Bank didn't close my account and now I apparently owe them money

Naye

I am wondering if anyone can help me. I used to bank with Lloyds TSB, I was with them for over a decade and had nothing but problems with them. The straw that broke the camels back was when they didn't pay my direct debit for my rent even though there was plenty of money in the account.

I decided to move my account to another bank, I rang up the Lloyds TSB phone bank and advised them that I wanted to close my account, please could they cancel all the direct debits and tell me if there are any payments due to be taken, I was informed that there wasn't anything due on my account, I was also informed that I couldn't close my account over the phone it would have to be done in writing and sent to thier head office. I did this and in the same envelope included a complaint letter listing the reasons why I was unhappy with the bank and why I was moving. I received a letter a couple of days letter acknowledging my complaint and closure request and that it was being processed.

I thought that it was being processed and therefore forgot about it seeing as there wasn't anything that I owed the bank, I had no overdraft so didn't think there would be any problems. I moved house, didn't tell them - no account therefore they don't need to know - but had a re-direction in place and then in April I received a letter telling me that I owed them £850. I hadn't received any correspondance from them in the 4 months before then. I rang up the bank, got put through to the branch where I opened the account - I now live 200 miles away from it - and got told if I sent everything I had been sent and the letter I had sent to them then they would sort it out and come back to me with an answer. I waited a month because I was told that was how long it should take, rang up to chase and was told that it was still being looked into and they would contact me when they had resolved it.

Well last week I received another letter, this time from a collection agency telling me that I owed £850 and that it had to be paid straight away. I tried to contact the branch who denied all knowledge of the person I had spoken to 3 times and said there was nothing on their system to say I had ever made a query.

The £850 is ALL bank charges from where they didn't close my account or cancel a Direct Debit for my Lloyds Credit Card (which was paid off I hasten to add) and so it was charge upon charge upon charge. I am now being told that no matter what the responsibility to pay this money is mine even though I have done everything that they asked me to do and the only reason there is a debt there is because of them not doing what they had agreed to do.

Does anyone know what I can do because there is no way that I can afford to pay this off as they want it in 2 lump sum payments and there is no way I will be able to do that!!!

thefoolonthehill

Hi

I am in a asimilar position with Barclays.

I would write to the DCA (who by the way could be Lloyds in house DCA). Advise them that you have an ongoing complaint with lloyds with regards to this.

Then write back to lloyds and detail the complaint. advise them that if you do not receive a satisfactory response you will be contacting the ombudsman.

I take it you have still have evidence regarding the closure of the acct

Naye

I have the letter that I sent to them and the letter that they sent back to me.

Thank you for that I will do that. I really hope that you get yours sorted with Barclays

thefoolonthehill

dont hold your breath about me getting sorted with Barclays!

as you have proof i cant see how they could possibly refuse you

immoral_angeluk

Send a copy of the closure letter to the DCA and to Lloyds' complaints department along with an official complaint. Don't bother with the branch they'll just refer it to head office.
Their complaints procedure can be found here http://www.lloydstsb.com/contact_us/complaints_procedure.asp and send it recorded delivery, keeping a copy for yourself. Mark the envelope FAO complaints dept.

You're not liable for bank charges on a closed account so it looks like there's some kind of admin error, the debt would've automatically been passed to a DCA when it wasn't paid.

Naye

Thank you for that I will do that as well. Complete nightmare, if I had done something wrong I wouldn't be worried I would just pay it, but considering I did everything they asked me to I am determind that I shouldn't be liable for the money!

Tixy

Also on any letter you send to them I would include at the start of the letter in bold 'I do not acknowledge any debt to your company' (just as a precaution)

Hope you get things sorted - at least you still have the letters as proof.