There have been several reported cases of Banks taking charges from accounts that have benefits paid into them by DWP and Social security.thus leaving them with little or no money.

Here is a template letter to take or send to the bank to address this.

It is important to let the bank have this BEFORE you expect to have funds paid in by DWP or the Inland revenue.

A new letter should be sent for each payment that you expect to be protected,customise as required by adding the benefit/type of payment.

RIGHT OF APPROPRIATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxxx

I am writing to inform you that I am due to have a Tax Credit payment of £xxx paid into my account on xx/xx/xx, and I wish to use my first right of appropriation for this money, for the following purposes;

Rent £xx

Utilities bills £xx

Housekeeping money £xx

I will withdraw the money on the day that it is deposited for the above use, and I would be grateful if you would ensure that any other payments out of my account do not interfere with this withdrawal.

Yours faithfully,

[signature]

[print name)

Excellent Post Martin

And just some info for perusal

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nm/c_banks_and_building_societies.pdf#search=%22RIGHT%20OF%20APPROPRIATION%20bank%22

Likewise a good reference from you.

Does this also apply to my Pension? paid by the Aussie Govt via DWP?

I would expect this to apply to that too yes.

Its not specifically for benefits.....the nature of the letter is to let the bank know that you need the money for essentials......this would be regardless of where the money is from.

Martin

Would you read it that it can be any source of income not only benefits ??

Whoops, crossed in the post

Hi. This is BRILLIANT ....BUT....will it work??....and similar to myself with our Bank.. they have taken nearly all our Benefits that are payed into this account directly as charges.....can I claim this back with a little amendment to your letter......They have left us with nothing and not even paying d/d with the monies ther for them but instead has taken it for their charges. I have written to the DIRECTOR of the Bank and have relayed my concerns over the telephone but nothing has happened..YET.. and I am going back some weeks now..havew sent a Thread about this,previously. Thanks for any info

you are champion. had a problem this week with 2 * £30 being deducted because 2 debit card trans for £4.59 and £3.49 debited on diffrent dates and went overdrawn and over the buffer of £5.00.

Hi. This is BRILLIANT ....BUT....will it work??....and similar to myself with our Bank.. they have taken nearly all our Benefits that are payed into this account directly as charges.....can I claim this back with a little amendment to your letter......They have left us with nothing and not even paying d/d with the monies ther for them but instead has taken it for their charges. I have written to the DIRECTOR of the Bank and have relayed my concerns over the telephone but nothing has happened..YET.. and I am going back some weeks now..havew sent a Thread about this,previously. Thanks for any info

The only words they understand is those with a legal slant to them

There is no reason why it should not work and has indeed worked for many.

The fact that you have brought this to their attention and informed them as such has an effect.Though I suspect there will be an assesment made as to whether allowing you to have access to your money is preventing hardship

if by taking your money this leaves you vulnerable to your ability to function or causes hardship in your household I think there is a case to allow it.

I belive that when the banks take bennifits. that the dwp can take back off the back.

as when i had problems and asked the dwp to not make any payments too the bank

I was aske if they had grabed any and if i wanted them to swipe it back.

edited......please we cant use these words !!!

and what ones are they ?

Is this true? I am sick of the bank taking money meant for our daughter and child tax credits - we don't see them at all.

It appears so.

To be honest I was not aware of this until now but my enquires reveal that DWP can indeed have some influence there.

My pension got paid into the bank account we are having problems with, i sent the Letter of Appropriation to the bank,recorded delivery (letter in templates library)they rang me on receipt of the letter to discuss this. Got the pension intact, the bank did not like it, but it worked. I rang DWP and explained what was going on and arranged for my pension to go into my parachute account. DWP said they could help if I wanted the pension still to be paid into the account in dispute, but think having it paid into a different account is better for me.

Good to hear you have got things sorted....

A superb post Martin.

DWP can influence a little if you speak to them.

Also, for benefits, set up a post office account immediately so this source of income is protected if your money is constantly being taken.

This account can be opened upon request in any benefits office/jobcentre.

Post office account good idea. i wrote to barclays it is now 9 days and have had no reply to this letter.

HusbandKhan,

why not make an appointment with the bank to go discuss?

I'm sure they would love that...

Not really a good idea as its likely that there will be 2 of them in the room with you......they tend to do this as intimidation and know that you wont feel comfortable.

Best keeping things to the written letter,that way you avoid the confrontation but still get the result.

Dont forget a letter of appropriation needs to be sent for every payment you want protecting.

This happened to me earlier this year. I had gone overdrawn with my bank and they took my JSA to cover that and charges. The way they are acting is a dsigrace, this site has really opened my eyes to the abuses these banks are making.

Hmmm, does this mean that the two charges the bank intend taking from my account in December and January can be av oided. Most awkward months when the charges are for money I lodged in the wrong account for £2 DDs to charities.

If I'd had £35 x 2 to spare. I'd have given it to the charities, wouldn't I?

I know £2 per month is mean but I give so to a number of charities and it really is all I can donate: a wee bit more than I think I can afford 'cause I reckon we always think we need more than we actually do.

Can I phone DSS or wahtever they're called these days and get them to intervene?

It will be coming off DLA and IS payments.

Suggest you send the letter with the regulations inserted teeling they can't touch your money & demanding they refund any they have already taken in such circumstances

Years ago i overdrew on my hsbc accounts. It really got their nerves and i had a meeting with their area manager. What i did not know is that the bank manager and his assistants would turn up. anyway when leaving i told the assistant"hes got a weed on"(area manager) and they closed the door on me and would not let me out of the office until i expalined what a weed on meant As they though it was an insult.

That is the criminal offence of kidnap. You could have reported them to the police & then sued the butt off them.

Suggest you send the letter with the regulations inserted teeling they can't touch your money & demanding they refund any they have already taken in such circumstances

Hi am with the halifax just about to send letter right of appropriation and added social security act clause 187 to it, just wonderin if i can claim all previous bank charges against my account that have been taken from my workin family tax and child benefit what would you say in the letter to try and get them back?