BarclayCard taken money from account...!

NMR_Challo

Hi All,

Im new to this forum so any help you can provide would be great.

I checked my bank balance yesterday and noticed a payment of £382.92 had been debited from my account. I contacted Barclays and they said it had been paid to Barclaycard. I have questioned this as I do not have a Barclaycard and never have done.
Barclays told me to contact them directly and gave me the card number that was used.

Phoned Barclays, spoke to the collections team, questioned the debit from my account, and they advised that there was nothing I could do, as the account was in my name, but the address is not the same. Apparently I have to complain in writing, but in the short term I am nearly £400 out of pocket and nothing for the month.

What can I do..! I do not have an account with Barclaycard, but they have obtained my bank details, and just taken money as they said I owed it..!

One thing to note is that the Barclaycard has been open since Oct 2009 and apparently they have sent me letters.

IS this Fraud? Surely Barclaycard should refund the money while it investigates??

Please any help would be grateful as that is money I need for Food and Bills.

Thanks

pauli

It sounds like fraud to me! Either that or mistaken identity, i.e there's someone else with your name and maybe same date of birth who has got a barclaycard and they've just put two and two together and took it from your bank account assuming you are the same person, it sounds like they've been "offsetting"

Either way I am prettu sure it is the BANK who should be sorting this out in the first instance as they have let someone take money from your account that they shouldn't have done.

in the meantime i would get online to Equifax and Experian and get copies of your credit files to see if this mystery cardholder is now linked to you in any way on your records as this could also be affecting your credit rating.

Good luck sorting it out, i have a nasty feeling you are going to be passed from pillar topost between the bank and barclaycard with neither taking responsibility but be persistent until someone listens - you don't want them taking another chunk out next month as well.

NMR_Challo

Thanks.

You are right and have been passed from Pillar to post...taking 5hrs yesterday to actually get Barclays to give me any details regarding the Debit.
I will persit with the Bank, but Barclays did say they let the payment go through because it was requested from Barclaycard, so had no reason to question it.

My concern is that surely that shouldn't happen? If it is a debit, is that the same as using my bank card online and giving them the 16 digit card number? Or can a debit be classed as using my account number and sort code?

CLAPTON

was it taken by direct debit?
if so contact barclays bank and say the DD was not authorised and under the DD guarentee you want an immediate refund.

pmduk

I'd start the formal complaints procedure with Barclays. They haven't any grounds on which to pay money out to Barclaycard, without authority from you, Unless they're exercising their right of set-off. As you don't have a barclaycard this is hardly the case,

barbiedoll

And I would definitely think about changing banks!

olly300

OP unfortunately your money has gone for a while the best they can probably offer you is an overdraft.

You need to:
1. Write a letter to Barclay with the title "Formal Complaint" explaining the problem with your account number and sort code in it. Keep the letter to one-side of A4 otherwise it won't be taken seriously. Put a stamp on the letter (it will get their quicker) and get proof of posting from the post office. Send it to the address below.
Customer Relations
Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place
FREEPOST
RTLA-CSUE-TCHC
London
E14 5HP

If the letter doesn't have the title "Formal Complaint" it will not be taken as a complain letter. In addition state in the letter you want the reply in writing. After 8 weeks if the issue isn't resolve then you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service this is one reason why you need a proof of posting as the bank may decide to ignore that you complained to them. Unfortunately the Financial Ombudsman Service takes months to a year to resolves issues. http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

2. Check your credit file as suggested and if there is suspicious activity on it apply to CIFAS for protective registration. http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=808-85