Outrageous behaviour from Barclays, stolen chequebook

colsten

Paul_1977 wrote: »

If you want to call it a rant its up to you.

I am airing my views that it seems quite ridiculous that one cannot cancel a cheque book over the phone.

You can cancel it over the phone if you are registered for telephone banking.

It's not that hard to understand, is it? Otherwise any imposter could ring to cancel your chequebook.

colsten

Paul_1977 wrote: »

She cannot use the internet.

She does not have to use the internet to raise a complaint.

Paul_1977

colsten wrote: »

You can cancel it over the phone if you are registered for telephone banking.

It's not that hard to understand, is it? Otherwise any imposter could ring to cancel your chequebook.

Right so you can only cancel a chequebook over the phone if you are registered for telephone banking, seems a bit of a stupid system to be at least when it comes to reporting things as stolen.

So what if an impostor cancels your chequebook, that would not result in any theft of monies, just inconvenience.

Tigsteroonie

I think the annoyance is partly because the guidance says that you can go to any branch, but the lady has now been told that her local branch is inadequate and she must make a special trip to a specific branch. That does strike me as outrageous - you should be able to go to your nearest branch at the time the incident occurs (which may not be your own branch if you are away from home), not be sent hither and thither.

I think the annoyance has escalated from there, and I too have often said "Sod this for a lark" when asked to jump through hoops for matters that should be quite simple. Unfortunately though, sometimes you have to go with the system even if it seems stupid; and eventually I calm down and do what's needed

masonic

Paul_1977 wrote: »

So what if an impostor cancels your chequebook, that would not result in any theft of monies, just inconvenience.

It could result in late payment fees or the loss of an item you purchased. Then we'd have a thread entitled "Outrageous behaviour from Barclays, cheques bouncing despite money in account"

Paul_1977

That may be so, but that would be the result of somebody else being dishonest. And I would place more blame on the person.

We can debate the if if if all day, but I am rather tied.

I feel I have made my point.

masonic

Paul_1977 wrote: »

I feel I have made my point.

I guess that's more important for you than resolving the issue.

G_M

Putting aside the issue of the cheque book and how to cancel it, which has been discussed to death, can I make a seperate but related suggestion?

Reading between the lines (and I've been through this in recent years) your mum is elderly, easily frustrated, possibly hard of hearing (hence your help needed with the phone call?). And potentially there is confusion too, if not now then in the future.

If you have not yet arranged it, get your mum to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney. It's easy to do (whilst she still has her faculties) and once you've registered it with Barclays you'll be able to phone them on her behalf etc.

Wait till her faculties are in doubt or faded, and it is much harder to set up a POA since she cannot legally sign it herself.

See also
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/legal-issues/powers-of-attorney/power-of-attorney/

Paul_1977

masonic wrote: »

I guess that's more important for you than resolving the issue.

What issue is that?

The original point of the thread was to ask if you can could kill a cheque book by phone. And make my point that I thought it was outrageous.

A couple of posters offered some info, and I commented on that. Thanks.

But as per usual it turns in to a match.

Lord spare me.

The resolutions that were offered are unfortunately cannot be done.

I thank the poster who suggested writing a letter, which can be done.

To the last poster, its not my mother.:D But thanks for the info, no doubt it will be of use at some point.

masonic

Paul_1977 wrote: »

What issue is that?

The issue is that you have a confused elderly lady who thinks she may have been the victim of a theft of her chequebook, but is unsure. She believes money may be stolen from her account as a result. She has come away from a phone call with Barclays with what appears to be incorrect information and "She has had enough" and "she will not talk to them again". She will probably remain upset while the matter remains unresolved, which could be quite some time.

The resolutions that were offered are unfortunately cannot be done.

I thank the poster who suggested writing a letter, which can be done.

I think you mean will not because the resolutions are possible. There is an element of cutting off ones nose to spite ones face here, which is where the discussion turns into a "match".

Believe it or not, the people who have expressed dissatisfaction that genuine solutions are being discounted because of outrage and frustration are trying to help. The best solution is to calm down and do what is necessary to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

So, is she going to report this to the police and get a crime number, and then write a letter to Barclays? If so, that's good and perhaps the matter will be resolved by the end of next week, but there are easier solutions that may require some persuasion, but will certainly be quicker and easier.