No help from abbey with hardship reclaim form

pookie0506 · 24 July 2009 at 2:44PM

I'm hoping that somebody can help!! I've just spoken to Abbey regarding my bank charges as I have two £35.00 charges due to come out of my bank account next week and I am on Income Support and only receive £93.00 a week. Therefore, myself and my two children will be left with £23.00 to live off of for a week. They have told me that there is nothing that they can do for me and that I need to make sure that money is in my account to cover my direct debits. Which I totally understand, The only problem is, is that I'm in an neverending loop of bank charges being taken out of my account every month, because I don't have the correct funds to pay my direct debits. But, the only reason I don't have the funds is because I've had to pay bank charges!! I've asked them if they can stop the charges for a month, so that I can get on top of the problem. But, they said there was nothing that they could do and just kept repeating that in order to stop collecting bank charges, I would have to make sure the correct funds were in my account! I am about to start banging my head against a wall as they just didn't seem to understand where I was coming from. Am I being unreasonable? Please do be honest, as I'm starting to think that I am! I then asked if they could send me out a Financial Hardship Form to fill in and they told me that they had never heard of one and that they obviously couldn't send me out something that they don't have. Has anyone else contacted Abbey regarding a Financial Hardship Claim?? If so could someone PLEASE tell me how to go about getting this done as Abbey are blocking me every which way I turn. Sorry, if I'm going on and on and on and on ..................... but I just can't seem to see an end to this situation and really need some advice.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this thread. Even if you don't agree with me and think that I'm at fault and have caused the problems myself. Any feedback at this point is better than trying to have a conversation with the ABBEY!!!

natweststaffmember · 24 July 2009 at 4:03PM

There is no financial hardship form as such to complete. HOWEVER, I think the First Right Of Appropriation might be a better letter to have since the bank will have to release your funds to you with it.

"[your name ]
[your address]

[date]

[bank name ]
[bank address]

Dear Sir/Madam,

RIGHT OF APPROPRIATION
ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxxx

I am writing to inform you that I am due to have a Benefit / Salary / tax credit payment of £xxx paid into my account on xx/xx/xx, and I wish to use my first right of appropriation for this money, for the following purposes;

Rent - Company/Landlord name/reference - due to be collected by Direct Debit on xx/xx/xxxx - £xx

Please ensure this payment is made.

I also need to appropriate the sum of £xxx for essential housekeeping and will withdraw this sum over the counter/by ATM on xx/xx/xxxx.

Please ensure this sum is available to me at that time and that any other payments out of my account or charges applied to my account do not interfere with this withdrawal.

If you have any doubt over my rights please contact your legal team.

Yours faithfully,

[signature] "

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges-hardship
The above is claiming financial hardship but you should have priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent council tax utilities) for them to really consider you as being in financial hardship;

esmerelda98 · 24 July 2009 at 5:26PM

Why don't you just stop the direct debits and pay by an alternative means until you've got things under control. Whilst I'm sure many companies prefer people to pay by direct debit, some will allow you to pay by other methods at no extra cost, or a small extra cost. Also, with some bills there is more flexibility about when you have to pay than with others. My water company is quite lax for example, whereas credit card minimum payments must be made by a certain date.