the very helpfull co-op bank

busdriver799

I just though you might like to hear what I think is a horror story I have been out of work due to ill health for 2 years and have been struggling to make payments on my credit cards and also an overdraft with smile the internet bank part of the co-op bank well today I rang them to tell them I will be unable to meet the payments this month to be told that they will be blocking my account both credit card and current account and will be unable to make any withdraws from the account so when I asked them how was I supposed to live as I am only on benefits the very unhelpful member of staff said not her problem as they are a bank and are supposed to make profits I did inform the bank 3 months ago that i will start to be having problems and their answer then was to put me thru to freedom finance and suggest that a loan using my house as collateral as a way to sort it out I was turned down by this firm. so it seems that customer loyalty means nothing as I have been a very good customer of this bank for over 30 years but the last laugh is on them a s I have just changed my bank details with the d w p .

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

I have disability benefit paid into a CO-OP account that has a visa electron, its only a basic account. I have unfortunately gone overdrawn twice due to my own oversight but they have not charged me once for this. The bank is not allowed to charge you penalty charges on benefit money which is paid into an account or prevent you from using it to live on. I remember reading about this some time ago on the benefits board and someone actually posted the legal rule that you quote to the bank. Have a look on there and post as you will get the help you need. I have to say i'm quite surprised at the attitude of this bank as I have found them to be far better than LLoydsTSB or Nat west, but i don't actually go into the bank as I set my account up on line so i phone when i need advice and their customer service i have found them to be excellent. I hope you get this sorted, a bad time of year to restrict someones money .