Help! Barclays have closed my account

Fixyfantastica

Hi there, hope you can all help me..

I have found out today that Barclays have closed my bank accounts with them. I have/had 2 bank accounts with them for the last 8 years or so, one of which was a student account and another that was my current account that my salary was paid into. The student account had an overdraft of £2000 on it that was at its maximum but was within the overdraft limit. Every month or so, Barclays automatically transferred money from my current account to the student account (without my permission but it is in the T&Cs that they can do it) and this kept the account within its limits. I have not had any requests from Barclays to pay the account off or to make payments to reduce the amount.

On Saturday, I went to use my ATM card and it was retained by the ATM. I was told that I would need to return today to retrieve the card, which I have done. After it transpired that the card had been destroyed as apparently it was reported 'lost or stolen' by myself - which I had not - I then called the card services number and have been told that the card was retained as the account has been cancelled.

I have not been told of this - it would appear that although they were informed of my new address they sent a letter to my old address (they confirmed the address it was sent to and not the updated and new address) so the phone call that I placed this morning was the first I had heard of it. I asked them why and they said that the student account was not 'active' and therefore they have chosen to cancel the account and have sent it to 'recovery' who will contact me. As the student account has been cancelled, they have also cancelled the current account, on which there have not been any problems. Both accounts have been closed on the 27 September. The advisor on the phone said that they 'thought' I would be able to access my money in the account up to the 27 October, but they couldn't guarantee that.

I have been in and out of the bank recently and have even spoken to an advisor in there only a couple of weeks ago about a new card, and at no point has anyone spoken to me about the accounts being cancelled.

Am I going to be able to open another bank account with another bank? If not, how on earth will I get paid by my employer? Is there anything I can do about the accounts with Barclays? If I don't get to my money in time, how can I get it back? Will they keep it?

Thanks in advance for your help, so glad that I found this website as hopefully your advice can stop the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Thanks again. K:o

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

Sorry to hear all this thats banks for you , you can open another account go out and do it straight away , they are it seems going to take the money out of your current account to pay the other .
Have you got adverse credit?? have barclays been wanting this loan paid up?? , put barclays on hold and get around the banks you will gey a basic account for sure as you need to have some where to put your wages although i cant see wht you cant get a normal current account with cheque book and guarantee card , but it does seem to me barclays have decided to call the loan in lets face it they are needing to raise funds and overdrafts can be called in at any time good luck and hope you sought it , if you are haveing debt probs post on the debt wannabe free site ive been in debt and know what its like when banks etc pull the rug , its not nice but im out of thet now so keep looking positive.

Fixyfantastica

Hello Lone Ranger

Thank you so much for your nice words - such a relief to speak to you as I have been fretting all morning.

Do you know how long it will take to set up an account that at the very least I will be able to pay my salary into ie. A basic account?

It is so frustrating as they have not asked me to repay the amount at any time, and it would seem are doing this to raise money as you say. I have got adverse credit from when I was a student and I realise that this may affect me opening a new account. I do earn a decent salary though now and have paid off nearly all of my debts now but will still have a negative credit score for a couple more years I would have thought.

My biggest worry is that I have missed the deadline to change my bank account details for this month in order to get my salary paid into a new account. I don't know what to do at all about getting my salary paid to me at the moment for the end of the month.. have you ever heard of banks extending the deadline - especially as they have only just notified me and I have only 2 weeks until the cut off date?

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

I remember when this happened to me granted its a bit back but i did go in and ask the manager if i could have a percentage of my salary as they would have left me with nothing , they let me have half so get in and ask (grovel).
I think most banks offer a basic account but they dont push this service. google basic bank account for a list , most will open one straight away just take id etc and i would tell your employee some old rubbish why you changed your account they may be able to pay it in to your new account as we are only on the 13th of the month .
I remember when i was an employee it had to be 2 weeks before month end, dont have the problem now as self employed but just had a niggle with my bank insignificant compared to yours .
But as i have said go to barclays and speak to some one with regards wages etc then go and open an account else where banks do pull the rug and it is always at there chooseing so your not on your own on thet one .

pinkshoes

You need to speak to your employer straight away, and explain what's happened (blame Barclays!), and ask them what will happen, and come up with a solution. It really depends on your employer, as one of my old colleagues got his bank accounts closed after claiming back all his charges, but forgot to open a new one (then couldn't - no one would touch him!), but work would only pay him via bank transfer. In the end he had to get it paid into his mum's account!! Just speak to your employer and they'll give you some options hopefully!!

In the mean time, take several forms of ID (passport, driving license, bill in your name with address on, previous bankstatements) then go and open another account with another bank.

Also, write a letter to someone much higher up in Barclays and submit a formal complaint. Sending post to your old address when you've given them a new one is a breach in security and can lead to identity theft!!