Complain to FSA about misleading conduct from a High street bank

[notnowbernard]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I've just registered a complaint to the FSA as well but as a Barclays customer I've also received a letter explaining the new reserve charges and it states that I will automatically be subject to the new reserve charges unless I opt-out. This is contrary to what the thisismoney.co.uk article says. The article refers to customers having to 'consciously sign up to the reserve'. I don't know if the opt-out is a new tactic of Barclays to get more customers signed up unwittingly to the new charging system. From first impressions the charging system is complicated but seems to be preferable to the higher unauthorised overdraft fees so I don't think many customers would be motivated to actively opt-out. Also, they say that if you do opt-out and try and opt-in later, you might not be eligible.

Anyway, does anyone know if this is significant? and should I opt-out?


Thanks

[RubyRose]

Done. Isn't LTSB also guilty of a similar scam.

Ruby

[JonCris]

Originally Posted by notnowbernard

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I've just registered a complaint to the FSA as well but as a Barclays customer I've also received a letter explaining the new reserve charges and it states that I will automatically be subject to the new reserve charges unless I opt-out. This is contrary to what the thisismoney.co.uk article says. The article refers to customers having to 'consciously sign up to the reserve'. I don't know if the opt-out is a new tactic of Barclays to get more customers signed up unwittingly to the new charging system. From first impressions the charging system is complicated but seems to be preferable to the higher unauthorised overdraft fees so I don't think many customers would be motivated to actively opt-out. Also, they say that if you do opt-out and try and opt-in later, you might not be eligible.

Anyway, does anyone know if this is significant? and should I opt-out?


Thanks

Hi can you give a link to the article which claims you have to opt in then scan & post a copy of your letter which says the opposite, not forgetting to remove all personal details of course

I would like to send copies of it plus the money link to someone who interested in the banks shenanigans

[zootscoot]

Originally Posted by notnowbernard

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I've just registered a complaint to the FSA as well but as a Barclays customer I've also received a letter explaining the new reserve charges and it states that I will automatically be subject to the new reserve charges unless I opt-out. This is contrary to what the thisismoney.co.uk article says. The article refers to customers having to 'consciously sign up to the reserve'. I don't know if the opt-out is a new tactic of Barclays to get more customers signed up unwittingly to the new charging system. From first impressions the charging system is complicated but seems to be preferable to the higher unauthorised overdraft fees so I don't think many customers would be motivated to actively opt-out. Also, they say that if you do opt-out and try and opt-in later, you might not be eligible.

Anyway, does anyone know if this is significant? and should I opt-out?


Thanks

The article was wrong on this point. Barclays always stated that it was an opt out service which forms part of the complaint.

As to whether you should opt out it is upto you. The benefits you get from using the reserve is that any payment instructions will be guaranteed to be paid which could avoid embarrassment or inconvenience of having to rearrange payments. However, the cost for this is £22 for every 5 days that you use the reserve (regardless of whether you use it for the full five days). If you use the reserve each week this would amount to £88 per month which compares with other banks charges for unauthorised borrowing of fees between £15 -28 (although no guarantee that payment insrtuctions will be met). If you do opt out you still only get charged the £8 for transaction fees where payments are returned unpaid. So it would be a much cheaper option to opt out.

[pompeyfaith]

Done and what a pleasure that was too

[GuidoT]

Bump

[Bigmac versus]

And bump again.

[GuidoT]

Did anyone get a proper response (not an acknowledgement)?

[saintly_1]

I didnt get anything apart from the acknowledgement

[thecteam]

still not heard nothing either.

[BaldyBaldwin]

tagging along

[legalpickle]

Complain to the Advertising Standards Authority also about misleading adverts. They have the right to ban an advert and penalize any company responsible for misleading advertising. Visit How To Complain

[alfalan]

Done.
Ref: notnowbernard,
Also had the letter and opted out. The letter sent in reply, acknowledging the opt out, sounded like they had thrown their dummy out of the pram because I didn't want to join in their "improvement" to my account. Crooks in suits!

[JonCris]

alfalan please post the letter

[banker_rhymes_with]

My in-Laws also opted out, and said they were shocked to get a really snotty letter in response.

Time I also opted out I think!

Cheers,
BRW

[JonCris]

Yeah they don't like citizens (you & me) exercising their civil rights

[Le5678]

Done

I was never told about this and just because i didn't reply to a letter they said they sent that i never got they have assumed i have agreed to the 'Buffer' and have whacked on charges over the hundreds now they finally told me about it! It's not right or fair to me or other people in the same position, And they have refused to return the charges.