Claim Back Mis-Sold Catalogue Credit From JD Williams
JD Williams sells clothing and homeware on a catalogue credit account, and that account is regulated consumer credit. Before opening it, and before every meaningful credit limit increase, the lender had to run a proper affordability check. Many customers were instead handed accounts and steadily larger limits while they were already stretched, stuck on minimum payments, or carrying other debts. If your borrowing grew faster than your ability to pay it back, the lending may have been irresponsible and you can ask for the interest and charges back. You send the complaint yourself, it is free, and you keep everything you get.
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The FCA's Consumer Credit sourcebook requires a reasonable creditworthiness and affordability assessment before credit is granted (CONC 5.2A) and before significant credit limit increases (CONC 6.2). JD Williams credit is provided and administered by J D Williams & Company Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Where an unaffordable lending complaint is upheld, the usual remedy is a refund of the interest and charges paid on the borrowing that should not have been advanced, plus 8 percent simple interest a year, and the removal of any related negative entries on your credit file. The lender must issue a final response within eight weeks under the FCA's DISP rules. If you disagree with it, or hear nothing, you can refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, usually within six months of the final response.
Step by step
- 1Pull together the basics: when the account opened, your starting limit, any increases over the years, and how affordable the repayments really felt given your income, benefits, or other debts at the time.
- 2Write a formal complaint to J D Williams & Company Limited saying the credit was lent irresponsibly because affordability was not properly assessed when the account opened or before limit increases. Cite FCA CONC 5.2A and ask for a refund of interest and charges plus 8 percent simple interest and a corrected credit file.
- 3Allow up to eight weeks for their final response under the FCA's DISP rules, keeping dated copies of all correspondence.
- 4If they say no, offer too little, or miss the deadline, escalate free to the Financial Ombudsman Service within six months of their final response and send across your complaint and their reply.
What they'll say, and your comeback
“Our records show you passed our credit checks at the time.”
Comeback, Passing an automated credit check is not the same as a proper affordability assessment. CONC 5.2A requires the lender to consider whether you could actually repay sustainably given your income and outgoings, not just whether a score crossed a threshold.
“You kept ordering and using the account, so you must have been able to afford it.”
Comeback, Continued use does not prove affordability and often points the other way, especially if you were only ever paying the minimum or relying on the credit to get by. The duty to check sat with the lender at each lending decision.
“We don't hold records going back that far.”
Comeback, If the lender cannot evidence that it carried out a reasonable affordability check, that weakens its position rather than yours. The Financial Ombudsman can still reach a fair decision based on the available evidence, including your own account of your circumstances.
FAQ
How far back can I complain?
There is no automatic cut-off. JD Williams accounts can run for many years, and the Financial Ombudsman routinely considers long-running catalogue accounts. Complain on the merits and let them assess it; do not assume it is too old.
What if I still owe money on the account?
You can still complain. If the lending is found to be unaffordable, the refund of interest and charges is often used to reduce or clear the outstanding balance, which can leave you owing far less or nothing.
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A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice.