They still do not know why their original pleadings were changed.Lloyd's now accepts only corporate Names with limited liability and is enjoying record profits once again The misery of the Names continues, however. One Name, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of further reprisal by Lloyd's, is about to have his home repossessed. He joined in 1987, at the height of the asbestos claims, but he says that he was never told he would be liable for them He never made a penny from his investment. "I ran a small business repairing sewing machines at the time I thought it would bring me a bit of income. It's turned into a financial cancer that has just about ruined my life," he said. Lloyd's is planning to sell his home unless he can produce £400,000.A number of Names continue to fight Lloyd's One group is seeking redress in the European courts. Sally Noel, another former Name, is battling against Lloyd's in the British courts.

She was ejected from Lloyd's annual meeting last month after making allegations of fraud, which she claims have not been properly heard. She received a letter from Lloyd's this weekend threatening to take bankruptcy proceedings against her.Lloyd's insists its treatment of the Names has been fair. Sean McGovern, the legal director at Lloyd's, said, "Every organisation has a responsibility to collect the debts it is owed. The non-paying Names have court judgments against them and there is no dispute about their obligation to pay.

Lloyd's does not pursue Names into bankruptcy unnecessarily and we consider it the last resort. There has been plenty of opportunity for Names to come to a settlement with Lloyd's."He also says Lloyd's has written off liabilities of some Names who were unable to pay anything towards their debts.. Businesses suffered a slowdown in growth for the second successive month in June, according to a report today that supports expectations the Bank of England will leave interest rates unchanged this week. It said the falls might be a response to the impact on consumer spending from the four rate rises since November."With the first signs of a cooling housing market and a lower rate of take-up in consumer debt, the rate decisions of recent months appear to be taking effect," Peter Hemington, at BDO, said.