longer get an answer from the administrators as the firm has been dissolved so you would like the CRA to “suppress” the credit records (list them) as they are inaccurate.

This problem could have been an error by the administrators, who failed to delete the record. It could be an error by Wonga before the administration: the loan date or balance or default date is wrong – you want the default date to be as early as possible so it drops off sooner – or Wonga may have failed to add a default date.

If the CRA refuses, send the CRA a formal complaint and this can be sent to the Financial Ombudsman. In practice people are getting these sorted with the CRAs without having to go to the ombudsman.


More Debt Camel articles:

Refunds from large loans & car finance

Payday Loan Refunds

Refunds from other payday lenders

part of a credit card

Is your credit card limit too high?

April 21, 2020 Author: Sara Williams Tagged With: High cost credit news/policy, Payday loans, Wonga

Comments

  1. Ruby says

    February 27, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    Has anybody gone through [claims firm]. I had originally but when they mentioned taking wonga to court, I stupidly didnt take it any further with them. Moving on I then recieved my email from wonga checking the bank account details (which were correct.) I then recieved the next email stating how much i was owed. The first email has stated my case number and a third party reference number. I have since lost my second email stating how much I am owed. I have searched everywhere possible. Im just looking for advice of who my money will be paid to? (If paid at all) Me or the third party which wasnt finalised?

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      You need to ask the claims firm.

      Reply
  2. Rich says

    February 27, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    Guys just been told it’s bacs which is the opposite of what I was told yesterday! Been assured payment is coming but what for it……payment may take 3 days to clear so if it’s not tomorrow it will be start of next week! Got to laugh haven’t you, these amateurs couldn’t even stick to the ‘within 4 weeks’ promise! Strange 2 weeks ago a large amount of people got paid and next to nothing since! Anyone expecting a faster payment and checking your account constantly don’t hold your breath it’s not happening

    Reply
  3. Christine says

    February 27, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Hi there, I have just spoken to a helpful guy at Wonga and he said a batch of payments were paid by BACs on Monday which means a lot of people should have received theirs this morning. He said more payments will be being made by BACs up to close of business tomorrow but that means it may be as late as Wednesday next week when people receive them. I haven’t changed my bank account at all and the details are correct but I did get my 4.3% email very late in the day on the very last day that they said we would receive them so perhaps if they are being done in the order of the emails being sent then that is why I haven’t been paid yet? Who knows – fingers crossed it has all ended by the end of next week.

    Reply
  4. MFJN says

    February 27, 2020 at 12:52 pm

    After chasing GT all week I have received this response. Totally unacceptable.

    Unfortunately, your account was excluded from the initial payment run as it was wrongly understood that you provided us with updated bank account details in January, and therefore the Customer Care team were working to update these records for the subsequent payment run. As per the dividend declaration email that was sent out on 29 January 2020, any customers who were part of this group may have to wait longer than the four-weeks for payment.

    I note that you informed me on the phone that you should not have been part of this exclusion, and that your bank account has been the same throughout. I can only apologise for this error and ensure you that the Customer Care team and the Joint Administrators are working to get the next payment run completed as soon as possible. However, unfortunately, this will mean that you do not receive your payment this week.

    Reply
  5. graham robert wrigley says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    Hi
    I’m after some advice please.
    I contacted Wonga about my refund, they said that they had already paid it to Payday refunds.
    Basically I have no address contact details for these as I only applied online nearly 2 years ago and forgot all about it till I got an email from Wonga last month.
    Has anyone got a y contact details for Payday refunds?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • St says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:45 pm

      Payday refunds don’t exist anymore

      Reply
  6. Claire says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    I called them just. Didn’t take any personal details. Told me that payments should be in the bank by end of business today or tomorrow latest, if not to call them back Monday!!!! I said who is making the payments and she said the administrators, and I said well how are they being made and she said they haven’t told us that information! 🤷🏼‍♀️ Sounds like BS to me!

    Reply
  7. Richard says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:11 pm

    I sent an email to wonga this morning asking them if they needed my new address details as I’ve moved house incase they were going to send me out a cheque this is there reply,

    Thank you for contacting us.

    Payment will be made to account number ending with 1855 and will be made by the end of February. This is due to the volume of payments being made and processes we have to follow. We are unable to give any further information about when the funds will be received.

    Reply
  8. Ellie says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    Hi, I called the number above earlier as I received the email and everything on time with my correct bank details but just haven’t had the money yet. The woman on the phone said they couldn’t take any details or give any information about individual cases at all – I asked how the payments were being made and she said they can’t say but that all payments would be made tomorrow at the latest (if they are BACS I suppose that means everyone should have them midweek next week) it seems strange that they would even bother having a phone line if they can’t even take my name and confirm my details/payment method or anything…

    Reply
  9. MH says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    Hi all
    I have just rang Wonga (who were both polite and helpful) – all details confirmed as correct i.e. bank details etc and they confirmed numerous payments are being made today and tomorrow. The individual I spoke to did confirm that tomorrow is the last day for payments to be made. I originally made my claim through a 3rd party (Fast Track) who I also rang today to confirm they have not received my payment (I did confirm I wanted the payment direct to my bank account) and they confirmed they had not received my payment. Suppose we just have to take the information on face value and await payment either today or tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      February 27, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      It’s not looking promising considering no reported payments so far today and the clock is ticking!
      Close of play tomorrow we will have nothing judging by this and then have to wait until Monday to chase it!

      Reply
  10. G says

    February 27, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Hi all,

    I was just off the phone to Wonga. The lady on the phone told me that they have received confirmation that all payments have been sent not. If the payment wasn’t in my account then it will appear before Wednesday.

    Reply
  11. S.H says

    February 27, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Rang Leeds grant Thornton left 2 voicemails 1 4 hours ago now and the second an hour ago. Mainly worried that people haven’t had the correct bank details when they’ve said they had put them in correctly and some getting a check. What if it’s not the correct address. The lack of communication is beyond ridiculous. If they had sent out a further email with details on people wouldn’t be getting so angry.

    Reply
  12. Amanda says

    February 27, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    I emailed GT yesterday and have just received this reply!!

    Commercial in confidence

    Dear Ms

    I apologise for the delay in the payment to you and understand your frustration.

    Unfortunately I do not have direct access to your account to provide you with an exact reason for the delay. However, please note that there are a few reasons as to why you have not received your payment, which are as follows:

    1.You may have provided the Customer Care team with updated bank details in January and, as per the 29 January email, these payments may take longer than the four weeks disclosed to receive while your updates are processed;
    2.We did not have bank details on file for you, and therefore you have been paid by cheque;
    3.The payment was rejected during the payment processing procedure due to the bank account details being invalid; or
    4.The payment was processed but subsequently bounced.

    The Joint Administrators are working with the Customer Care team to resolve the above as soon as they are able. If you do need more information in relation to your specific claim, please do contact the Customer Care team on customercare@wonga.com or 0207 138 8330.

    Kind regards

    Reply
    • Lynne says

      February 27, 2020 at 4:26 pm

      My reply to them was so who DOES have direct access to my account then, because this response doesnt tell me what I’ve asked!

      Reply
      • Gina says

        February 27, 2020 at 4:46 pm

        I received the EXACT same email from that advisor!

        Reply
  13. Dawn Moore says

    February 27, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    I’ve emailed Wonga customer care and it gave me a generated response straight away…of absolutely no use!

    Reply
  14. cath says

    February 27, 2020 at 4:42 pm

    I just spoke to customer care and asked them to check to see if they have sent a payment and was told that payments are still being paid out up until tomorrow.mine hasn’t been done as yet she said at least she checked confirmed my bank detail were right

    Reply
  15. Lyndsey says

    February 27, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    My redress has finally been paid today – I bank with the co-op :) thanks Sara for your help and support throughout!

    Reply
  16. Fiontan says

    February 27, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    I am still waiting for my small refund, but to be really honest it was my own fault for taking one of many payday loans. Needed the cash due to a break up, depression etc. Thankfully now i just have one last year to go of my IVA, saved my flat and mind body and soul. As someone did mention if you are in difficulties talk to citizen advice and never ever take a payday loan again. Hard lesson to go through, but there is help out there.

    Reply
  17. G says

    February 27, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Just had an email asking me to update bank details, a day before payment supposed to be made.
    Received an email from them in January saying they have my bank details and no problems.
    An absolute farce of a process, GT should be ashamed

    Reply
    • Debs says

      February 27, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      So. Had an email reply from wonga this morning to Again confirm bank details and saying redress will be paid on 28th. Then this afternoon had an email off them to update bank details!!!. I’ve just come off the phone to th and they said all redress will be paid by close of business tomorrow. Oh and that email they sent me was an error and I should ignore it. So il see what tomorrow brings I guess. What a shambles.

      Reply
  18. Dave L says

    February 27, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    I’ve had a reply from Chris Laverty directly

    Dear Mr Lane

    I have forwarded your email to my team for reply to you today.

    Kind regards

    Chris Laverty

    Which was very polite but still no reply

    Reply
  19. ae says

    February 27, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    I haven’t rung before chasing Payment wish I had before, I was informed that my payment was sent to a cmc called payday claim? I have never heard of them and have had no communication from them, asked wonga customer service to send me proof that I requested this, I await the email but not hopefully if ever having the money

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 27, 2020 at 7:54 pm

      You need to push GT about this and find out the full name of claims company it is alleged you used as lots of them sound very similar.

      Reply
  20. simon says

    February 27, 2020 at 6:24 pm

    Well, despite assurance from call to wonga this morning theres nothing showing from them clearing BACS tomorrow via Monzo. That means unless its a faster payment tomorrow ( which i very much doubt will happen ) then its a BACs which will clear on tuesday. I suppose they will argue that they have discharged their duty by making payments by month end !! Shambles.

    Reply
  21. Tracy says

    February 27, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    Firstly thanks for the all good wishes for my cancer treatment. However, after becoming allergic to my chemo, and back at home today from the hospital I was sent a “missive” from Wonga saying that they wanted my bank details and a copy of my driving license. I can not believe this because on the 25th after sending them my bank details by e-mail (their request) and their acknowledgment of having my driving license details they are now asking for them again. I am going to complain to my MP about the ineptitude of the administrators and speak to Wonga tomorrow if the payment has not come through. It may not do any good complaining, but I really need to vent my spleen. I totally understand why people are so hacked off and now I am angry I will go to the nth degree to get my money! Good luck to everyone……..

    Reply
  22. James says

    February 27, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    I used a CMC although I instructed Wonga to pay the funds into my account.
    They sent payment to the CMC ( ) in my case.
    I called them today and after their fee’s I will get my redress on Tuesday.
    So anyone who asked for the funds to be paid directly to their account the administrators seem to have chosen to ignore these requests.
    Good luck to you all.

    Reply
  23. Gilly says

    February 27, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    I’ve just had a (second) email asking for my bank details and evidence of ID, which I’ve already provided! I have 7 days to upload the evidence, so I’m guessing this means payments will still be being made beyond 29 Feb?

    Reply
  24. Rich says

    February 27, 2020 at 8:40 pm

    Reading some comments that people have got a cheque today when they were expecting a bank transfer! Absolutely no structure to these payouts, they started paying frequently via bank transfer 2 weeks ago then hardly anything over the last week and now they are randomly sending cheques when people aren’t expecting it! Like a few others I have since moved address and just have a feeling these incompetent amateurs have sent a cheque to my old address which wouldn’t surprise me at all given the way this has been handled! It’s a disgrace

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 27, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      yes, 4 people have now said this.

      Reply
  25. Liz says

    February 27, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    This is what I’ve emailed Grant Thornton-

    Please can you reply individually to each email rather than send the same one to everyone.
    I am on a forum with hundreds of others who are waiting for their refunds and you have been sending everyone the same automated email regardless of their concerns.
    We were told the payments will be made by 28/2/20. That’s tomorrow. I have contacted The Martin Lewis Money programme and a researcher is calling me in the morning. The way Grant Thornton have dealt with this is a complete shambles. You have paid some but not others, Ignored calls and emails and told everyone to contact Wonga and Wonga tell everyone to call Grant Thornton.
    Please issue my refund and have the courtesy to read what I’ve taken time to write and respond accordingly.

    Reply
    • Lynne says

      February 27, 2020 at 9:52 pm

      Well done Liz. These people have caused us no end of heartache and despair and now here we are with more waiting and turmoil.

      Reply
  26. Elaine Treadwell says

    February 27, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    Hi there,
    I’m not a regular poster but I just wanted to say that my bank account details have never changed so I was wondering why Id had no payment into my account.
    I’d called them this morning but got got zero help. They wouldn’t tell me whether a payment had been attempted, saying only that they weren’t party to that information.
    After an unsatisfactory five minutes I gave up and rang off.
    Then this afternoon my payment ( 260 from a claim of 6000+ ) arrived by post as a cheque.

    Don’t give up hope. Your cheques may appear over the next few days.
    Best wishes to Sara and all.

    Reply
  27. Terry says

    February 28, 2020 at 4:48 am

    Nothing again what a surprise

    Reply
  28. David L says

    February 28, 2020 at 5:10 am

    What a surprise well not surprised but a virtually identical cut and paste job received last night from Lucy at GT. About the only thing I can say positively is that it is polite. Grant Thornton should hang their heads in shame and it’s getting to the point where they should start paying compensation from their insolvency fees.

    Reply
  29. Mac says

    February 28, 2020 at 6:23 am

    Shock not a penny to be seen from wonga why did that not surprise me… Im done totally ripped off by this circus of a company. I’ve drawn line through it cannot deal with the stress anymore

    Reply
    • Emma says

      February 28, 2020 at 6:31 am

      So they have lied again no payment this monring absolutely disgusted by this whole shambles

      Reply
    • Dave L says

      February 28, 2020 at 7:25 am

      I’ve just put in a formal complaint against Grant Thornton. I’ve had enough now they’ve exhausted my patience.

      Reply
  30. Dai says

    February 28, 2020 at 6:28 am

    I called them yesterday and was told the payment would be made today by close of business. I bank with HSBC and cant see any pending payment. Owed £391

    Reply
  31. Bill says

    February 28, 2020 at 6:57 am

    Well this is the first time I’ve commented on here but been looking here every day would love to see what people think about the email I’ve sent because I’ve had enough.
    Can someone tell me why I haven’t received my money in my account I’ve rang and spoke to u and was assured my money would be transferred to the account u have well I haven’t received it yet!! If a cheque is being sent to my address you have my old address from 6 years ago on your file I’ve rang you to make sure you updated my address and was told it doesn’t matter as I would be paid to my bank!! Well I haven’t so I want to kno why and what the hell is goin on with my money! Who ever receives this reply with an answer!! Try putting yourself in mine or someone that’s still waiting for the money YOU owe shoes and do something about it!! Instead of doin nothing when it’s that company you still help that’s putting you out of a job and it’s the people that are owed money that kept u in a job for this long!! Do the decent thing and find some answers! Please!!!

    Reply
  32. Nats Daley says

    February 28, 2020 at 6:58 am

    Well let’s see if we get paid by the end of the day..
    If I remember rightly those that recieved payments before up until 7pm..
    I might have blind faith but I’m trying to remain positive ..

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 7:21 am

      The problem now is what if they have sent a cheque and it has got lost in the post or gone to the wrong address? People have not been asked to confirm addresses…

      So far 5 people have received cheques – so far no-one has said they were expecting a cheque, it just arrived.

      Reply
  33. Pete says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:10 am

    Nothing in and nothing pending. it would appear that few or no payments were made yesterday either despite GT claims to the contrary. Why am I not surprised? Increasingly difficult to believe a word they say in all honesty. Likewise Wonga whose customer service agents will I suspect be bracing themselves this morning. A busy old day beckons…

    Reply
    • Dawn Moore says

      February 28, 2020 at 7:16 am

      Nothing here either, as much as I want to just forget it, I’m waiting on over £600.

      Reply
  34. John says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:35 am

    I could understand cheques being used for any returned payments that had initially been made by electronic banking, however people reporting receiving cheque appear not to have changed any bank details so it just does not add up – it’s also days since anyone confirmed a bacs or faster payment – something’s gone terribly wrong in this process – GT need to provide answers quickly

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 28, 2020 at 7:40 am

      Keep chins up everyone. I know it’s hard. I’ve been furious a week now but it’s the absolute disrespect of telling everyone basically lies yesterday that’s getting me. If they were just straight and communicating better you could deal with it. Something has went clearly wrong and for a company of this scale and experience to not be open and honest considering the cost they have gained from administration. Anyone calling today just take it all with a pinch of salt. It’s clear to see BACS payments have not been sent

      Reply
  35. Nats Daley says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:42 am

    Well Sara I’m hoping I’m not no6…
    My bank details haven’t changed confirmed it all I’m just waiting its lonnnggggggg yes but what can you do, the power isnt jn my hands..
    I hope we do all get our money due..

    Reply
  36. Barbara Inseal says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:45 am

    My son received a cheque in the post yesterday 27Feb, it was dated 13 Feb! £35 out of an £850 claim.

    Reply
    • Ian says

      February 28, 2020 at 7:51 am

      I changed my bank details with wonga when I was very first asked to do so many months ago. I like others continued to receive emails asking me to update them hence I called wonga in December and was told that my new IBAN number had been added to the account and that is where I would receive payment. I haven’t received any payment yet. Shock horror. My old address was a UK address and now I’m overseas hence the need for an IBAN number that begins with the country code that I now live in. Surely they can’t be incompetent enough to send a cheque to my old UK address. Also I am lucky that I dont know anyone at this address anymore. Just say my parents lived at it and now receive a cheque which shows them the financial difficulty I was in that luckily for me is now over but won’t be for some. It’s absolutely abhorrent how they are dealing with this.

      Reply
    • Andrina says

      February 28, 2020 at 8:10 am

      Absolute shambles I still haven’t been paid I phoned yesterday they confirmed correct bank details also confirmed the payment would be sent to me not the claims company so frustrated now will be contacting GT this morning. I have also moved house and they have never asked for my new address so if they send a cheque a won’t get it

      Reply
  37. N says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:54 am

    I’m really hoping it’s not a cheque. I have since got married therefore my name has changed.

    Reply
  38. Andy says

    February 28, 2020 at 7:58 am

    New to this. Have been reading all the comments for the past month. Genuinely thought today would be the day that I would get my redress, £160. Nowhere to be seen. Now need to consider what action I need to take

    Reply
    • Ross says

      February 28, 2020 at 8:11 am

      Shambolic and a disgrace. To have a company blatantly lie to creditors in this manner is beyond a joke. The only good thing that may come of it all is the potential for an inquiry into this whole sorry affair.

      Reply
  39. Adam says

    February 28, 2020 at 8:37 am

    Still not got mine have phoned up numerous times last week and this week to be told it will be in by Friday latest but still nothing this morning

    Reply
    • Jonathan says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Called this morning and stayed on the phone until I got the response I was happy with. They don’t like me much, let’s put it that way.

      Anyone due payment they set up as cash flow sync for it Wednesday to arrive no later than 5pm today.

      If payment is not received today the payroll team will send a reconciliation list of who has and hasn’t been paid Monday to the help desk. They can then advise further should payment not show in your account.

      Please be ready if calling to be waiting in excess of 45 minutes for an answer.

      Reply
  40. Emma says

    February 28, 2020 at 8:50 am

    Nothing in mine either today. I have sent them an email this morning saying that they are now in default of their commitment to pay and that the four week time frame expired on Wednesday 26th February. I have also said that if i do not receive the money by close of business today I will be making a formal complaint to relevant authority, whoever that may be.

    Reply
  41. Liz says

    February 28, 2020 at 8:52 am

    Re my email to Grant Thornton, just received a reply from The Manager Matthew Drinkwater – out of office until 3/3/20….Incredible

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:32 am

      I suggest you now email the administrators personally, see article above.

      Reply
  42. aaron says

    February 28, 2020 at 8:54 am

    What a complete joke. Was told payments would be received today and yet nothing! Others have been paid!

    Reply
  43. Julez says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:01 am

    I too am overseas that asked for ID bank details and a swift code and told me my details were up to date. Then they email me yesterday to say payment will be paid by today to the IBAN I supplied. They never asked for an IBAN???

    Strongly worded email sent ***

    Reply
  44. JP says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:03 am

    We aren’t getting paid. Sending cheques out without checking addresses???? Faster Payments???? Who is making these payments The Invisible Man????

    Reply
  45. Tracey says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:05 am

    Hi everyone
    I have just called wonga and they advised me that payments are getting made today so it might be throughout the day that people recieve them. They also confirmed my bank details but if nothing is recieved today to call back monday. I am not holding out hope but thought i would share this

    Reply
  46. Kieran says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:08 am

    So what’s the plan of action today guys are we gonna keep coming back here to moan or find out what we can do and who we can complain to. Lets get this sorted together, we’ve all been taken for a ride and we’ve had enough.
    What is GT’s number please?

    Reply
  47. CS says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:10 am

    Just called Wonga as no money in my account this morning, they confirmed my account details and confirmed faster payments will be made throughout the day today! I am not holding my breath and if I don’t receive today I will be calling again on Monday! Let’s hope what they are saying is true!

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:59 am

      other people have been told all payments are being made by BACS…

      Reply
  48. Pete says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:11 am

    Ok so just got off the phone with them – spoke with a very helpful agent who ran a check to confirm whether a payment has been made and if so when. Having checked she confirmed that a payment was issued on Wednesday and will clear Monday. It does seem therefore that Wonga are able to check payment info so if you are concerned, give them a call, be polite and pleasant and I’m sure they will run the same check for you too.

    Here’s hoping we all get sorted very early next week and that if provides a small measure of relief to anyone really struggling. have a good weekend folk!

    Reply
  49. James says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:11 am

    Nothing in mine either phoned the other day to confirm bank details etc lady on phone said you will be paid by 28th February!

    Reply
  50. Drew says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:15 am

    I’ve posted a damming review on Grant Thorntons Trust Pilot. A classic example of taking on a job that was too big for them!

    Still nothing for me either!

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:55 am

      it won’t do any good, but as a place to express your opnion, here it is: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.grantthornton.co.uk

      Reply
  51. deb says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:20 am

    I have spoken to the creditors today and they have assured me that ALL payments will be made by the end of today. She has also advised the some banks are not accepting the payment and we would need to contact our banks to ask them to allow the payment to be made. If this happens the creditors will contact customers on Monday.

    I have called by bank (LLoyds) who said that they have a problem with all payments going in to account today so everything will be delayed!!!

    Good luck peeps :) x

    Reply
    • Skells says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:26 am

      Hi Debs,

      Thanks for this update. My (long ago) updated bank is Lloyd’s, and just checked and nothing in. This information is very helpful, in that respect. I agree; what a great and helpful site. I hope we all get our money, either way, very soon, but I fear a lot of lost cheques and debacles long after today.

      Good luck!

      Skells

      Reply
  52. Dan says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:25 am

    Just spoke to last minute refunds as apparently they took some cases on from payday refunds if you agreed them too. The lady said anyone who didn’t will get all there claim direct to them. She said they are doing it in batches even with some people paid before Christmas I find this hard to believe. I’ve not received my £119 pound which is a shambles.

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:30 am

      no one was paid before Xmas. Some claims companies are even less trustworthy than Wonga or the administrators… though I have no knowledge of the one you have mentioned.

      If you did not consent to your case being taken over by this firm, put in a complaint to them objecting and asking for a refund of any amount they deduct. And send the complaint to the Finacial Ombudsman if they refuse.

      Reply
  53. Sara (Debt Camel) says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:26 am

    IF YOU ARE FED UP WITH NOT BEING PAID AND THE VERY POOR COMMUNICATION
    I suggest you eamil the administrators personally, see article above for addresses and what you might want to say.

    PS keep it polite, honestly it works better no matter how upset you feel.

    Reply
  54. Lee says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:32 am

    Dear Lee

    Just received this from GT

    A response will be send to you on timing asap.

    Kind regards

    Chris Laverty

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:33 am

      I suggest you reply that if you do not get an email which has details specific to your case, not a generic one, you will be sending a complaint to the insolvency service gateway on Monday

      Reply
  55. Liz says

    February 28, 2020 at 9:56 am

    But a BACS payment takes 3 days do if it was issued on Wednesday, it should be in your account today surely!!

    Reply
    • Lynne says

      February 28, 2020 at 10:10 am

      Just another example of being fobbed off Liz. They’re experts at it by now.

      Reply
  56. ST says

    February 28, 2020 at 10:00 am

    Just been on the phone to Wonga again and I got the usual confirmation of last four digits of bank account number and it will be paid by COP today, if not call again on Monday.

    Reply
  57. Ian L says

    February 28, 2020 at 10:04 am

    The thing that’s most annoying is the fact they are still spinning this “everyone will be paid by friday” line, right up until the last minute. It’s a clear fob off as I cant see evidence of payments being made this week other than a handful of cheques.

    Reply
  58. Stephen Westrip says

    February 28, 2020 at 10:05 am

    Complaint email send to the three Insolvency Practitioners using your guidelines. It was sent at 10am. Let’s see whether this provokes any action at all.

    Thank you Sara for putting that information and those guidelines up so promptly.

    Reply
  59. James says

    February 28, 2020 at 10:33 am

    Wonga just put the phone down on me. You literally have to shout at them!! Payments being processed. This is totally unacceptable how is there no communication.

    Reply
    • Sara (Debt Camel) says

      February 28, 2020 at 10:34 am

      I share your frustration but they are more likely to put the phone down if they are shouted at…

      Reply
      • Liz says

        February 28, 2020 at 10:40 am

        Wonga just put the phone down on me too. I didn’t shout. I asked if I could give her my claim number and She asked what the reason for the call was. I said I was checking if my payment had been made yet. She said by the end of today or start complaining on Monday then she hung up.

        Reply
      • James says

        February 28, 2020 at 10:58 am

        Sara I meant raise your voice as you can’t hear them!!

        Reply
        • Sara (Debt Camel) says

          February 28, 2020 at 11:04 am

          fair enough!

          Reply
  60. Lizzy says

    February 28, 2020 at 10:34 am

    I’m
    New to this can I please have the email addresses to log a complaint with them as I still have not received my money but my partner has
    Thanks in advance

    Reply
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