Reclaim Unfair Interest from Very or Littlewoods
Many people found themselves paying high interest rates on catalogue accounts like Very or Littlewoods. If you believe the interest on your account was unaffordable or unfairly applied, you may be able to reclaim it. This guide helps you challenge those charges and seek a refund.
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Build my claim →Your rights
Your right to complain about an unfair credit relationship is protected under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This Act, along with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) rules on responsible lending, ensures credit providers assess affordability and treat customers fairly. If your complaint isn't resolved by Very or Littlewoods, you can escalate it to the independent Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for a binding decision.
Step by step
- 1Gather your account statements and any correspondence from Very or Littlewoods. Note down dates, interest rates, and payments made.
- 2Write a formal complaint to Very or Littlewoods, explaining why you believe the interest was unfair. Focus on affordability, lack of clear terms, or changes in your circumstances they should have considered.
- 3If Very or Littlewoods rejects your complaint or doesn't respond within eight weeks, escalate your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Provide them with all your evidence and the company's final response.
- 4Cooperate with the FOS investigation. They will review both sides and issue a decision, which is binding on the company if you accept it.
What they'll say, and your comeback
“You signed the credit agreement, accepting the terms and interest rate.”
Comeback, Signing an agreement does not waive my right to fair treatment or responsible lending. The lender still has a duty to assess affordability properly.
“The interest rate was standard for catalogue credit at the time.”
Comeback, A 'standard' rate does not automatically mean it was fair or affordable for my personal circumstances, which should have been assessed.
“Your account is now closed, so we cannot investigate past charges.”
Comeback, The Financial Ombudsman Service can investigate complaints about past accounts, even if they are closed. My right to complain is not time-barred by account closure.
FAQ
What makes an interest rate 'unfair'?
An interest rate might be considered unfair if the lender failed to properly assess your ability to repay, if the terms were not clearly explained, or if the high interest led to spiralling debt you couldn't manage.
How far back can I claim for unfair interest?
The Financial Ombudsman Service can typically look at complaints about issues that happened up to six years ago, or three years from when you first became aware of the problem. However, there can be exceptions for longer periods.
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Reclaim it now, free →More money you might be owed
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A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice.