Urgent Help & Advice Required Plz!

BallerinaGirl

Please can anyone help I am desperate!

Yesterday I did some online banking and was horrified to see my account £800+ overdrawn.

In August this year I reported to my bank that my card and cheque book were lost and they put an immediate stop on them most of my bills were paid another way. There was 2 companies I had stopped paying debt to as I was in the process of arranging a payment plan to, after advice from the CCCS.

Yesterday I saw that one of these compnanies, had took the whole amount I owed from my account using my OLD card number which was supposed to be stopped 2 months ago, leaving me with NOTHING! I don't have an overdraft, I have no shopping, petrol or dinner money for my children!

When I spoke to my bank I immediatly went straight to my branch they said that they would investigate it but would take up to 10 working days???? They said as I owe the company this money, there might not be anything they can do???? I have been up all night ILL with worry and stress, I don't know what to do? The bank can't speed anything up either.

How can they do this when my card was reported as lost/stolen? I am horrified beyond belief. I have £1.60 to my name and god know what charges I will rack up at the bank.

Please does anyone have any help or advice for me? I am sitting here sobbing writing this, I really don't know what to do or how I will manange from today onwards????? Surely the bank are at fault for allowing this to happen???

Naomim

Hi hun,

Sorry I really don't have any advice for you but didn't want to read and run. I'm sure someone will be along with some practical advice a bit later on.

:grouphug:

Naomi x

milliemonster

Hi hun, right, firstly you need to ask the bank to give you a temporary overdraft while they investigate this as despite the fact that you owe this creditor, when your account had been frozen in August, the bank should not have allowed this to happen.

Although you say that your card was reported as lost/stolen, did they change your account number when they sent you a new card out? as if they didn't then this is why this has happened as the creditor still obviously has access to your acount details. Did you normally pay this creditor by direct debit? if so, it wouldn't matter that your card details have changed if they have your account details (which usually don't change)

As far as getting through the next few days, can you make your children packed lunches this week for school instead of school dinners?

Is there anybody in the family that can lend you some money for petrol for the week and shopping?

If the money was taken by DD, then the bank are wrong, the DD guarantee states the bank should refund the money immediately and then claim it back from then originator.

Let us know how you get on

BallerinaGirl

Thanks for your replies so far.

The company had my card details, I used to pay them with my Visa, but the new card they sent out had a totally new number on it, sadly I am not eligible for an overdraft.

I will do lunches this week and might be able to ask my mam for some petrol money.

I am just drained MM, I don't know what to do, and I have 3 weeks till pay day.

I just don't understand how they can come back to me with a justified answer, this card was stopped 2 months ago, they have took everything I have and more.

milliemonster

Right then, this is definitely your bank at fault, they should not have allowed this company to take £800 from a card that was supposedly stopped a ouple of months ago and put you in this situation, these things always happen on a weekend aswell when you can't do anything don't they?

Tomorrow you need to speak to the bank again and tell them that as this is their error they need to apply a temporary overdraft or at least assure you that no charges will be applied to your account whilst they are investigating this, you also need to put in an official complaint in writing and contact the CAB to get some proper advice.

fletch3163

Good morning

First of all, I'm very sorry to hear what you're going through, that must have been a terrible shock.

So, your bank very obviously received your notification of the stolen/lost car because they sent you a new one (in case they cite ignorance of the event in their defence)

Imagine for a second that the person who stole/found your card showed up and used it (old number remember). This is no different to what your creditor did is it? Your bank is completely at fault, regardless of whether you owe this money or not.

Tell your bank you'd like to officially complain because their actions have left you in financial hardship. Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure and Financial Ombudsman Service leaflet. Also, ask for an emergency O/D.

I do hope you're able to cope. Your mum will come through for you I'm sure.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

get in to the bank monday morning and see the manager but keep calm etc point out the issues that have arisen as for the overdraft they will do a credit check before they give you one , you need make them aware you will complain to the highest level as they allows your money to go knowing the card had been reported stolen whether you owed the company the money or not is and should not be the issue YOU DECIDE WHEN THEY ARE PAID NOT THE BANK.

madmich666

Hiya

You don't bank with Lloyds do you? I had this happen my card was cloned last August and this August I noticed two transactions that had gone out. At the time the bank assured me that I didn't need to change my account number and sent me a new card etc but then a year later the cloned card was still being used even though they apparently cancelled it. The bank were not very helpful because it was their fault I stood there demanding that something be done about it because it took me over my overdraft and Lloyds charge stupid amounts if you go over. In the end they sent a claim form out within 4 days which i filled in about the transactions and they refunded the amount plus any charges.

BallerinaGirl

Hi Guys

Today is tuesday and I am still not further forward to getting this total mess sorted out, Barclays "investigating" team claim they have not received the forms which were faxed over to them on saturday by my branch manager.

Due to work I cannot get to the bank but have tried today to get sense over the phone and failed miserably.

I did check and this card was cancelled 22nd august 2008, the transaction happened on 2nd october. I have briefly spoken to the Financial Ombudsman and they have said this should never of been allowed to happen.

I am exhausted trying to get this sorted out :-( I am ill beyond belief with worry and I plan on doing everything I can to show barclays how much damage they have caused me with this.