Barclays slash overdraft charges

Fishmeister

Thanks for all the replies, in response to some queries I will give you some more detail what happened.. I thought I had more in my account than there was (a direct debit had been taken out) I withdrew 20 pound 6pm on Wednesday 20th which put me into the Reserve. At midnight (6 hours later) I got paid, and I got the reserve fee.

This is nothing but another way for Barclays to issue a bank charge!. They can call it what they like but to take money out of someones account for going over a limit is a charge!.

Eydon - In response to your post, I spoke to some friends at work who are with Barclays and they all recieved letters. I have no idea why I didn't and I open all letters they send to me. I use my internet banking about once a week but usually quickly go on to pay a bill or check my balance so I must have just not noticed the 'Reserve' adverts. Given the choice I would not have opted out, but to issue a charge (oh, sorry.. fee!) as soon as you enter the reserve is no better than what they were doing before. Maybe if you are in the reserve for a few days, then a (reasonable) fee would be more appropriate??

bbaby_2

Please help!! im confused.

I got the same letter and thought that this was giong to replace the old paid referal fee of £30.00. ( am I wrong ?)

Will I have just checked our account and there are 3 paid referal fees (totalling to £90) debited on the 14th, 15th and 18th :mad: and on the 19th they have debited £22.00 Reserve Fee ???

I dont understand, feel like we just falling into a deep hole and its getting deeper and deeper every month.

Have I misunderstood this new Reserve fee thing?

Thanks!

Eydon

Fishmeister wrote: »

Maybe if you are in the reserve for a few days, then a (reasonable) fee would be more appropriate??

I agree that a grace period would be nice. I'm sure there used to be a time when they said that you could be overdrawn for 3 days without charge. Having said that, you need to have a cut-off point somewhere. No doubt if there was still a 3 day grace period we'd still have people getting caught because they went past the end of the grace period by a few hours.

The £22 charge/fee entitles you to use the reserve for 5 working days without incurring any additional charges. The fact that you only used it for 6 hours is just a case of bad timing. Alas all these decisions are made by computer, and until someone can program a computer to use common sense these kind of borderline cases will always cause problems.

shooter

mccarthystuart wrote: »

Can anybody give me some advice here?

Is there still anything at all that I can do to claim back all the unfair charges I've incurred over the years? (in spite of the new barclays reserve plan?) If anyone can give me any help in this department, I'd be very appreciate.

Also, can I still opt out of the reserve?

Thanks.

For all charges predating this new reserve carry on as normal using this sites templates

Barclays cannot refuse to accept new claims so long as they are not for this new charge (fee). If they do refuce to deal with you complaint then report the to the FSA/FOS and the OFT.

Good luck and feel free to post any other questions you may have

Shooter x

Eydon

bbaby wrote: »

Please help!! im confused.

I got the same letter and thought that this was giong to replace the old paid referal fee of £30.00. ( am I wrong ?)

Will I have just checked our account and there are 3 paid referal fees (totalling to £90) debited on the 14th, 15th and 18th :mad: and on the 19th they have debited £22.00 Reserve Fee ???

I dont understand, feel like we just falling into a deep hole and its getting deeper and deeper every month.

Have I misunderstood this new Reserve fee thing?

Thanks!

I think the reserve only started on 18th August, so up until that date you'd have been charged as before. Now that you've been charged the £22 for using it you shouldn't receive any more charges - unless you're still in at after 5 working days, in which case you'll be charged another £22.

YorkshireBoy

lifesuckssometimes wrote: »

It is alway relevant to fight injustice like unfair bank charges...

Sorry, I quoted badly. What I meant was the Barclays FAQ you quoted wasn't relevant to the OP's situation since the account was overdrawn the day before the wages hit, not the same day.

It doesn't matter whether it was 1 minute or 23 hours 59 minutes, it was the (banking day) before.

FredTheFifth

My daughter started at University last week and though she has a free Nat West student account, she has decided to keep her Barclays personal account too. (She has her reasons - though I don't agree!!)

Anyway due to an oversight on her part she went £10 overdrawn, and today (her mum opened the letter for her) she got a letter from Barclays explaining something about being in her reserve limit for which she had been charged £20, hence the OD is now £30, and if not paid off by Friday another £20 will be charged.

I can't put into words how disgusting I find this. The charge is completely disproportionate and simply levels more charges on somebody with limited means. We have cleared the OD for her and her bursary has now come through, so problem over for now, but it leaves me with no allegiance to Barclays whatsoever.

Regards.
FTF

natweststaffmember

Kids never listen to parents but in time she will do what you think she should do.

justthisonce_2

FredTheFifth wrote: »

Anyway due to an oversight on her part she went £10 overdrawn, and today (her mum opened the letter for her) she got a letter from Barclays explaining something about being in her reserve limit for which she had been charged £20, hence the OD is now £30, and if not paid off by Friday another £20 will be charged.
Regards.
FTF

I believe all Barclays customers were sent a letter with details of how the personal reserve was going to operate and the charges to be levied should the personal reserve be used. There was also a tear off slip to be returned, prepaid postage envelope should you wish to opt out.

Think Barclays were very upfront about this and it is a bit unfair to castigate them for charging what they gave detailed warning would be charged.

FredTheFifth

justthisonce wrote: »

I believe all Barclays customers were sent a letter with details of how the personal reserve was going to operate and the charges to be levied should the personal reserve be used. There was also a tear off slip to be returned, prepaid postage envelope should you wish to opt out.

Think Barclays were very upfront about this and it is a bit unfair to castigate them for charging what they gave detailed warning would be charged.

Fair comment, I was unaware of the letter, however the charge remains massively disproportionate and consequently unfair in my opinion.

Regards.
FTF