CoA refunds? Are they going to happen?

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about how/whether UKBA plans to refund the 300 pound fee for the Certificate of Approval.

UKBA announced 9 April 2009 that they would no longer charge the 300 pounds (following the House of Lords ruling) and that they would shortly announce what they planned to do about refunds for those who had previously been forced to pay it.

Has anyone heard anything? Should I even get my hopes up?

cheers,
j

I have just checked on the UKBA website, and nothing more has appeared yet.

Maybe give it another couple of weeks and if still nothing has been announced about the refunds, suggest you write to UKBA formally requesting a refund, and seeing how they react to that request.

Possibly write to your MP as well to push the issue.  Thanks - I had actually forgotten all about this.  Would be lovely to have a spare £300 back right now!!

Maybe give it another couple of weeks and if still nothing has been announced about the refunds, suggest you write to UKBA formally requesting a refund, and seeing how they react to that request.

John, forgive my lack of knowledge in the civil arena, but is £300 under the threshhold for a CCJ or small claim?

Also: any person is free to put in a Freedom of Information request to obtain the answer to the OP's question! (hint hint)

Also, you can press your MP to ask a Parliamentary Question on the topic.

Thanks for all the good advice!!

I'll post a note if I get anywhere with this. I don't see how they can get away with not refunding the fees, since (as I understand it) the House of Lords ruling said they should not have been charging the fees in the first place. But I guess we'll find out...

cheers,
j

I hadn't really thought about trying to follow up on this since it's now been 2 years since I paid the fee, but if the Lords are saying no one should've been paying...

How many of us here does this affect?  Even if it's only the three of us, if we co-ordinate our efforts (write at the same time??), maybe more notice will be taken?

How about a group action to the Small Claims Court?  That could be fun! I bet I could find some people who'd be in on it!


Vicky

I'm affected by this as well. Received my COA July 2007. A refund would be awesome.
Joeli

Well, I submitted an FOI request yesterday asking for a specific date when they will publicize the "policy" on refunds.  I also asked for copies of internal memos, correspondence, etc. dealing with formulating that policy just in case they try and give an evasive answer.  I tried to make the documentation request decently specific so that they can't pull the 18-hour threshold on me.

I work for a gov't body that gets FOI requests ALL. THE. TIME. so I have no qualms against inflicting the same misery on someone else!

Anyway, I will definitely update whenever I get a response.  Perhaps we should wait to action until then?

I'm in the COA club- we got ours in March 2008.  Would love it if I could get a refund!

Well, I submitted an FOI request yesterday asking for a specific date when they will publicize the "policy" on refunds.  I also asked for copies of internal memos, correspondence, etc. dealing with formulating that policy just in case they try and give an evasive answer.  I tried to make the documentation request decently specific so that they can't pull the 18-hour threshold on me.

I work for a gov't body that gets FOI requests ALL. THE. TIME. so I have no qualms against inflicting the same misery on someone else!

Anyway, I will definitely update whenever I get a response.  Perhaps we should wait to action until then?

I'll be looking forward to hearing about the response you get.

Count me in. I was issued one in February 2009.

I'll be looking forward to hearing about the response you get.

Hehe, so will I!

Okay, I've sent them a very strongly worded chaser e-mail (I'm an FOI liaison at my work for a n'tl gov't body, so I know how the process works!!) because it's now been over the statutory 20 working days since my request.  If their reply is cr@p, I can complain anyway because they've exceeded the deadline.  I am not going to take any wibbling from these people!

Have said I expect a 'prompt reply' with when I can expect the response to my request.