FRAUD and FUMING!!! Anyone??

[jansus]

Hi

 

I have heard of another case with Barclays where money was taken out abroad and they are seriously dragging their heels sorting it out - where as the case i mentioned in my previous post with lloyds has been remedied very quickly. Considering the time this has taken and the amount of money involved I too agree you need to start getting "heavy" with them !

 

Jan

[petethemanc]

Hi, well in my savings account you could see the money had left from my savings account to my current account within a day to cover the monies missing from the current account. There was a card sent (for my savings account) which i never received, i always thought that if your money was in a high interest savings account then you did not need a card as it was there to stay. So where this card went i have no idea, im just wondering where i go from here?

[slick132]

Hi Pete,

 

Thanks for that info but you don't say exactly how the cash left the current a/c when it was taken.

 

I don't see that the (missing) Savings a/c card has much relevance to this. But I'd like to know WHO (and HOW they) transferred the money from Savings to current a/c.

 

Please answer the other 3 questions I raised above.

 

Then we can advise on your next move.

[petethemanc]

Hi, sorry for not answering the questions raised. Well tbh im not quite sure how the money was taken and neither are the bank. It seems some has gone out abroad, Israel/Netherlands/USA etc, and i have not been there.Some via the internet the bank seem to think. They have also said that the high interest account card can ONLY be used at my local Barclays branch because of the type of account it is. Fraud have not even looked at this yet because they have not received the disclaimer forms, which i have sent from within the branch SEVERAL times. If i took this to the financial ombudsman, would they rule in my favour just by the sheer incompetence of Barclays?

[slick132]

Thanks Pete,

 

Whilst the FOS would be an option, you first have to exhaust the normal complaints procedures. Also the FOS is very busy at the moment d/w numerous bank charges complaints.

 

1. Have you yet rec'd state's for the Ord'y and Savings a/c's - I note you said earlier that these had not been rec'd by you. Getting these must be a priority.

 

Only when you have the state's can you identify fraudulent movements and withdrawals/transfers/payments.

 

2. Did you keep copies of the doc'ts you sent back to the Fraud Dep't.

 

3. Have you a contact address for Fraud Dep't. If not, write to

 

Fraud Investigation Dep't

Barclays Bank PLC

Leicester

LE87 2BB

 

Tell them you are anxious this is dragging on at a time when you need an urgent response. Tell them to reply by return or within 7 days max or you'll make formal complaints about the lack of response by them and your branch.

 

Keep copies of your letters and any other doc'ts.

 

Please reply to the 3 questions I've raised.

[jansus]

I personally think because of the amount of money involved and the amount of time this is taking I would be trying every angle if I was you. By this time the investigation should be well under way - not just starting. If this is fraud the culprits will be well away by now and the trail cold. I understand they have to take time to check things thoroughly but they did not secure your funds when you pointed out the error, they obviously have allowed unauthorised withdrawals and have not acted in a professional way to assist you. This must be causing you extreme stress.

 

A phone call for advice from the FOS woud not cost you anything and also a complaint in writing to your branch manager stating the events and their incompetence and your disappointment in their reaction would do no harm. If no joy then what about a letter to money mail to help you out.

 

As I say I am aware of another similar case and the customer is like you bashing their head against a brick wall now trying to prove they have not made the withdrawals.

 

Keep meticulous records of every letter and call and start demanding answers.

 

As the banks as I understand it our now self regulating in this area i feel this is the start of an area of fraud that they will be able to sweep under the carpet.

 

on the flip side a few years ago i was involved in a case where money had been taken from a cash machine from a BS account and the woman was very distressed and swearing in statements she had not taken the money and had never been where the money was taken and was making herself ill with worry. Unfortunately some weeks later it was discovered that it was in fact a family member stealing the money and she had no idea- so we have to understand the proceedure that must take place - however in your case that should have started WEEKS ago.

 

start getting angry!

 

need any help with a letter give me the nod:)

 

Best of luck

 

jan

[jansus]

Hi slick

 

our keyboards were hot at the same time- but you were faster than me -!

 

jan

[StormWarrior]

Try reporting it to the police, and see how fast they react then!

[petethemanc]

Sorry i have not replied as yet, im working in guernsey for six weeks. And it is very hard to find anything out over the phone, especially when they are not linked directly to u.k accounts. I have again sent a recorded delivery letter with yet ANOTHER copy of the relevant paperwork. I did however speak to a helpful woman at customer relations who was very annoyed once told of my predicament, and she was running in to brick walls trying to get to the bottom of this. I will keep you posted.

[petethemanc]

Ok so here is an update. Eventually my case has been looked in to. I received a call from someone in the specialist investigation part of Barclays fraud, she informed me that they will have to send me an affidavit and i am to sign it with a witness. I was also told they that as some of the transactions are from an ATM whilst i was in possession of the card then it will take a while to look through all the transactions to get to the bottom of it. She also said that they can tell whether a card has been cloned (dont ask me how) overall i got the impression that they do not believe that i am telling the truth, i am fuming, i have been absolutely messed around by Barclays and i think they are trying to pass the blame. I even said what about the amount of times ive sent the proper paperwork in (with a witness and took names times of the paperwork faxed within their branch) and they still lost the paperwork. I am not at all happy at the way i have been treated and this is nearly a year later. What else can i do?

[slick132]

Hi Pete and thanks for the update.

 

I said in post no.3 at the start of your thread to speak to the press. Nationals like the Sun or the Daily Mail.

 

BBC's tv progs Watchdog or Don't Get Done, Get Dom.

 

Just type up a brief summary of where the money came from, how much went missing and how it went.

 

A list of the phone calls and letters to the bank and a note of the banks response or lack of it.

 

You only need to get one taker and the bank will be embarrassed into action.

[petethemanc]

When watchdog were doing a program about the banks and fraud a few weeks ago, i did write in through their web page, but did not hear anything back. I appreciate the sheer volume of emails they have to go through, would it be worth getting in touch again, and maybe local newspapers? im not sure if national newspapers would be interested.

[slick132]

Pete,

 

This is why I say do a brief summary to catch someones eye - initially, just use the basics, without the finer detail about amounts and dates, etc.

 

Head the summary with an eye-grabbing headline -

 

Injured Soldier's Compensation Stolen in Bank Fraud

After being injured in Afgan'n, I was medically discharged from the army. Compensation of £12K went into my Barclays savings a/c and was systematically syphoned off over a period of xx weeks.

After months, the bank is still treating me with suspicion and dragging it's heals.

I need help to sort this out, please.

Print off, including your contact details, and send to National Papers, Royal British Legion, Watchdog, Don't Get Done - Get Dom.

 

Send by post as these guys get hundreds of emails to sift through and many must get overlooked or ignored.

[slick132]

Have a look here for conatct dets for DGD,GDom.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/show-post/post-484234.html

 

Email a copy of your eye-grabbing summary.

[petethemanc]

UPDATE

 

Ok i had to submit a SAR to get all the information that Barclays have on me, now, what would be my next course of action? do i inform the bank that i am going to be contacting the media regarding this, or just go ahead and do it? or would the banking ombudsman be an option? sorry for the lateness in the update but i have been working abroad.

[Lula]

Pete, I think that the bit about being able to tell when cards are cloned is a load of ball hooks, if they could tell, then they would be able to programme the cash machines and POS machines not to accept!, they are trying to wriggle out of it IMHO

[JonCris]

Having read the OP's original post I strongly suspect that, not for the 1st time, this is an 'inside' job which is why 1st they haven't reported it to the police & also why they are now suggesting that the victim is guilty of fraud - remember offence is the best form of defence.

 

Why do I think it's an inside job? - because even though the account was repeatedly closed it mysteriously reopened time & time again allowing funds to be withdrawn

 

Also I'm particularly disgusted that an injured serviceman or woman should be treat in this shoddy & appalling fashion.

 

IMHO this is NOT a matter for the FSA & as it appears the police will not investigate I suggest it's a matter for the courts now!

 

The OP should either seek the services of a solicitor who may agree to handle it for nothing or if the OP wants to act themselves we could help him prepare the necessary POC for court.

[JonCris]

Could the OP say in which area of the country they live?

[petethemanc]

I live in Huddersfield, the old account was never closed in the first place (just like to clear that up) when i transferred money to that account for it to be closed (on the advice of the branch staff) they told me it was closed there and then. But now they are saying it could not be closed because there was money waiting to come n to that account. Very strange considering that every other bill/dd/pay managed to find its way to the new account but this supposed rogue payment couldn't. I have noticed on the sar that when complaints have been made by myself, and i HAVE sent the relevant info thy needed (recorded) it has been marked down as resolved and not the banks fault, even though they have lost the info that i sent.

[JonCris]

Really I am - & I'm not surprised

 

As you have already sent a S.A.R - (Subject Access Request) I suggest you write to their complaints department setting out in writing the circumstances of your case whilst also making reference to the evidence they have supplied such as their claim the matter is closed when they have previously claimed they have 'lost' your docs & subsequently asked you to resupply

 

I should ask how they came to their conclusions without the evidence to back it up

[slick132]

Hi Pete,

 

When did you send the SAR which I assume they've not replied to yet.

 

I would have gone to the media a long way back and think this may still be your best shot. Try contacting DON'T GET DONE, GET DOM using the link I gave on the last page.

 

Or any other programme (Watchdog) or newspaper that seems interested.

 

The bank's had more than enough time to sort this but your absences mean you lose momentum. You really need to be on their case to get the bank to take you seriously.

 

I'm inclined to agree with JonCris - if you can't get sense or joy from the bank, the issue of court proceedings might be a way forward. However, that will include court dates which you'll have to attend.

 

We've been saying "go to the media" for ages. Use every angle you can, re army injury, British Legion, Sun newspaper and try to maintain the pressure on bank, although I realise it's hard if you're away a lot.

[JonCris]

The Guardian & the BBC's 'Inside Out' appear to be particularly interested in the conduct of the banks at the moment.

 

Also dare I say it without appearing callous but as you have served & been injured in Afghanistan any story about you will be eagerly wanted by them

 

Because it shows them up to be the appalling bums they are

[slick132]

Also, Martin Lewis has prog on Channel 5 mid-week but can't rember it's name.

 

He's doing bank/financial/consumer issues around 7 or 8pm. Even if they can't feature your case, their interest may help bank sort it out for you.

[sharkie]

The program is called it pays to watch, Wednesday's 7:30

 

 

It Pays To Watch: Wednesdays @ 7:30 on five

 

Its a bit hard and fast but worth watching.

 

Sharkie

 

Sharkie - V - Woolwich = Won

Sharkie - V - Sainsbury's Visa = Won

Sharkie - V - HSBC = Won

Sharkie - V - Halifax = Won

Sharkie - V - MBNA = Won

 

 

If this has been of any help, and or support click on the scales.

[slick132]

Thanks for that Sharkie - it's a bit frantic for me but might put the wind up Barclays if researchers contacted them.

 

I think Pete's case may be better suited to Watchdog or Inside Out.