Santander just cleaned us. HELP

falko89

I am unemployed my partner works, we get JSA and HB, We had/have and account with Santander and a credit card, because I got made redundant we signed up to CCCS, we had got all the paper work in and just last week CCCS started sending letters to creditors.

This morning my JSA went in and partner pay, Santander removed the over draft as soon as it went in leaving us with nothing:mad: How can they do this? We now have no money at all, zero. Our only option is to spend on a credit card throwing us of the DMP with CCCS.

What do we do??

Gordon_Hose

Speak to Santander. Pretty sure benefits are there for you to live on, not for Santander to pay off your debts.

falko89

Department I need isn't opened yet. Found these terms and conditions.

3.4 General conditions for all overdrafts

3.4.1 We have the right to change your overdraft limit at any time. We can also require you to repay the whole or any part of your overdraft at any time. We will usually give you 30 days' notice of our intention to change your overdraft limit or repay the whole or any part of your overdraft, however we may do either of these things without advance notice to you where it would be reasonable for us to do so.

3.4.2 We also have the right to pay off or reduce any overdrawn balance on your bank account by transferring funds from any other accounts you have with us(other than a mortgage account).

3.4.3 You can repay your overdraft, or cancel your Advance Overdraft facility at any time. If you cancel your Advance Overdraft facility you must pay off the whole of the overdrawn balance on your bank account as soon as possible and no later than 30 days after you cancel it. You must also pay all Service Fees and interest applicable to your overdraft.

3.4.4 We consider cases of financial difficulties sympathetically and positively, and we have a specialist team that can help. If at any time you feel you are unable to repay any money that you borrow from us, let us know and we will arrange a time, as soon as possible, to talk through the matter with you. We can tell you where you can obtain free money advice, and if you want us to, we will work with debt counselling organisations on your behalf. You should contact us at the first signs of financial difficulty so that we can develop a plan to help you. This plan will be sent to you, and reviewed as appropriate. If you are in financial difficulty, you should tell us about all your full financial circumstances as it might help us to find a solution quicker.

joedenise

Did CCCS not tell you to open a basic account, with no overdraft, before they started sending out the letters? You need to do this with a bank which has no connections to any of your creditors and arrange for your JSA and your partner's wages to be paid into it. Do this ASAP.

With regard to Santander I think you need to contact them and explain.

Denise

Gordon_Hose

You probably won't get your partners pay back, but they can't take your benefits.

Once you've spoken to Santander, go an open a basic bank account with the Co-op or someone not associated with the Santander banking group.

falko89

joedenise wrote: »

Did CCCS not tell you to open a basic account, with no overdraft, before they started sending out the letters? You need to do this with a bank which has no connections to any of your creditors and arrange for your JSA and your partner's wages to be paid into it. Do this ASAP.

With regard to Santander I think you need to contact them and explain.

Denise

We did the irony is this was the last payments to go into this account:(.

And what about the interest charges? Talk about kicking a man when he is down.

sickasachip13

Hi

Gordon is right, they can't keep your benefits. Halifax took some of mine when we did the changeover and they were very obliging in giving them back, in cash, at the local branch.

SAAC

falko89

Bit of good news the Mrs phoned today rather upset by it all, they gave the full thing back:j They said they do this automatically when they get the DMP letter from CCCS, They sort of closed the account so it can't be used anymore.

MonkeyMad

sickasachip13 wrote: »

Hi

Gordon is right, they can't keep your benefits. Halifax took some of mine when we did the changeover and they were very obliging in giving them back, in cash, at the local branch.

SAAC

No he's not. State benefits don't have some magical property that stops them being used as payment for a debt because it leaves you short. Halifax may well have given you money as a goodwill gesture, but there is nothing forcing them to do so.

Valley's_girl

falko89 wrote: »

Bit of good news the Mrs phoned today rather upset by it all, they gave the full thing back:j They said they do this automatically when they get the DMP letter from CCCS, They sort of closed the account so it can't be used anymore.

That is great news glad you managed to get it all sorted.
Best wishes
ally x

Memory_Girl

Actually, benefits are generally regarded differently - you can invoke the "first right of appropriation"

http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/showthread.php?t=17324

MG