Rather Screwed by Bank, anything I can do?

Caddyshack

Hi All,

I've had a bank account with a certain bank (that rhymes with Farclays), since I was 11, nearly 40 years ago. In that time, they completely screwed up everything I ever asked them to do. From messing up loans, to declining a student loan due to them losing important paperwork and resulting in me having to drop out of college... the list goes on.

As a final boot in the groin, I have been overseas for some time. Before I left, I had a number of accounts, and I had 300 pounds sitting in the Farclays account. About 8 years ago, I needed a UK bank account to take a payment from the UK, and I phoned up Farclays to check that my account was still active and ok, since I had not used it, or even looked at it since I left UK.

I asked for the balance on my account. To my surprise I was around 6600 pounds in debt. I said there must be some mistake. I was told that I had some service on my account, that I remember cost 5 pounds per month or something. That fee ate up all the funds in the account, then started pushing into arrears. Instead of cancelling the service on a sleeping account, they just kept taking it, and taking it. Overdraft led to interest, then interest upon interest, until I was 6600 in debt and counting. They ended up handing it over to a debt collection firm, who proceeded with the typical harassment. I had an IP telephone with a UK number you see, so they thought I was in the UK. Fortunately I wasn't. Also fortunately, last time I did the "can you give me your name and details for security reasons" thing on the phone to them, was over 7 years ago. So presumably since then this has passed the timeout for debts and has hopefully been written off.

Fact is though, I find this quite disgusting and usurious behaviour from a disgusting and incompetent bank. Is there anything I could do about this, either to right this wrong, or basically stick it to the man?

God I hate these people, and would enjoy leaving them to burn in the fiery pits of hell. Any advice appreciated

Thanks for reading.

Neil_Jones

Ask yourself one question:

If you're not happy with the bank and you've been unhappy with them according to your story for many years, why are you still with them? Should't you be with another bank long before now?

This isn't specifically aimed at you but I find it amazing the number of people who post on web forums claiming that they're unhappy with the services of Bank A, then get all defensive and "ooh its too much effort" when its suggested they move to Bank B instead.

EachPenny

Caddyshack wrote: »

Fact is though, I find this quite disgusting and usurious behaviour from a disgusting and incompetent bank. Is there anything I could do about this, either to right this wrong, or basically stick it to the man?

God I hate these people, and would enjoy leaving them to burn in the fiery pits of hell. Any advice appreciated

So you discovered this problem 8 years ago, have been out of the country and thus avoided the debt being collected, and now have decided the time has come to seek some kind of revenge?

If you haven't actually lost anything (other than a relationship with a bank you don't like) then what are you hoping to achieve? Just so we have some kind of a clue.

maninthestreet

TBH, banking isn't for you, is it?

Westie983

Did you update your address with the bank when you left the UK?

If you didnt then you were not aware of the charges and the debt you were accrueing as letters would have been sent there, along with details of the name of the debt collector who has bought your debt.

What is it you are asking? is it is the debt now Statute Barred? This happens 6 years after the last time you acknowledged or paid towards the debt.

You mention that you have spoken to them about the account on the phone, so the six years started from that date.

If you are asking why or how has this happened, the the answer is that you failed to update your address with the bank or you were not opening envelopes address to you at your new overseas address if you did update your address.

Either way, until you ask to cancel a service/Reward on a account the fee will still go out, its not just the case of the bank stopping the payment as most of the time its a premium account and you have to downgrade your account if you no longer want the benefits.

You say that you have had problems with this bank for a while, if you really detested them so much due to their failings why didnt you close the account when you moved address? vote with your feet is the best way when something is not up to your standard.

In relation to this debt its been sold by the bank, and you now need to either find out who this is and contact them, or if you are just hoping it goes away, work out the date you last made contact with them and add-on six years.

Are you planning to return to the UK? I would also suggest you check your credit files for more information.

Westie983

18cc

In answer to your question yes there is something you can do you can pay them the £6,600 you owe them for the service you ordered and did not cancel

shortcrust

How depressingly pathetic.

mgdavid

the newby OP's other posts are illuminating. Been abroad 15 years and has just returned and now asking about living on benefits. I really hope your mental health improves and you get a job very soon.

jonesMUFCforever

Nothing to do ----nothing ---- Msge to me count to 10 do not press any keys on keyboard or you will be banned!

Caddyshack

Well, I had rather hoped one of you might possess a Barclays smartbomb (for those old enough to have played Defender).

I guess I shall have to create my own.

Apologies to any offense caused to any bank power bottoms here.

EachPenny

Caddyshack wrote: »

Well, I had rather hoped one of you might possess a Barclays smartbomb (for those old enough to have played Defender).

I guess I shall have to create my own.

Your priority really ought to be taking Westie983's advice and checking your credit history instead.

The assumption you made in your other thread about your history being blank may be wrong, and that would almost certainly put a brake on your housing plans. Landlords are not usually keen on letting to people who have debts and leave the country.