advice please

Missmoneyberry

Hi guys, newbie here so please be gentle!
Background to this in a nutshell: was declared bankrupt in April 2010 as was sole trader of a business that went under (pub trade, avoid at all costs!) discharged April 2011.
Right.. I had my business and personal accounts with Barclays, had been a customer since I was old enough to have an account. In August 2010, Barclays closed the business & personal accounts & gave me the basic cash card account, as is the norm. Now 3 years down the line, I desperately want to be able to keep an eye on my money as with only getting 3 monthly statements, I cannot spot any mistakes till its probably too late to do anything about it. I had an appointment with the personal banker who said that they would not re-instate anything without seeing a certificate of discharge but that with this i could have other phone & internet access. I applied to the court, paid £70 and got this. I went back today & have now been told that there is a marker on my account from the long defunct business account that means I cannot even have phone facilities, despite being advised the opposite by the same personal banker?!. The manager even told me my only option is to go elsewhere?! I have been left utterly humiliated by my treatment by them today, can anyone please offer any input? can I complain to the ombudsman regarding their treatment of me or the conflicting and ultimately bad advice?
Really appreciate any input guys, thank you

TheGardener

Hi - I am not discharged yet and Barclays were not a creditor of mine. However, although I can't have internet or phone banking :mad: I can have a weekly paper statement - that is an option you are allowed and I am allowed a weekly text mini statement + alert for large deposits (so I know when my wages have arrived) and for large withdrawals so I'm managing. So a weekly statement is available to BR's with basic accounts at Barclays.
It sounds like you really need to a credit file clean up and see what this 'marker' is and get it removed if appropriate. All debts would have been included in your BR even if you didn't put them on your petition.
If you are discharged - you could try for a basic account at the Co-Op, at least you will get internet banking

alastairq

It isn't the bank itself that is at fault.....but the ignorance of those who work there, and those who manage those workers.

I'd lodge an official complaint about your treatment, and get on the phone to someone like Co-op for a Cashminder account [or two, to help with budgeting]....

Warn the customer adviser the computer may reject, [due to the presence of the BR]....and ask that they 'appeal' the application immediately.

You get internet banking [even if it isn't the most hi-tech, you can successfully manage your finances with it]...as Gardener says....

but, definitely complain to Barclays of your treatment..that person needs a serious retraining programme installed.

Missmoneyberry

Thanks guys, it' s frustrating to be given totally conflicting advice, I was told originally that the relationship linking to my defunct business account should be taken off by one person, and told to go in branch to have it done, only to be told by these two yesterday that it is not possible!! I have an application pack from the co-op on it's way

tigerfeet2006

Please have a look at the clean up sticky and get your credit files sorted out as The Gardener has suggested.