banks

[becks26]

I had an overdraft with nationwide last year, unfortunatley i suffered really bad depression and had to leave my job, i got into financial difficulty and wrote to nationwide and explained this, i also enclosed a statement of finance.

i opened another account with them but it was a basic account with just a cashcard.

Anyway, i have now got back on my feet and found a permenant job, i was paid yesterday and when i went to withdraw some money for my sons school dinners i couldnt take any out.

I have spoken to nationwide and they said that they were taking the whole �1020 from my basic account to cover the overdraft that i owe them on the other account, this was going to leave me �45 to live on for the month before any other bills were paid. I have tried to explain to them that out of the money they are taking away from me, it was housing benefit to pay my rent and tax credits to pay my childminder and that i am a single parent and that i need to buy food and pay my other bills. I have only been in this job for one month and when i started i wrote to nationwide and made an offer to pay �100 per month, they wont accept that and they wont accept anything except taking �600 today and the rest next month but my account will still be frozen until they have taken sufficient money to clear the other account. They have also cancelled all my direct debits, how am i meant to survive and look after my son if i cannot get to my money. Everything is paid into the account, wages, housing benefit, tax credits and child maintenance

[Gilli]

Hi becks ..... who exactly did you speak to ? Was it someone in a call centre ? ..... if so, they were probably using a script and had no authority to do anything about this.

You need to go into your branch in person and ask to speak to a manager. Personally i'd have thought your offer to pay this off within a year @ �100pm pretty reasonable .... but obviously don't know the background to the seizure of your current account. Had the bank written to you previously warning you what they were going to do ..... just thinking that if they had, but you ignored their correspondence. I can see how this might have happened "automatically" , i.e.via computer, without any human input.

However - what does, to my mind alter things a bit is that you had been responsible previously in writing to them with a statement of finance and explaining your difficulties. You would have thought wouldn't you that your account would be somehow flagged so a more sympathetic approach could be used.

I'd also speak to the CAB asap .... I'm sure they'll be able to advise further on this.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Firstly can you stop any of the income that is headed for your account?

I agree with the first ABer - get along to the branch and ask to speak to someone there.  I have never recommended the Halifax because everyone I speak to about their current accounts always have a complaint although I know their mortgage handling is pretty good.

[becks26]

thanks for your advice, i went to the bank today, they have now cancelled all my direct debits, i spoke with the manager who said that he could not deal with it he made a phonecall and whoever he spoke to said that they cannot accept any other offer. i explained to them that all the money that goes in there is not what i earn, my housing benefit is paid in there to pay my rent, they said that the only money they cannot hold from somebody is disabiliy allowance or carers allowance.

My depression has really kicked in today, i just dont know what to do now, i have no money and no food and all the bills were due to be paid on the 1st June and the bank has cancelled all my payments.

[Oneeyedvic]

They are being immoral if not breaking the law (which they may well be doing). You need to get down tot he CAB on tuesday morning with all your details and notes of any conversations you have had.

You also need to open up a basic account with any other bank that will take you asap and ask your employer etc to pay your money into that account instead.

Taking your kids and sitting outside the bank talking to customers (after tipping off the local newspaper) is another way of rectifying the situation.

You could also try talking to your local MP - this information should be available in your local Thomson Directory. He is there to help you.

 

I know it is frustrating being a bank holiday and all, but try to keep positive.

[Jules001]

Hi Becks, firstly well done on getting yourself back on your feet and finding another job.
Unfortunately I know that in the small print clauses of the Nationwide and I believe it may be the same for all Banks and Building Societies that if you have a debt with them then they can transfer any monies held in any /all other accounts held with them to pay that debt. Unfortunately, people and this is me included tend to skim over these clauses thinking they will never need to apply these, but as this case proves, even though you have done nothing wrong and have done everything you can to make alternative arrangements with them, they seem to be sticking by their rules. I have dealt with the Nationwide for many years and have always found them to be really helpful and very flexible, it maybe worthwhile going back to speak to the Manager again after trying the CAB first and see what comes out of that. Good luck !

[scorpio61]

Oneeyedvic has a more than a valid point. THE BANK CANNOT WITHHOLD FUNDS ISSUED BY A GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOUSING, FEEDING OR CLOTHING YOUR FAMILY> If I was you I would treat them in the same manner, call it pay back time, go for the throat, tell your local MP and then the papers. Do whatever it takes, and make some money out of it along the way!!!! You worked hard to get back on your feet so you must have guts, so use them. It's about time people stopped being afraid of these banks, they have no more authority or power than a garage maechanic, and if he knackered your car up you'd certainly take that further wouldn't you. (No disrespect to garage mechanics, just a comparisson!!!)

Good luck, and I would imagine you have the ongoing support of everyone here (unless one of them is your bank manager that is!!)

[WendyS]

Becks - I just came across your post which I know was months ago now, but I feel so angry about the way some of the banks behave, especially to people who are trying to deal with them in an open and straighforward manner. I wonder if you could post a new thread and let us know what happened. Am sure other individuals in similar circumstances would be interested to know whether you managed to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Hope the new job is still going OK and that you're managing to get on your feet again.