LuckyLeo V Woolwich/Barclays

[LuckyLeo]

The story so far:

23/11/05 - Sent LBA
24/11/05 - Letter promising to investigate by 22/12/06 from Woolwich
29/11/06 - Letter advising that mater had been passed to Barclays 'cos of the complex nature of the complaint!
30/11/06 - Letter from Barclays - investigation underway
22/11/06 - Barclays offer £785 goodwill gesture (original claim £1,561)

As I don't have a "parachute" bank account I decide to accept the offer

27/12/06 - Sent letter of acceptance.

The offer was made on the basis that I signed a disclaimer saying that the matter was closed and Barclays would deposit the goodwill payment into my account within 7 working days.

09/01/06 - 7 working days have elapsed, but no money received.

09/01/06 - Call Barclays to ask when money will be credited - told that they are waiting for my disclaimer letter to be returned. Explained that it was sent recorded delivery and that Barclays had signed for it at 9:35 on 28/12/06.

Gets better - was told that as it was sent recorded delivery it would have been delivered to a different address! Told them that it was sent using the pre-paid envelope that they had sent!

Asked for matter to be investigated and Barclays to call me before close of business - was told that it would be 24 hours before they could get back to me. No call back received.

10/01/06 Called Barclays to ask what was going on. Was told that the "7 days" for payment to my account is based on when it reaches their office - not from when it reaches their postroom!

Call handler took recorded delivery ref and checked - postroom cannot locate - they will search and get back to me.

So that's where I'm at right now - looks like they are stretching 7 days to 14+ days and in this time they are still charging me for being overdrawn!!!

I'm open to advice on this one, but my plan is to grit my teeth and wait for the goodwill payment to be paid into my account. Then I will print a statement from the internet, showing the date the money reached my account, and write to Barclays and advise them that as they are in breach of their agreement to credit the money to my a/c in 7 days my signed disclaimer is null and void and I consider the complaint to remain open.

Next, I will pursue recovery of charges applied whilst waiting for the matter to be resolved.

Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

[e28bigalbexley]

Hi Leo
Why have you settled for half your claim?
Its your money!!
Why did you not accept part payment on what they offered and then go through the courts for the rest.
You may think you have them over a barrel but banks are a very large institutions and have a lot more legal firepower than the man in the street.
I hope you do get all your money but i feel there is a much easier way of going about rather than play with timescales.

AL

[lloopylou]

Hi LuckyLeo, I think I would be tempted to write and cancel the acceptance letter altogether and go for the full amount. Go get a parachute account its worth it. Don't give the bank over 700 quid!

regards

Loopy

[LuckyLeo]

Thanks for your replies.

I am self-employed and because of several customers not paying over the last year, my credit record is less than perfect. So I think I would have problems in opening a new account at present - that's why I wanted to compromise and not risk Woolwich closing my account.

If you know of any banks that are sympathetic with people that have poor credit records that I could use for my parachute account I would be really grateful.

I like the idea of cancelling the acceptance letter though.

Thanks for all your help.

[e28bigalbexley]

Originally Posted by LuckyLeo

Thanks for your replies.

I am self-employed and because of several customers not paying over the last year, my credit record is less than perfect. So I think I would have problems in opening a new account at present - that's why I wanted to compromise and not risk Woolwich closing my account.

If you know of any banks that are sympathetic with people that have poor credit records that I could use for my parachute account I would be really grateful.

I like the idea of cancelling the acceptance letter though.

Thanks for all your help.

Here this might help remember you dont have to close down your account you only need your parachute account if they are charging you a fortune in penalties or they tell you they are going to shut it down.

Do you need a parachute account?

HTH

AL

[wewonitfivetimes]

Originally Posted by LuckyLeo

If you know of any banks that are sympathetic with people that have poor credit records that I could use for my parachute account I would be really grateful.

Thanks for all your help.

Opened a NatWest Step A/C as a personal parachute account - no problem.
Also had a NatWest Business A/C - Direct Business Banking,with on line facility and cheque book (no credit) - opened no problem despite previous bankruptcy a few years ago

Good Luck !!

[lloopylou]

I, too, opened an account with Nat West. The Woolwich would never give me an overdraft facility because they said I had bad credit, but when I went to Nat West they gave me one straight away......I couldn't believe it. But if you just want a basic account to pay wages into I think most banks will let you open one.

Loopy