Barclay's current account closure

Dashiki

Hello everybody, my boyfriend used barclay's bank account for almost a year now and few days ago we went grocery shopping and the debit card was declined, so we tried to take some money out from cash point, but the machine swallowed the card. the very next day he went to his branch to ask what has been going on and he was told that there was a fault with a card and advisor told him to call barclay's and order a new card. But yesterday he received a letter by post saying that from the day the card was swallowed by machine his account is closed. They stated that this has not been taken lightly and that they are unable to explain the mechanics of their decision. Is that even legal? No explanation, no nothing! and that is supposed to be authoritative bank? Very disappointed in this situation, he didn't have overdraft as he withdraw almost all the money he had the day he went to seek help in his local branch as weekend was ahead and he needed cash and the advisor never let him know what is going on. Another thing we've been trying to get online banking detail for his account for over 3 months and nothing was sent as they already knew that they are going to close the account. Does anyone can advise us on this situation, what can we do? I hope Barclays understands that it is someones credit history and it's being ruined because of their unreasonable decision making.

fomirster

It is unusual for Barclays to just close an account for no reason. Have you done anything they may not like. Paying money in so it looks like your running a business through a personal a/c. Or paying in quite large amounts of money?

I suggest you send off for a copy of your Credit Report to see that nothing bad is showing that you are not aware of. For example, see here - http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/s...ry-report.html

izools

I had this happen to me a year ago.

It transpires they had opened my accounts in branch without taking sufficient ID to fulfil the anti money laundering regulations therefore when my account was audited it failed and had to be closed, as having it open would have left Barclays in breach of the money laundering laws.

They should have taken full proof of address and ID, i.e. Passport & Council Tax Bill etc but all they had ever requested of me was my photocard for my provisional driving license. Not the counterpart, and nothing else to confirm my ID or Address.

My Barclaycard account was unaffected however - given I'd applied for this Online and signed Online, whilst on the ER, there were no paper ID requirements to fulfil under the law.

They've also been known to do this to customers who have had a pattern of transactions through their account which are similar to the pattern of transaction they would see of a fraudster.

Dashiki

Well, the thing is he had to produce all the documents in order to open an account like confirmation of address and proof of ID, he recently changed his address, but come on, that's not the reason to close down the account. He lost his card few times in short period of time, maybe they thought he is more up for fraud but this is just ridicilous, if a person's credit history is more than okay then i don't see any reason to act in this particular way. Rises loads of question about bank's strategy

izools

Yours is the fourth report I've read about this in the last year on these forums. All pertaining to Barclays.

If they don't want a good customer, their loss!

Toe-Jam

It happened to me too , exactly the same way everyone else describes, this was in 2007. Also barclaycard unaffected.

blacksta

Very strange - I think you should press Barclay's for more information - The only reason i can think of is " Fraudulent docs or behaviour"