STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I WAS the victim of identity theft and am now being chased by the Debt and Revenue Services on behalf of eBay for £179.95. I have never had an eBay account, but the firm doesn’t believe me.

L. D., Cumbria.

You are almost 76 years old, and feared you may have to go to court to get the demand dropped. despite your distress, eBay took three weeks to investigate. a spokesman refused to explain why it initially held you responsible, but the firm has agreed to stop chasing you for the money. LADBROKES owes me £190 after I entered its Millionaire Irish Lottery. It won’t pay me my winnings. I’m either ignored or told to wait until the shop opens, which might not be for a long while.

D. T., Torquay, Devon.

THe betting shop refused to explain the hold-up but has now verified and settled your bet. The money should arrive in your bank account within three to five working days. MY 89-YEAR-OLD mother decided to end her telephone contract with TalkTalk and was due an £11.05 refund. At the time a member of staff told her she would be sent a cheque in the post, but it has yet to arrive. The company is now trying to get her to accept a BACS payment instead.

K. B., Berkshire.

THe telecoms giant rang your mother just a few hours after i contacted it. it has now posted a cheque for £20 — the extra £8.95 was added as a goodwill gesture. I RECENTLY found an old bank book with Lloyds TSB. The last withdrawal was made in February 1997, and the balance was £38.68. Does the bank still hold any information on this?

E. C., Peterborough, Cambs. lloYdS says it has traced your passbook account, adding that it contains £63. You would normally have to visit a branch with id to reclaim the money because you are no longer a customer, but this is not advised during the pandemic.

it says you can use mylostaccount.org.uk instead, although this may take longer as the claim is going through a third party.