Threatening text from Barclays!

CricketLady

Good evening! 

I've just had a text from Barclays saying that they're going to be ringing me over the next few days as they'd like to discuss my account.  Reminds me of the "see me" in red pen on my work at school!

I think it's because I make a lot of payments from this account as I have many regular savers and use it to cycle money around other accounts in order to meet their criteria (eg., to waiver the Lloyds Club monthly fee.)  We had our offset mortgage with them until we paid it off in May this year, it is a joint account with my husband, we've had this for over 20 years and have four different account numbers (different "pots" as it were) which all show on my online page, the main one having just 1p kept in it to keep the account open, another where my customers pay my invoices into (I am self employed) but with the interest rate being rubbish I instantly move money out.  There is no law against this, is there?!  It really is just used as a vehicle as, having had the account for over 20 years, I have all my payees on there.

It's rattled me a bit though - I'm not doing anything wrong, should I be worried? Has anyone had experience of this that can give me some reassurance? 

Thanks so much in advance

danny13579

My scam antannae are going into overdrive. 

Ayr_Rage

If you are using a personal account for incoming business payments don't be surprised if they close down all of your accounts for misuse of that one account.

Brie

I would take screenshots of all your payees so that you don't lose any info.  But that's a just in case....

There's 2 potential reasons for this - ex staff but I'm guessing as I never worked the front line, just understand some of their thinking.

First is they may be eliminating this product.  Was it originally Woolwich pre acquisition?  In any case they occasionally cull some types of products that are more difficult for them to handle due to their latest IT update.  Maybe they can see that now the mortgage is "paid off" they want to remove the flexi bit - I'm expecting to hear from NatWest about this as they are moving what was my Virginone Flexi mortgage, rebranded as RBS and they've dropped the V1 website and will want to get rid of my mortgage sized overdraft as it's likely a liability for them.  

Second might be that they've clocked you're using a personal account for business purposes and want to move you to a business account to enable them to charge you business sized fees.  

I don't think either thing is a massive worry.  If it's the first they'll want to discuss you moving to a standard joint account "to make things easier for you".  And similarly with the second they'll propose you opening a business account to be separate from your joint account, likely with an excuse of making business accounting easier or something to do with tax regs perhaps.  Banks do shut down accounts that they feel are being used incorrectly so you might want to be prepared to move this portion of transactions elsewhere. 

CricketLady

Thank you Brie,

Yes, the mortgage was Woolwich originally.  As to the business payments, I'm a (very small time!) Avon rep and about £30 a month gets paid in by me either photographing the odd cheque or a customer making a direct payment.

I will get on with the screenshotting just in case, thanks for this!

Any more reassurance definitely welcome, I promise I'm not scamming anyone!

danny13579

CricketLady said:

Any more reassurance definitely welcome, I promise I'm not scamming anyone!

I mean scammers trying to scam you!

Why don't you ring Barclays and ask them if this text is genuine?

Brie

CricketLady said:

Thank you Brie,

Yes, the mortgage was Woolwich originally.  As to the business payments, I'm a (very small time!) Avon rep and about £30 a month gets paid in by me either photographing the odd cheque or a customer making a direct payment.

I will get on with the screenshotting just in case, thanks for this!

Any more reassurance definitely welcome, I promise I'm not scamming anyone!

I think the comment was implying that some scammer might be setting you up.  Whatever happens you might want to ring them on a number off their website to confirm that there is a note on your file about this call being made.  I think it unlikely but always proceed with caution.  I certainly do and have at times refused to enter into a conversation where someone rings up saying they are with my bank.  

Hope it all turns out well.

CricketLady

Oh I understand now!  Thankyou Danny, I think I'll do that, for one thing I want to get this sorted, for another, if it is from them I want to tear a strip off them for making me feel like this.  I mean, if they want to talk to me they should just ring me - but then I've probably been triggered because I never did like the red pen "see me" from nasty old teachers in the eighties.

Many thanks x

CricketLady

You've all been so kind, thank you so much xx

surreysaver

I wonder if people ticking 'Business Account" when transferring money to their own personal accounts to get around Confirmation of Payee is triggering these when money comes back from these 'business accounts' and raising red flags in a computer somewhere.
I always tell my bank to continue anyway when CoP doesn't match. I've never had a problem (touch wood)

danny13579

I would ring them on the number on their website or on the back of your debit card. That way you can be sure you're actually talking to Barclays.

Be very careful with texts and calls claiming to be from your bank.