Bank Shutting Our Account!

kimboward

Hi, I am in need of some help and hopefully advice.

We went to log onto online banking today and were given an error code and number to ring, which we did, to be told our account has been closed with immediate effect! They have apparently sent us a letter but we havent recieved it yet.

We are what i would consider good customers, we have a fairly poor credit rating but always have, and have had the account for ten years. In fact its better now than it has ever been.

We have an arranged overdraft of £500, and money due in the account on Friday. My husband is on Incapacity benefit due to recent illness and we have 5 children, one newborn. I do not have a penny in my purse and will have run out of nappies etc by the weekend. I rely on the money on friday - what do I do???????

Will the bank let me have some to buy essentials for my children??

I have no family to help me and dont understand the reasoning behind it.

We were told we no longer meet their criteria - is there not a term of notice they should give?

Please help me I would be very grateful.

brit76

Hi, what bank is this? The reason I ask is because Im sure someone posted on the forum a couple of days ago that Lloyds were closing theirs and their families account with this bank

kimboward

Firstly Pc Kent.....

I wasnt asking for your advice on family planning, but fyi, my husband has always worked extremely hard since leaving school, he fell ill when I was 8 months pregnant and through no fault of his own is now unable to work. No its not an ideal sitaution ans as soon as i am able I will be out to work. I do not know who you are to judge me, we have never claimed for a thing in our lives and hate having to do so but unfortunatley Teenagers and children dont come cheap and the savings we had have now gone, I find your comments very hurtful. and I hope you dont find yourslef in this situation anytime soon. What an awful person you must be.

Brit76 - we are/were with Barclays. I think I will ring the Financial Ombudsman tomorrow morning.

brit76

They will probably tell you to complain to the bank first, then, if the outcome is'nt good enough then I would contact the Ombudsman to find out what Barclays problem is. I do not think it is right or fair becuase obviously you have payments going into that account that you rely on, I know I would be livid as it will probably take a few days or so for any credits to be returned to the payees and then into a new bank account!

kimboward

Yes I am hoping we receive a letter tomorrow explaining more, as we were told today they cannot discuss it. I am baffled by the whole thing, and yes i am relying on the payment but am worried they will keep it as the overdraft is there and almost to its limit. Times are tough enough at the moment, I am hoping they will see that, but do not know how this sort of thing works. Fuming! :mad:

I have opened another bank account and moved payments but its too late for Fridays so thats my main concern. Will try and get an appintment with bank manager in morning thenm and if no joy take it further. Thanks.

purplerose

Are you able to give the Incapacity Benefit people a ring and ask for the payment to be stopped and for a cheque that can be cashed at the post office be sent/picked up instead?

kimboward

I did that today it has already been sent to the bank :-(

Jojo1daffy

I was going to say what PurpleRose said. Could the (is it the DWP?) issue you with a giro instead of a bank payment?
All seems very harsh, especially as you are only overdrawn £500 - it's hardly the national debt is it. How can they close the account when you are overdrawn anyway?? You owe them money. If they said they were calling in the overdraft then that I could understand and that would give you the option to see if you could have the OD on a reducing basis until it's paid off.

Nukumai

kimboward wrote: »

I do not know who you are to judge me, we have never claimed for a thing in our lives and hate having to do so but unfortunatley Teenagers and children dont come cheap and the savings we had have now gone, I find your comments very hurtful. and I hope you dont find yourslef in this situation anytime soon. What an awful person you must be.

kim - good for you.

I'm sorry to read of your predicament, and I hope things work out for you. Good luck!

kimboward

Jojo1daffy wrote: »

I was going to say what PurpleRose said. Could the (is it the DWP?) issue you with a giro instead of a bank payment?
All seems very harsh, especially as you are only overdrawn £500 - it's hardly the national debt is it. How can they close the account when you are overdrawn anyway?? You owe them money. If they said they were calling in the overdraft then that I could understand and that would give you the option to see if you could have the OD on a reducing basis until it's paid off.

Hi, totally agree with you and have the same questions. I havent been overdrawn for long - only a week or so. And its not over our agreed limit either. I would still have been shocked if they called overdraft in but could have dealt with it no problem and would have paid it back each month. Its the speed its all happened, and the secrecy surrounding the whole thing.

All i can do is hope the letter arrives tomorrow (hopefully) explaining a bit more, and see the manager of the local branch and hope he knows more than we do.

I check the account online daily so know nothing untoward has happened (fraud etc) so really am clueless.

Nukumai

Sceptic001 wrote: »

I think this is what's known as police brutality.

Nah...he'd have taken his ID tags off first...