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

juleg

has anyone heard anything about banks not being allowed to charge for bounced cheques or being overdrawn whilst on benefits? I read this somewhere but dont know who to ask about it. Also do you just write to you bank and ask them details of all your bank charges?

calleyw

juleg wrote: »

has anyone heard anything about banks not being allowed to charge for bounced cheques or being overdrawn whilst on benefits? I read this somewhere but dont know who to ask about it. Also do you just write to you bank and ask them details of all your bank charges?

I think you are wrong. Just because you are benefits it does not mean that you are not allowed to get bank charges.

I they are just not allowed to take it from your benefit money.

See here

Yours


Calley

juleg

thanks alot for gettin back to me

calleyw

Also if it is your first time getting bank charges ring them and ask for a refund most will do it if you are first time offender.

I have done it couple of times.


Yours


Calley

cifpower

They can't take money for debt from means tested benefits like Income Support, Housing Benefit or Child Tax Credit.

rigsby1967

I am fairly certain i read on this site some time back that banks can't charge unathorised O/D fees to people on benefits?

I have just got a letter saying i am being charged £21 for being o/d by about £4. I am gutted needless to say, is there anything i can do to stop this charge?

Thanks

rigs

eve75_2

hi there rigs, a i just got a statement from my bank - barclays today and there were three £30 charges on there. Iphoned them up and said i want them refunded back to my account and they did - no questions asked which quite surprised me. i hane an overdraft of 250 and was over by 24 on the one day but then a D/D went out and that cost me anither £30 and then i drew money out which they charged me another £30 but i haven't received a letter yet informing me i had gone over, if i had known i wouldn't have drawn out the last money. So just give them a call and see what happens. I was given a reference number and have to wait up to 72 hrs but i got the name of the person who said i could have my money back. Just threaten them with reclaiming all the charges over the past 6 years if they don't give your money back. Good luck, eve x

Glynis

I think I am going to ring the DWP and ask for my benefits to be paid by Giro again, they will ask why and I'll tell them I can't afford to lose £28 when the bank want to fine me for going £7 over my limit for less than 24 hours.

Tozer

cifpower wrote: »

They can't take money for debt from means tested benefits like Income Support, Housing Benefit or Child Tax Credit.

This is misleading. They can deduct charges if the benefits are paid into a bank account.

peterkay

Not sure if this is the right board to post this on, but i am on incapacity benefit and have been for a few months. Although i know its best to claim your charges back asap i am concerned that when i claim them back the DWP will stop paying me my support. My claim would be in the region of about £4,000 over 4 accounts.

However this amount would have been used to pay off my debts and would leave me with only about £100 or £200 after debt is paid off. But im just not sure what i should do if to wait until i sort out my depression or to claim it and hope for the best?

Sorry bit of a ramble but just need a lil advice thanks.