What can we do if we are on benefits (merged)

Phoenixx73

MrsHnumber2 wrote: »

.....I am really going to have a copy of that!) for my account apparently there was a clause that I agreed to dismissing this law!?

I'll have to remember that one next time I want to do things such as commit murder, go out shoplifting, mug someone, let my dog poo on the town hall steps or Streak through the Mayors election victory speech.

"oh didn't you know officer? I dismissed that law the day before yesterday so it no longer applies to me"

That has got to be one of the best bank excuses I have heard yet.

If anything it shows how badly they are on the back foot here as even it's lawyers can't come up with a half plausable arguement that all branch staff can use so at least they are all giving the same reasons, or perhapse they hold us in so little regard that the word from head office is. "Aww just make some stuff up, the public are stupid and will believe any old ****"

And I am not ridiculing you in any way, I am just seeing a side of this whole thing that to me is slightly amusing in an odd way.

Twinkly

Copies of Abbeys T & C's from 1997 right through to 2005 can be found here:

Abbey T & C's

Theyre to be found on the CAG site and you may need to register to view the thread but its free to do so.

If the year you opened the account is there and Abbey actually give you a copy you supposedly agreed to I suggest you compare the two sets. 10-1 the Abbey copy differs

Tozer

Sorry to disagree, but if the benefits were paid into your account, then they are entitled to recover them. What the law says is that it is not possible to attach a charging order to benefits in the same way that it is possible to do with wages or to assign ('sell') benefits to a third party such as a bank.

As advised, see a CAB but I think, legally, there is little to go on. Morally, of course they should assist which is where a CAB may be able to help.

fatgirlthin

Hi everyone.(sorry,this is rather long)
would anyone be able to help to answer this,please.
Im helping someone reclaim bank charges from barcleys(thanks to this wonderful site) but I need to know this. this person was unemployed with only income based job seekers allowance going into their account for eighteen months. every week the bank charged her continually and she was only ever able to draw out half of the benefit. this continued for a year & a half. Should I write in the letter to the bank, that the charges that they were taking were from benefits? we are waiting for the statements at the mo, so I thought I'd see if anyone could answer this...cheers...
fgt

hardtimes42

Sorry I have a similar question, I have had an agreed overdraft for absolutely donkeys years, to cut a very very long story, for six years have been on income support and despite advising the bank of this, they have continued to apply charges. I wrote to the bank last week asking for my charges to to be returned due the Social Security ACT detailing its illegal for banks to charge people on benefits. However they have told me that due to the current pending legal proceedings with OFT , they will hold my complaint until a decision has been made. THIS IS BARLCAYS BANK

hardtimes42

Hi, please forgive my complete ignorance to this whole matter, I have only just joined the site. To cut a very very very long story short, I have been on benefits (income support) for the last six years, as I was left in the mire with two babies by my ex. Anyhow enough of my grumblings, Barlcays with whom I have been a customer for over 30 years has been charging me overdraft fees and dd fees for the last six years (even though I have repeatdly told them I am on benefits. I have written to them requesting a refund as per the Social Security Act, but the have told me until the matter is concluded with the OFT they will only keep my complaint on hold. Can anyone with experience or expertise advise if there is anything else I could do?

exil

They must refund charges if the OFT case goes against them. The Social Security Act is in my humble opinion a bit of a red herring. It only prevents banks "attaching" payments, that is, preventing the payments reaching your account, it doesn't stop them charging customers who are on benefit. Otherwise, every social security claimant would never pay any charges, interest, or direct debits/standing orders of any kind.

LucyToons

Hi,

what were the charges for? if they have an overdraft limit and they are not over this then I see no reason for weekly charges, was this money that they owed to the bank?

If they do not know what the charges were for then I suggest phoning or going into the branch and asking what the charges were for.

Sorry can't be of more help but the above will hopefully find someway to a start of claiming the charges back.

fatgirlthin wrote: »

Hi everyone.(sorry,this is rather long)
would anyone be able to help to answer this,please.
Im helping someone reclaim bank charges from barcleys(thanks to this wonderful site) but I need to know this. this person was unemployed with only income based job seekers allowance going into their account for eighteen months. every week the bank charged her continually and she was only ever able to draw out half of the benefit. this continued for a year & a half. Should I write in the letter to the bank, that the charges that they were taking were from benefits? we are waiting for the statements at the mo, so I thought I'd see if anyone could answer this...cheers...
fgt

vanilla

I have tried to reclaim my bank charges from ulster bank after all letters where sent they still said no, so i should have took it to court but to be quite honest i didn't have the money to even take it to court. So i forgot about it.

Some months later a recieved a letter from the bank to say the claim was being put on hold. Now the reclaiming really confuses me. I was on benefits when i got all these charges and i'm still on benefits now (husband and daughter are both disabled) should i start all over again and sent the letters again or try court ( i didn't keep any of the letters i recieved from the bank and i'm really :mad: with myself), what do you think i should do???

I was reclaiming 1200pounds.

Any advice would be great, thanks.

boodledoodle

Hello,

My other half is currently receiving long term incapacity benefits and has been charged by Barclays for going over drawn. Can he claim these back?