I'm in exactly the same position. My old student overdraft is hovering round about the £3000 mark and having Barclays demand it off me in retaliation I couldn't cope with financially.

Haha, yeah, that's the sensible way of course! Best to get the ball rolling I guess, everything else I can make my mind up about later. Thanks, I'll do that now... Should I bother sending via recorded delivery for this one?

Damn. That basic account they'd give me doesn't have a debit card. I travel a lot so kind of need one. Ah well. I need to hear from people who've reclaimed charges with Barclays while having an overdraft with them, that's the only thing that's worrying me! I don't mind having my account closed, but I'd mind a demand for payment of the £3000 I owe them!

Hello there Wow, thanks for the fast response! Congratulations on getting such a big sum back off them, that's great. I don't actually have a student account anymore, they were very quick to change it to the standard account when I finished so they could charge me the much heftier interest on it. Sigh. Although, something interesting I just found out... I'm working with the CCCS to address the rest of my debts and I didn't include my current account as I was worried about opening another one (yes, very silly of me I know!). The CCCS have just informed me that they have an agreement with Barclays, where Barclays will open me another account (basic, obviously) so that the CCCS can take care of the overdraft in the current I, um, currently have. Completely unrelated to what we're all talking about here but that's quite nice news! Mind you, that kind of brings me back to my original concern. Would Barclays threaten to close my new basic account with them when I kick up the fuss about the charges on the current account I'm about to pass over to the CCCS? I wonder. I haven't done my calculations yet but I know that the charges aren't going to be as much as what you claimed back off them so maybe not. Hmm. But then I guess maybe they'd want to apply my claim to the debt with the CCCS, whereas if I leave things the way they are I'll actually get the refund in my hands. Okay, I'm rambling now! Yes, I should absolutely go for it! Wish I could make my mind up just how to approach it all though!

... but I'm not sure I can! Some advice would be much appreciated. Been reading through the forum and you all seem to know what you're doing. Okay, so I have a pretty hefty overdraft of £3000 with Barclays from my student days. Can I still claim for all the charges? I'm terrified of having my account closed and having them demand all the money I owe them - which I believe they're in their rights to do any point they choose anyway. Provoking them I don't want to do! Has anybody else made a successful claim in similar circumstances and had their accounts left open? I'd like to keep the account as my credit rating is pretty poor so I'll only be able to open a basic account which won't be able to cater to my needs. Anyway, advice appreciated! I really want to have a go as I've been frustrated on many an occasion. Not earning an awful lot, it's taking me a long time to pay it back and they certainly don't help... Thanks!