Barclays closed acc:no reason given

A_fiend_for_life

ShelfStacker wrote: »

I'm sorry? He signed up to a fee-paying account, he knew it was a fee-paying account, he was given a terms and conditions document saying he had to pay money in each month if he was overdrawn, he left it without a credit... how is this in any way the fault of Barclays not mollycoddling him?

Barclays already had a customer on their books it would not cost much to send out a letter / make a telephone call to remind the customer of the terms and conditions and the benefits of the acount. If there is something wrong with my account I would expect at least some form of communication before they took such drastic action ie give them the benefit of the doubt and try to rectify the problem. Else loos a potential customer.

Its a bum deal for customers if that is how they are going to treat a customer, it demonstrates poor systems or a lack of planning on behalf of Barclays that they are not prepared to provide some form of communication informing the customer that they ought to make a payment.

Sounds like both customer in the red or in the black are falling foul of their rules so it is not a case of being overdrawn. Perhaps Barclays need to review their products if they are loosing customers with it, no? Perhaps their accounts are falling short for some types of customers or a different type of account may be more appropriate. Perhaps Barclays just have too many customers.

ShelfStacker_3

They should not HAVE to send out letters and things to remind him. I doubt, considering he'd never credited the account, he was valued enough for them to do so. If I start missing payments on my credit card, that's my fault, and it's not the job of the bank to remind me to take some responsibility.

At any rate, it is entirely up to Barclays who they wish to have as customers, the same as it is entirely up to you and me to decide who we wish to open accounts with.

krisskross

I like Barclays. I have always played fair with them and have never had a problem.

asandwhen

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Unless it is marked as a Default (i.e. terms of agreement broken, agreement annulled and account closed as a result), which is what it sounds like. That definitely happens, definitely does show who closed the account and definitely doesn't look good.

I can assure you it wouldnt be marked as default if he has stayed within his overdraft limit and as long as he pays the overdraft off before the account is closed.

A_fiend_for_life

asandwhen wrote: »

I can assure you it wouldnt be marked as default if he has stayed within his overdraft limit and as long as he pays the overdraft off before the account is closed.

It used to be advised that when you closed an account the final statement should read 'Account paid and closed'. Is that still the case?

A_fiend_for_life

ShelfStacker wrote: »

They should not HAVE to send out letters and things to remind him. I doubt, considering he'd never credited the account, he was valued enough for them to do so. If I start missing payments on my credit card, that's my fault, and it's not the job of the bank to remind me to take some responsibility.

At any rate, it is entirely up to Barclays who they wish to have as customers, the same as it is entirely up to you and me to decide who we wish to open accounts with.

Perhaps they should not have to inform him but from OPs post it doesn't even sound there was any communication to inform the client of potential consequences of not crediting the account. If you miss a payment on your credit card the creditor is obliged to inform you 14 days before the charge is applied to the account yet for OPs case they are prepared to give no notice / information for something that has potentially greater consequences and are not even prepared to discuss the matter.

From the perspective of the bank is it not best to initiate communication with the client sooner eg after 6 weeks rather than 3 or 4 months to remind a new customer of the positive benefits and terms and conditions of the product(s)? ie treat it as an oversight and try to improve the matter.

How does it work if someone ends up sick, injured or experiences a change in employment? It would be nice to know that you have 'peace of mind' in such circumstances and the response would be 'positive and sympathetic' as per the banking code.

ShelfStacker_3

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

Perhaps they should not have to inform him but from OPs post it doesn't even sound there was any communication to inform the client of potential consequences of not crediting the account.

Aside from that pesky terms and conditions document they sent him.

bigjat

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Aside from that pesky terms and conditions document they sent him.

Ok, i admit i have been complacent (i'm sure i'm not the only one guilty of this) i did not sit and go through the T&C. However i DID spend time going through the business pack tools CD and T&C as this was much more important to me than than the current account.

I just got closing account statements yesterday and for the current account it reads 7 Nov desc: recieved to close,ref Fraud Operations Details: Advice

I have just spoken to a customer support manager who put me through to the fraud department. She told me that after a random review i no longer meet the banks criteria. When asked why it was ref:Fraud Operations she said that all such requests come through to that department (hmmm i dont quite buy that, a fraud department that is dedicated to clearing the 'chaff' from the system). Anyway i asked how it would affect my credit report and she said it shouldn't (i have her full name should this not be the case) , i asked how i can go about getting all of the information Barclays hold on me under the data protection act and she said to go into branch and request it, when asked about a fee for this she said there should be none.

It may have been my fault for not reading the T&C but a bit of communication could have gone a long way. Even putting aside the in-branch embarrassment, i now need to get to the bottom of why the account closure was via Fraud Operations. If that is the case, that fraud was suspected, whatever the heck happened to innocent till proven guilty?

Will get an Experian report in the new year (so the databases have a chance to catch up) and also get the info from Barclays, if they are willing to give it up. Keep you posted of any new developments.

I do NOT have a problem with barclays closing my account. I do have a problem with the way it was done. I told the lady opening my account that i have had a savings and gold acc with Lloyds TSB for over 12 years, all of my salary goes into there and i make ALL of my bill payments either by DD or SO (broadband, cable, sky(need simpsons) rent&mortgage (50%shared ownership, before you ask why both), credit cards, life insurance, in-store credit agreements, mobile phone bills) from that account. I told her specifically that i would not be paying into the account for some time until i seperated my usual household bills and regular income from my new 2nd job as a freelance interpreter with a full CRB release document and SIA accreditation, hence the worry about ref: Fraud Operations is of concern, as this involves sensitive issues on the behalf of the local magistrate and crown court as well as medical support teams dealing with mental health issues and child protection. Being freelance and this account being closed i have had my first payment made to my Lloyds account instead as follows:
10Nov08FPI A** ***** LTD F
*****************00
INTERPRETINGPAYMEN
66.80

Surely the person opening my account should have pointed out the fact that i needed to pay in regardless, instead of saying 'thats not a problem at all, as long as you expect there to be money coming in in the future' future? The terms How long and a piece of string spring to mind. Perhaps the staff training is simply not up to scratch!

PS I will not cry over spilt milk and will learn from this experience but guess i will have to relieve my (childish?) frustration by walking into the branch and taking a fistfull of pens and an armfull of literature everytime i go to pay money into my parents current accounts and ISAs and my sons trust fund (which will ALL be moving come April even if i lose out) . Thanks Barclays, for making me feel like a criminal :mad: but you will never make a shiny penny out of me or any of my family in the future

bigjat

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

It used to be advised that when you closed an account the final statement should read 'Account paid and closed'. Is that still the case?

After all the waffle bottom 2 lines on both statements
(saving and current) read:

7 Nov End balance 0.00
7 Nov Account Closed

bigjat

ShelfStacker wrote: »

I doubt, considering he'd never credited the account, he was valued enough for them to do so.

Valued enough....not by barclays but considering they had already 'invested' in me by setting up the accounts and issuing cards and paperwork surely it would make sense to get me on side with a nudge (i agree they should NOT have to remind me of T&C but it would be in their own interest to do so) than lose out on the potential funds i may deposit in the future over a mere £-12 for their charges.

In every other walk of life, whether a job, in sports, or forum membership suspension before termination usually applies. The reason for this? So that all of the relevant facts may be gathered and presented to the individual and a statement of amended behaviour stipulated thus allowing the individual the opportunity to consent to or decline to adhere to the requirements prior to reinstatement or termination accordingly.

I thought 'hang on Barclays, this isn't cricket' but it's not even baseball, at least you get three strikes before you're out!