Thread: RBS & JSA benefits

Hi there,

Have been going through the forums for a few weeks now & finding them extremely helpful. I've been unemployed since 12 Feb 09 & claiming JSA since then and didn't realise that there was a social security act in place to protect your benefits.

So, on this basis I hand delivered a letter to my bank (RBS) on 29 April asking for a refund of all charges added to my account since 12 Feb - £153 in total.

I received the usual fob off letter last week, but today I received a letter from them (dated 7 May) saying they are offering me a one off final payment of £28 & £30. I had to laugh at the bit that followed which says "Please note that once money is paid into your bank account it ceased to be Benefits and is simply a credit in the account as per any other..." They've given me till the 27 June to get back to them lol.

So, I was in checking my bank account for something else and they've only gone and refunded this £58 to my account, without me even accepting their offer, which I have no intention of accepting either. I want the full amount back. Incidentally, the refund was credited to my account on the 7th and 8th May.

Can someone point me in the right direction to the social security act quote please, as I only briefly mentioned it in my letter to them. I'm sure i've seen it here somewhere but can't find it now..

Originally Posted by carolmac34

Hi there,

Have been going through the forums for a few weeks now & finding them extremely helpful. I've been unemployed since 12 Feb 09 & claiming JSA since then and didn't realise that there was a social security act in place to protect your benefits.

So, on this basis I hand delivered a letter to my bank (RBS) on 29 April asking for a refund of all charges added to my account since 12 Feb - £153 in total.

I received the usual fob off letter last week, but today I received a letter from them (dated 7 May) saying they are offering me a one off final payment of £28 & £30. I had to laugh at the bit that followed which says "Please note that once money is paid into your bank account it ceased to be Benefits and is simply a credit in the account as per any other..." They've given me till the 27 June to get back to them lol.

So, I was in checking my bank account for something else and they've only gone and refunded this £58 to my account, without me even accepting their offer, which I have no intention of accepting either. I want the full amount back. Incidentally, the refund was credited to my account on the 7th and 8th May.

Can someone point me in the right direction to the social security act quote please, as I only briefly mentioned it in my letter to them. I'm sure i've seen it here somewhere but can't find it now..

The bank are 100% correct in stating that once benefits hits the account they effectively become credits to the account or income. I think you are quoting SSAA s.187 which is about an assignment of debt and benefits. Bank charges are not assignments as defined in the Act.
Where was the letter sent from?

Hi yourbank, I handed the letter into my local branch. The first letter i got last week came from their head office in edinburgh & the one I received today came from my local branch.

Originally Posted by carolmac34

Hi yourbank, I handed the letter into my local branch. The first letter i got last week came from their head office in edinburgh & the one I received today came from my local branch.

Local branch have refunded the £58 as a gesture of goodwill(I did suspect that as it had been credited to your account already). The rest you need to deal with edinburgh with regards to the remaining amounts oustanding.

Thanks yourbank, letter going off to Edinburgh today, will update whenever I hear anything