Benefits and Banks snatching money they are owed

Missy-D_2

Hi Martin and Forum Members and Viewers

I'll keep this short but the jist is I got so ill I become disabled and had to make a claim for Benefits.

I receive Incapacity Benefit and Disability Mobility and Care Components Benefits were issued to me for life.
Not a good long term prognosis.

When this happened I had a loan and sum credit cards and a good enough job to live to these means. When I got ill I contacted my debtors and offered amounts and made sure no Interest would be charged. I stuck to my payments and sum debts were completed but sum credit debts still exist.

One credit card was with Sainsbury's and I received a letter saying that if they discovered I had another account with them with money in it they would take it for the debt I owed them on my credit card still although I am making regular internet bank payments.
I wasn't too worried as I oly have a credit card with Sainsbury's and therefore there is nothing for them to snatch.

My problem is that I am a Woolwich customer with both a current account into which my benefits go fortnightly and monthly and a very small savings account of £150 (my ceiling fell down and my house insurance paid out).

I have made a claim for all my Bank charges to be returned to me from the Woolwich and at this minute Barclays have replied and said I'd been charged me £495 and they offer me £363.


As we all know the Woolwich are gonna become Barclays very soon. I owe them just under £2000 for a credit card debt and pay them regularly too with no interest added.

Will they snatch both the amount they offered and my savings for my ceiling repair ?????

Ps I havent accepted yet
PPS Getting an ING account in situ just in case

Fran

***Boardguide comment***

Missy-D,

I have moved your post to the Debt-Free Wannabe board where you might get some useful replies.

oscar52

Missy, Woolwich are already part of Barclays and have been for some time. I cant see how money from barclays can be used to offset debt against the woolwich. if it does get paid into your current account, just move it before the bank has chance to. However woolwich can take money from your savings to offset any other debt you have with them.

CLAPTON

set up a new bank account NOW and made sure all your income is paid into it and move your savings now also.

there is nothing to stop barclays/woolwich 'offsettting' your saving to pay their debts as they are the same company and have been for quite a long time.

also as you are reclaiming bank charges there is a possibility they may close the a/c anyway.