Bank taking your Benefit? Quote this -

raq

Halifax wouldn't have any of it on 27th December for a charge of £30.00, the same day that my JSA and WFTC went through, and the guy I spoke to could clearly see them. Didn't want to know. I even spoke to someone higher and she said about the website on DWP and said, "Nothing to do with her".

So I was £30.00 down. They didn't care.

Chrysalis

ben-e-fitt wrote:

Social Security Administration Act 1992
Miscellaneous
Certain benefit to be inalienable **

187- Subject to the provisions of this Act, every assignment of, or charge on-
(a)benefit as defined in section 122 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;
(b)any income-related benefit; or
(c)child benefit,
and every agreement to assign or charge such benefit shall be void; and, on the bancrupcy of the beneficiary, such benefit shall not pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.

** inaliable = not to be forfeited.

---

Basically they can't take you benefit money for overdrafts or debts, and if they have you can ask for it back !

This doesnt apply to incapacity benefit but does to housing benefit am I right?

thanks

carole_twigg

I owe the Halifax credit card £800. Despite numerous letters/phone calls and offers of payments of £1.00p per month they are deducting payments plus interest out of my Halifax savings account. The only money I have is benefits that go into this account. I have quoted your helpful link but they have stated that I signed a contract and are legally entitled to take the money from my account. Any further assistance please.

carole_twigg

In the same situation. I was advised to open a basic bank account and transfer my benefits to that. Then reclaim your bank charges with the Halifax.
Good Luck.

Alleycat

Just wanted to say a huge thank you on behalf of me and my client today. She has had over £100 in the last month taken off in bank charges and remembering a thread or two I have seen here i have helped her!!!

:j :j :j

mosaic_2

Don't know about anyone else but I think there should be some kind of law that the banks have to abide by that says you have six weeks at least (or such like) to pay them back if you have gone past your overdraft limit.

Its almost inevitable that at some point in your life you may go over your financial limit for whatever reason (stress, accident, bad health, christmas!, or lots going out all at once, delayed cheques etc). In most of these occassions people will pay the amount back at least at their next pay packet, or benefit payment, or a friend who will temporary help out, so they'd pay back asap as they don't want or can't afford to lose any more money. Bearing in mind you only have to go over by a penny and you are charged £30 at least.

But the banks just continue to take our money unlawfully.

I once watched a programme (last year some time) presented by an indian bloke(I think he is also a comedian ..forget his name), he was basically saying that the royal bank of england or scotland ..therefore the bank system in england was founded/based on the slave trade. If that is true then its no wonder that it isn't very moral still. He tried to interview the banks about this but they were not having any of it and wouldn't speak to him. Ever since watching that programme I find myself muttering as I walk into or talk about banks. Well 'what do you expect? Banks were built on the slave trade!' :mad:

I also believe that the attitude that the banks are throwing out to society just encourages society to turn to crime or being unlawful themselves potentially. If one of the main skeletal backbones of this United Kingdom is crooked then what happens to the rest of the body?... it may bend too!?

I made one mistake in over fifteen years of being a customer (over christmas), and got charged £120 all at once. The fact it was my first bank charge and that I had been looking for work for 6months I don't think mattered by all accounts. I do advise asking to see the manager though if you are charged.. be nice, smile, ask for the charges to be waived. And decide in your mind to ditch them the first chance you get.

(I got £60 back).

Bakeybadoo

So, can anyone confirm or deny that this applies to Incapacity Benefit please?

I am about to lose my entire Long Term IB tomorrow otherwise.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4370061#post4370061

cifpower

As IB is not means tested and this provision clearly states the included benefits are means tested or child benefits, my reading suggests IB is not covered.

You should ring IB and state the situation. Ask for future payments to be made by Giro. Open a new account, have your payments credited there and reclaim your charges from the old account.

Chrysalis

if you get housing benefit as well that will be covered tho.

mummyyummy_2

nothing can be touched/taken from a post office card account, not even an arrestment because its purely for benefits to be paid into. i know its not so handy, but better going to p/o once a week and ur money to still be there than an empty account at the hole in the wall