Barclays and Step-Change

going_off_grid

I'm not writing this for advice or feedback; but feel that I should share my recent experience with Barclays Bank. I have held a Barclays current account for over 25-years; for the first 23-to-24-years my account was always in credit by a minimum of several thousand pounds. For the past year or so I have incurred significant additional expenses that have ultimately left me with debts; for much of the past year I have lived within my Barclays overdraft (paying a small fortune in fees and interest).

Having finally decided to do something about my debt situation I contacted Step_change. Subsequent to SC involvement, Barclays' management of my account has been disgusting: effectively freezing my account without forewarning. When I rang Barclays to discuss this, I was told that my bank account was in the process of being closed due to SC involvement and that a letter was in the post. The only letter received from Barclays was two-weeks later, and was a demand for repayment of my full OD within 14-days else face legal action or transfer of the debt to a third party collection agency (the letter said that my account was being terminated because I had failed my agreement with them?!??). My partner has had a similar experience: account suspended without warning, demand for full OD balance within an unmanageable time scale, etc.

Barclays were very happy to cash in on our misfortunes when we were paying for our ODs; but have been totally vile since we took action to improve our situation. In fact, their approach has made things very difficult for us both in the past few weeks (where they absorbed my salary and my partners Child Support payment prior to freezing our accounts (not particularly ethical or helpful).

We've both now opened new basic bank accounts, and with SC's help hope to get our finances back on track. Wrt Barclays: most of my experience with this bank has been bad; following my recent experience, I'm glad to be rid of them.

If you are in a similar situation to us, please be aware that you need to change your bank account before you set anything in motion with Step-Change.

happy_bunny_2

Have you thought about complaining? I would submit a complaint each.

They are not supposed to leave you short for rent and food etc.

If they reject it, refer to FOS. I'm sure I've seen examples on their site of what they don't consider fair treatment regarding overdrafts.

You might get a few quid for your troubles. If not, at least you get the satisfaction of them having 2 more complaints and a vent.

Murphy2011

Hi there, sorry you have had such a bad time but to be fair my experience was the exact opposite. Barclays are our main creditor and have been really helpful, we moved wages and direct debits etc to a simple NATWEST account on the advice of SC before we notified them but actually when a wage accidentally found its way in and I explained that we had no money for food/mortgage etc they allowed me to go into a branch and draw it out. I think perhaps the moral is to make sure that you have your new account open and up and running before you tell your old bank. Sorry your experience was different, perhaps a difference at branch level?

going_off_grid

Thanks for the replies. I have made a complaint directly to Barclays. I also informed SC who'll hopefully use my experience to better inform new clients.

FireWyrm

Barclays are a notoriously unpleasant organisation to owe money to apparently. I managed to escape their clutches several years ago and vowed never to go back, but there have been numerous stories of other people who were not quite so lucky. Barclays' new OD fees give new meaning to the term userous and I think you've probably had a lucky escape there. You can treat the OD debt as a simple debt and deal with a DCA instead of paying the ridiculous £90 a month in fees and struggling on. Just saying...every cloud and all that.

going_off_grid

FireWyrm- thanks. Totally agree with you, I'm treating this as a fresh start (sans Barclays).