Irresponsible lending

E_Storey

I set up a basic bank account with BoS some years ago.

I have episodes where I don't control my spending too well, but as I work full time I don't have a support worker etc.

I saw a banner on my phone banking offering me an overdraft, I knew it was a bad idea.

But I cannot control it. 

I took out money, and drank it till the overdraft was at £500.

I contacted BoS and asked them not to lend me any more as I would just drink it, but they refused, last week the debt reached £1600 and they stopped lending saying I had to ring them. (so they recognised there was a problem)

I can control how much I spend by leaving cards at home and taking out cash. Which I do when I'm getting a bit manic, or even just a bit skint.

But this is on my phone - so I can spend it anytime I like, it's immediate, I don't even have to wait a couple of hours.

I made a complaint to FOS last week but am yet to hear any more.

Yesterday I was in the pub again, and fancied more booze than budgeted for, and just wondered...

BoS lent me another £200 with just a couple of clicks, despite recognising I was in difficulties a couple of weeks ago.

I've contacted pay day lenders etc, and they all have a note on my file not to lend to me for three months.

I am aware I have issued, and they need dealing with - but BoS are going to keep giving me money till it reaches £2500 - I don't know how to get them to stop!

Grumpy_chap

Can you delete the phone banking app?

E_Storey said:

I set up a basic bank account with BoS some years ago.

I have episodes where I don't control my spending too well, but as I work full time I don't have a support worker etc.

I saw a banner on my phone banking offering me an overdraft, I knew it was a bad idea.

But I cannot control it. 

I took out money, and drank it till the overdraft was at £500.

I contacted BoS and asked them not to lend me any more as I would just drink it, but they refused, last week the debt reached £1600 and they stopped lending saying I had to ring them. (so they recognised there was a problem)

I can control how much I spend by leaving cards at home and taking out cash. Which I do when I'm getting a bit manic, or even just a bit skint.

But this is on my phone - so I can spend it anytime I like, it's immediate, I don't even have to wait a couple of hours.

I made a complaint to FOS last week but am yet to hear any more.

Yesterday I was in the pub again, and fancied more booze than budgeted for, and just wondered...

BoS lent me another £200 with just a couple of clicks, despite recognising I was in difficulties a couple of weeks ago.

I've contacted pay day lenders etc, and they all have a note on my file not to lend to me for three months.

I am aware I have issued, and they need dealing with - but BoS are going to keep giving me money till it reaches £2500 - I don't know how to get them to stop!

E_Storey

Grumpy_chap said:

Can you delete the phone banking app?

E_Storey said:

I set up a basic bank account with BoS some years ago.

I have episodes where I don't control my spending too well, but as I work full time I don't have a support worker etc.

I saw a banner on my phone banking offering me an overdraft, I knew it was a bad idea.

But I cannot control it. 

I took out money, and drank it till the overdraft was at £500.

I contacted BoS and asked them not to lend me any more as I would just drink it, but they refused, last week the debt reached £1600 and they stopped lending saying I had to ring them. (so they recognised there was a problem)

I can control how much I spend by leaving cards at home and taking out cash. Which I do when I'm getting a bit manic, or even just a bit skint.

But this is on my phone - so I can spend it anytime I like, it's immediate, I don't even have to wait a couple of hours.

I made a complaint to FOS last week but am yet to hear any more.

Yesterday I was in the pub again, and fancied more booze than budgeted for, and just wondered...

BoS lent me another £200 with just a couple of clicks, despite recognising I was in difficulties a couple of weeks ago.

I've contacted pay day lenders etc, and they all have a note on my file not to lend to me for three months.

I am aware I have issued, and they need dealing with - but BoS are going to keep giving me money till it reaches £2500 - I don't know how to get them to stop!

Yes but then I'd just reinstall it.

I will open  basic bank account at lunchtime and move across. But it was a basic account to begin with.

All of you saying don't apply, kinda miss the point about having behaviours I cant control.

DullGreyGuy

E_Storey said:

I made a complaint to FOS last week but am yet to hear any more.

The FOS can only properly look at your complaint after you have already raised the complaint with the bank and either 1) had their final response/deadlock letter or 2) 8 weeks have passed since the complaint was raised, whichever happens sooner.

If you contact them before that all they will do is write a complaint letter for you to your bank/insurer etc however this is a call centre agent trying to squeeze what you just told them into the 6 lines of space they have on a stock letter template before their next call comes in... you are much better off doing your own complain 90% of the time as you both have more space and have a much better knowledge of what you feel are the key points. 

Have you received the final response/deadlock letter from your complaint? Did you even raise a formal complaint yet?

E_Storey

Yes I got a letter in June, so have sent that. 

They stopped all interest and repaid about £12 in charges.

But then they lent me more.

Yesterday they actually gave me the samaritans number, then lent me more?

I thought about a formal loan, paying off overdraft with that, then asking them to change account back to a basic account.

But they declined the loan, for the exact same amount as the overdraft.

macman

It seems like the root cause of your problem is alcoholism, so might be better to get help with that, to prevent you running up an overdraft to buy more booze?

sourcrates

E_Storey said:

I thought about a formal loan, paying off overdraft with that, then asking them to change account back to a basic account.

But they declined the loan, for the exact same amount as the overdraft.

No this was a terrible idea anyway, as we know exactly where that money would end up.

It can take a while for information to filter down through a large organisation, however your ability to get credit will come to an abrupt end once you cannot service the debts you have already accrued, basically the best way to stop them lending to you is to default, no one will lend to you with recently defaulted accounts.

I also agree with macman that your real issue is the booze, there are organisations out there that can help you, but you must take the first step, link is here -

Alcohol Support Services – Help Me Stop

E_Storey

I'm well aware of my problems and am addressing them. One of the ways in which I am doing this is asking lenders not to give me more money.

E_Storey

OK, well it looks like they've FINALLY put overdraft on stop, but it could just be as I made too many applications in a short time frame.

At least if it is I know I can trigger stops by making and repaying then in quick succession.

Short term solution until I can get a basic bank account sorted.

MEM62

E_Storey said:

I contacted BoS and asked them not to lend me any more as I would just drink it, but they refused 

Really?  

E_Storey

Yes really!

I think it's because I rang the "wrong team"