Barclays - Strange letter received and puzzled balance

tescomilk

Update:

Thanks for everyones replies. I'm not worried about any internal Barclays ratings etc as I don't like any sort of debt and have no overdraft facility at all as this is just a simple 2nd account to my main account with First Direct. Also believe me if Barclays could have charged me a fine for this than they would. Something smells fishy... The letter also contradicts itself because it calls this a "guaranteed payment". Why would Barclays guarantee a payment if they wasn't sure I had the money? I know Martin says there is a buffer of £15 on the most basic barclays account but this amount is more than that. I think they call it guaranteed because my available balance had the funds available at the time I used their card. Otherwise known as "CLEARED FUNDS". :rotfl:

I've just checked the ATM again and I am still -£18.52 available balance but my actual balance is in the Green.

Tomorrow will be 1 week since I deposited the cash and made the payment with my card. If the balance doesn't update then I will go in to branch as pmduk said trying to explain all this over the phone is way to confusing especially if I get someone abroad which is what normally happens. At least in Branch I can use the statement machine to print off and go through it with someone.

What I don't like is that it looks for all intent and purposes that I have been charged twice x£18.52 (when I haven't.) Waiting for the system to un-confuse itself and update is s-o-s-l-o-w.... :mad:

tescomilk

Careful_ly wrote: »

I think that what has happened is that when you made the payment the funds were reserved, then when they were actually taken it was not the reserved funds, thus making you technically overdrawn.
The reserve drops off after x days, then you will show as not
overdrawn, and when you have your statement there will never be a period of debit balance on it.

HTH

I actually think this above is probably what has happened. :T

Its just really annoying to get a letter and have a negative balance for a week while the system updates. As Careful_ly says this will never show a negative balance when I get my proper statement but for the time being my available balance is in the red and they have wasted a 2 page letter and postage which as a customer we are all paying for. I'll let everyone know how I get on.

pmduk

You've not stated what type of account you have, but please don't assume you have a buffer of £15 unless they have told you so in writing.

Smell_a_rat

The same almost incident has happened to myself just this week, but I had done a shop at tesco and paid using my direct debit card with funds I had in my account. My shopping was the total of 44.66. Payment went through no probs. This was the 8th nov 12. Yesterday however I to received an almost exact letter to the one you had but mine stating they had paid that shopping bill for me five days later because of insufficient funds. I to do have any over draught or reserve funds and there was more than amply funds to cover that shopping and way more, so this left me very confused. The letter also assumed that this error was not only my fault but they were also to charge an eight pounds fee. Now I've never known of any bank to pay your shopping bill five days later, when tesco didn't decline. Y card and payment was authorised...now my dates of any transactions do not anyway come close to the dates I actually used my card to purchase items....again I feel this is a massive breach of trust and disappointing that they also felt the need to blame and charge myself...shocking!

Smell_a_rat

Sorry I meant I do not have any over draught or reserve and my account is only a current account which I've held for the last ten yrs.

sscott5581

I have a Barclays account also and in my branch it states if cash is paid in after 330pm then this cash will not be part of available balance until following working day.

dalesrider

Smell_a_rat wrote: »

shop at tesco and paid using my direct debit card with funds I had in my account. My shopping was the total of 44.66. Payment went through no probs. This was the 8th nov 12.

Direct debit card ?
Under retailer floor limit, so no check with barclays.

Smell_a_rat wrote: »

they had paid that shopping bill for me five days later because of insufficient funds. I to do have any over draught or reserve funds and there was more than amply funds to cover that shopping and way more, so this left me very confused

Blame Tesso NOT barclays. Tesco TAKE the money from your account. It is down to the retailer how long they take to process the debit.
I know that if I fill my car up today it wlll not debit till monday. I have a car park debit that still has not debited from september....

Smell_a_rat wrote: »

when tesco didn't decline. Y card and payment was authorised...now my dates of any transactions do not anyway come close to the dates I actually used my card to purchase items....again I feel this is a massive breach of trust and disappointing that they also felt the need to blame and charge myself...shocking!

Retailer floor limit, so no check to barclays.
Dates, that will be when tesco applied for the funds. And is something that has happened for years ever since card payments have been taken.
Had further funds gone out in that 5 days that meant you went over your limit.