Hi there,
I'll keep it short & sweet
Opened BOS Student A/C in 2004 and also had a Cardcash A/C & Halifax credit card with them. I received a cheque from somebody for £3.49 which I handed to the teller in my branch and she entered it into the computer in my Student A/C & I went about my business.
A few days later I had some extra cash in the account & thought I'd pay a council tax bill and get some shopping etc.
Turns out the teller entered £349.00 as the cheque amount by mistake & that they wanted the cash back! Needless to say, I'd spent the money thinking it was mine! DOH! A few weeks later I received my housing benefit as I suffer from dodgy kidneys and WHOOSH!!!... almost all my rent money gone. They took the cash out of the Student A /C (without my consent, knowlege etc) to compensate for the now unauthorised OD on the account as they took the money out. I've since been told by BOS that's called 'Off-Setting'. To me, that's called 'no rent = homeless'.
I've had the usual threatening letters & have now decided to fight back like yourselves. I have since found out that they can't take this money, but this info has only come from a friend of mine (who works at a rival bank). I've read on the forum about the 'Equitable Estoppel' principle. Surely this could also apply to me with regards to the cheque. I changed my position as a result of an error by the bank so they must stand the loss? As well as trying to receive a refund on the charges interest etc I also would like to try to clain this money back.
So I called the BOS telebanking last night to be put on to a manager as soon as I montioned the words Data Protection Act. I'm waiting on a response to my complaint of almost making me homeless & stealing my rent money, which I've been told will be within 48hrs & the statements of all my accounts & a Halifax credit card due to be landing in my hallway within 40 days. No charge for the Statements was menotioned so they won't get it unless they ask nicely :P
I'll keep you posted, and I have to say a HUGGGEEEEE thank-you to everyone who uses this fantastic website & all the people involved who provide and maintain this site, so giving us a wee bit more citizen knowlege!
As soon as the student loan comes in, I'll bung some £££ your way... Actually, that's providing it isn't eaten up by all the charges
.....
Sazz
Here we go again, Plus theft! 
