bank taking my benefit money :(

beckyn_2

could someone help please really dont know what to do

im a single mum so at the moment im on really low income

i had few problems with going overdrawn an now they started taking charges last month they took £150 which ended up making me more overdrawn as it took all my money due that week that i had saved for bills

i rang them up an they agreed to reduce it to £50 as a one off but this month they charging me £120 due to going overdrawn again which is partly due to them as my direct debits went out the same time

im having to live on chris loans an unable to pay my bills as i have no money the bank charging me every month now

is there anything i can do?

MRS_TO_BE_2

There are regulations against banks not allowing you to access benefits money. contact local office or CAB as I can't find them but will keep looking. also I would repost on benefits and tax credits board.

What benefits do you receive? You could ask for an alternative method of payment until sorted and I would look to open alternative account.

Tozer

MRS_TO_BE wrote: »

There are regulations against banks not allowing you to access benefits money. contact local office or CAB as I can't find them but will keep looking. also I would repost on benefits and tax credits board.

What benefits do you receive? You could ask for an alternative method of payment until sorted and I would look to open alternative account.

NO! That is simply not correct. There was a spurious thought that a particular piece of legislation says that benefits cannot be "assigned or charged". However, it refers to the legal terminology of charge which is to mortgage or encumber. It does NOT mean that accounts into which benefits are paid cannot accrue charges.

The only assistance maybe in respect of hardship cases avoiding the moratorium on bank charge reclaim cases. But whoever started the theory that the Social Security Act permits charges to be recovered should be shot as it is entirely without merit.

Mark7799

Having seen this question posed so many times, I wish it could be placed as a sticky at the top of the board.

krisskross

Best thing the OP can do is open another account, savings account if need be to have her benefit paid into. She can then come to an agreement with the original bank to pay off what is owing.

Never ever have direct debits when you sail very close the the wind, one failed DD can start a whole spiral of charges. See the debt adviser at the CAB, they will approach the bank and any other creditors on your bahalf.

MRS_TO_BE_2

Sorry if i misadvised the OP. Thought that was the case. Original advice still stands though and change method of payment or open basic account with another bank.