Bank Charges Financial Hardship Disussion

esmerellda

firefly111 wrote: »

Id be eternaly greatful if anyone could help......
I claimed financial hardship back in april this year and was awarded half the charges back after paying some things off completely and getting up to date with some other payments i was back to square one, overdraft used up and now upto the limit on the reserve of £500, as a single mum of two small boys being on benefits life is a big enough struggle but yesterday found out that barclays had taken £136 of charges that were incurred last month, on the letter they send out it says they will charge me after 14 days nothing about taking it all in one lump and leaving me with no money, i was at the supermarket when i found out and couldnt believe it, no food, no milk and on emergancy electric. I called them for around an hour and got no where, i was shocked i never swore but kept my composure and kept asking them to tell me how im supposed to live with nothing, the supervisor was no help and actually stopped talking, just left me on the line and didnt utter a word which took all my credit! I was completely devistated and didnt know what to do next, do i go to citizens advice, do i sit in the branch with my screaming kids until someone removes us from building, i just dont know.

But i did remember someones reply to a thread about banks not being able to take charges from benefits and if its true could someone tell me what i can quote to them to get some money back???

They gave you the 14 days notice they would be taking the £136 ? Did they wait the 14 days or take it before? If that happens again you can use your First Right of Appropriation to try stop them taking it, but time for that has passed on this now. You will have to reclaim the money from them, citing hardship again, will help you write a letter if you like.


The other part is having the reserve in the first place is a BAD idea on a low income, as is an overdraft really.

I'm a single mum of 3 on benefits and it is a struggle. I have all my benefits paid to a post office card account, where basically, its just held until I choose to withdraw it in cash then pay my bills at paypoint and go to landlords bank and pay the rent. Yes it can be a pain sometimes but I have no worries about erroneous DD's, Visa Payments etc coming out the account and losing me my food budget on bank charges. Everything is for me and the kids, not the bank. It is worth considering.

Otherwise Cancel the Reserve, open a new basic account with an unrelated bank like Nationwide, get your benefits transferred there ASAP, leave the overdraft where it is and arrange to pay it off at £5 a week or something.

If you are in immediate trouble then you can contact the Crisis Loan people, they can work quickly and get you a payment into your account within a day or so. Have a look http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_013949.xml.html .

I had a budgeting loan before and they take the repayments, interest fee, direct from your benefits before they are paid, and they are low so it is affordable.

Oh yes, and yes they can take charges from benefits. You can quote the social security administration act and tax credits act at the counter staff as they often don't understand it but bank charges are not covered.

Jezz199

Hi, think I'm in the correct section.

Received letter from Barclays stating that budget planner is being reviewed by their financial debt team and will respond within in ten working days. The claim was for 2100 pounds. I phoned today because the time limit was up and an employee said it needs to be signed by a manager...but doesn't know when I'll receive a reply. I'm not sure what to do now. Send another letter with a copy of theirs? Thanks for any advice.

RedRose1_2

Jezz199 wrote: »

Hi, think I'm in the correct section.

Received letter from Barclays stating that budget planner is being reviewed by their financial debt team and will respond within in ten working days. The claim was for 2100 pounds. I phoned today because the time limit was up and an employee said it needs to be signed by a manager...but doesn't know when I'll receive a reply. I'm not sure what to do now. Send another letter with a copy of theirs? Thanks for any advice.

Hi Jezz,
I had this with NatWest recently, my advice would be to write to them again using your original letter but also add a line stating that you had requested a repsonse from them by (insert the date) and as yet have not heard from them, also state that unless you receive a written response within 7 days you will be forwarding your complaint to the FOS. They should reply fairly swiftly after this! But they may well respond within 7 working days - just a warning. Good luck

Jezz199

RedRose1 wrote: »

Hi Jezz,
I had this with NatWest recently, my advice would be to write to them again using your original letter but also add a line stating that you had requested a repsonse from them by (insert the date) and as yet have not heard from them, also state that unless you receive a written response within 7 days you will be forwarding your complaint to the FOS. They should reply fairly swiftly after this! But they may well respond within 7 working days - just a warning. Good luck

thanks RedRose1

Jezz199

Jezz199 wrote: »

thanks RedRose1

ps - let me know the outcome of your case

Dignified_Blunderer

Hi There

First of all thanks so much to everyone who has provided information in these pages so far. I would be grateful if anyone can help let me know if I am likely to be able to claim under financial hardship also?

At the moment I feel like I am starting to get on top of things - am paying off my debts of around 9k to Payplan. These are made up of 1 CCJ from Barclays Grad Loan, Barclays Current Account Overdraft and Student Loans.

My Barclays account is now closed and after requesting the statements found out that there were charges of around 2k.

Currently I am working full time but on an almost week to week contract and I am not sure how much longer that will last for. My wife has just started a full time job. At the moment we are doing ok - in a lot better position than many people - going over overdraft limit sometimes but mostly managing to stay in credit. However we are stuck renting in a horrible shared house with some of the worst people imaginable with is causing myself and my wife emotional distress. Any money I get back will help me go towards paying of the CCJ debt which should help my credit rating in particular with housing agencies ect and enable us to move easier.

Do you think we have any chance of claiming hardship because of the debts? Or will they see that we are doing okish at the moment and refuse it?

Thanks very much for any help.

natweststaffmember

Personal opinion only, I think the answer is no but as I try and continually say, I am not always 100% right(apart from certain types of financial reclaiming) so ask the question.
You need to include income and expenditure form(household or you and your other half) any arrears notices and the charges you are reclaiming as well as the letter.
Please update us as to your progress.

Dignified_Blunderer

Thanks natweststaffmember - I will certainly give it a go - will include everything i can think of - will definitely update you all with my progress also.

Thanks again!

RedRose1_2

Jezz199 wrote: »

ps - let me know the outcome of your case

Will do - am awaiting an offer letter from NatWest at the moment

Eknight_2

alcrawford wrote: »

I made an initial claim (HSBC) in July 2007 dated before the original FSA ruling. It was still, however, put on hold quoting FSA as was not dealt with until after the ruling.

I have today sent a letter requesting that my case be looked at again both under 'hardship' guidelines and the fact the original letter/claim was submitted before the original suspension of normality.

They'll also be getting a Debt Management Plan letter shortly so hopefully they will finally realise my financial situation!

I will update when I get a response...

I'm new on here so hope I'm doing it right! I also made a claim in 2007 before the test case was announced . barclays delayed responding to me by about six weeks (the requeted turnaround was the standard 30 days) so that they could then say I applied too late and now have to wait for the test case.

I have a debt management plan with Payplan and still in financial hardship. Does anyone know whether this is something Payplan can help with or whether I just need to send a copy of my income / expenditure etc.

Looks like I might as well prepare to contact the FOS anyways. Good luck guys