Barclays removed my overdraft!

vickster666

Hi! I've been having loads of problems with Barclays for a long time now. Basically I am a single parent on benefits and am also a student, so during term time I am fairly well off with the student loan and bursary etc.

Up until last May I had an account with an O/D of £2100. I was constantly in the O/D right up until I had my student support money paid into the account and then I was well into the black. In May Barclays offered me a new "cheaper" current account which they said would cost me less per month. I agreed to this and they changed it over but what I WASN'T told was that they would then reduce my O/D to just £10! Because I wasn't using the O/D during term time I didn't realise it had been reduced until a few months later when they started charging me for going more than £10 overdrawn. I had to go into the bank several times t complain about this and eventually had the charges removed but Barclays have still refused to give me back my full O/D of £2100. They have frozen it at £1000. Now if I go over £1000 O/D they charge me a 'Reserve Usage Fee' of £22! I have been charged this several times recently and have reached the Reserve limit. I know I will be paid my student money in a week or so but I feel that Barclays have unfairly removed my O/D without my consent and are now taking my money as a result of this! I am sick of complaining!! Has anyone else had an similar problem? Do you have any advice? I have tried to change to a Halifax Student account as recommended on this site but I have no credit score and was refused. Please help!!

Vicky

wayne99

sorry to hear your problems.

Iam afraid they can remove borrowing facilities at any time with or without notice as stated in there terms and conditions: here: http://www.barclays.com/internationalpersonal/docs/ppoo6b%20cashcard%20terms%20and%20conditions.pdf

7. Borrowing from us
7.1 You must keep your account(s) in credit unless we agree an overdraft with you.
7.2 When we agree an overdraft with you we will tell you the overdraft limit and the
interest rate and charges which you must pay and we will confirm these details in
writing.
7.3 If you
• overdraw without agreeing an overdraft with us; or
• exceed an agreed overdraft limit;
we may ask you to make an immediate payment into your account and we may
charge our unauthorised interest rate and fees on the amount of the overdraft or
excess until either it has been repaid or we have agreed an overdraft or an increased
limit.
7.4 Unless we have specifically agreed otherwise with you, we may demand the repayment
of, or reduction in, your overdraft at any time without notice. Until you repay us in full
we will charge interest and fees at the rates set out in the additional conditions both
before and after any court order in our favour for repayment.
7.5 We may use any amounts you have on any account with us in any currency to reduce
or repay any amounts you may owe us on any account (including on card accounts
you hold with us, and any other amounts you may owe us), either in your own name
or jointly with anyone else. We will tell you if we do this.

sorry for this comment but its there money not yours, if they want it back they will take it back.

The only thing i can suggest is sending a complaint to there head office with a full diary of events, dates and people you spoke to, and appeal the descission of the removal its worth a go.

address to send corrispondance:

Customer Relations
Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place
FREEPOST
RLTA-CSUE-TCHC
London
E14 5HP

good luck.

tek-monkey

I had my OD removed after leaving Uni, which was a bit of a suprise. Meant I had to find almost £2k immediately! Strangely my OD is now back at nearly £2k, as they keep upping it.

vickster666

Thanks for your responses. I went into the bank today to make a complaint and explained that I am in hardship and they have sent the complaint off to head office. I said that I would be appealing against unfair bank charges and was told that Barclays are exempt from the court ruling as "their charges are not unfair" and that I would not be able to get my money back. I don't think this is true though is it?

wayne99

hi,

they are talking total rubbish, they are not exempt what so ever, i think they were just trying to fob you off.

take a look at the threads at the top of this page: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=102

there is one there about financial hardship aswell, all the template letters and information on how to make a claim for a refund of bank charges are in there.

cheers

wayne.