help is there anything i can do

doingitall

Hello
will try to keep this brief. Husband and i have both been made redundant so things debt wise going from bad to worse. We have a joint bank account wilth natwest that we get tax credits paid into. This money then pays bills. We also each have out own accounts for spending money. My own account is with Lloyds and husbands with natwest.

Natwest has seen that husband no longer has salary going into his own account and have removed the overdraft facility of £1000 so his account is £1000 in arrears. Tax credits of £800 is due in the joint account on Monday 19th April and natwest have now frozen this account. My card has been stopped and the account removed from online banking. They are taking the tax credits money to repay husbands overdraft.

I have just spoken to natwest about the joint account and they couldn't offer any help and won't let me have this money. This £800 is all we have to last until 19th May to pay bills and a mortgage and feed our kids and the bank have taken it. Can't stop crying. Also had £60 in this account left from last months child benefit which i was planning to buy my kids new school shoes with tomorrow and they have had this to.

I have read about banks off setting before but naively though they wouldn't take benefits from a joint account to pay an individual debt. What th hell I do.

I know we have debts to pay off but this can't be right leaving us struggling even more than before

RAS

Hi

They are not allowed to remove benefit payments. Can you ring NDL or CCCS urgently, they are open this evening. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

And please please go out this weekend and get a new bank account.

Do you have enough to eat this weekend?

husemin

Go to the social and sign on so at least you and your other half are getting something. What about redundency money from your employers? how many years you been there etc? You can apply for emergeny funds from the social too.
H

DEVONLIFE_2

Hi dointitall
Sorry to hear about your problem. There is a letter on the templates that you can use. I will see if I can find it. There will be someone along soon who will have far better info than myself. One thing for sure is that the guys and girls on this forum are tops. Your in good hands. Hope you get it sorted. DL.

DEVONLIFE_2

As I type you have RAS on the case.......

DEVONLIFE_2

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/temp/9812_58261.pdf

Try this link. It goes to the national debtline. Letter exercising first right of appropriation . It maybe what your looking for. I am sure one of the team will correct me if I am wrong. DL...

RAS

Yep

That is what you need.

There is a really good explanation here http://www.corby.gov.uk/SupportingDocs/docs.supporting.released.2008-3.21193.Corby%20%20right%20of%20appropriation.pdf

Posted previously by Tixy.

happyhaddock_2

Hi, sorry to hear of your situation, definately second RAS about opening a new basic bank account with no connections to your previous accounts. I'm with the Co-op, which you can do over the phone and there are no credit checks. Then make sure that you get any future tax credits, child allowance etc paid into the new account. I know it's quite daunting, we'd been with our bank 27 years but you need to be able to take control of your own money again. Good luck and I hope you get your money back xx.

helsee

have you spoken to tax credits they may be able to make the payment to a different account ? or expl;ain the situ could they issue a counter payment at your nearest tax office

doingitall

thanks so much for replying. I have stopped crying like a mad women now but am seething with anger. Will ring Natwest again and quote right of appropriation. The sample letters refers to housing benefit though and it was tax credits i recieved in my account. No housing benefit because we have a mortgage:( Does it matter what benefits it is?

I have heard good things about the co op basic account so will open one of those i think for a bills account.

I have rung child benefit and my next payment will go into my other account. On hold to tax credit trying to change my bank details. I suppose it is too late for them to recall this payment now?

Thank you everybody i really do appreciate you all replying to me on a Friday evening

RAS

Hi

Ask if they can recall the payment as this would hep you.

I know one OP managed to do that previously.