Charging for debit card payments due to 'uncleared' funds? When did this happen?

[thekat1979]

Hi,

 

I got 2 letters from Barclays this morning telling me that payments I made using my debit card were unable to be paid adequately due to insufficient funds andthat because they were guaranteed payments, they would charge me £8.00 to guarantee them.

 

I've never received letters like this before, and was just wondering if someone could shed some light?

 

In the past, if I've used my debit card, it has only allowed me to use the card IF I have enough money in my account. If not, then it rejects the payment. Once I had made the payment it was put - pretty much straight away - onto my 'uncleared' balance on my account - which is the one that Barclays have ALWAYS used to determine if I can get any more transactions out. When did this change? What is going on?

[thekat1979]

Does anyone know what this is about as I'm now getting letters through almost daily telling me that I have been charged £8.00 per transaction that they have had to 'guarantee'. In the past, with my debit card, if I haven't had the money in it, then they simply haven't allowed the transaction to go through. Now I'm finding myself £70 over my personal reserve amount and with the charges they are putting on, I have no hope whatsoever of getting out of this! I'm not using my account any differently than I used to. Yet this has only been an issue in the past 2-3 weeks. Eeep! They are eating up all of my money and they are taking their charges regardless of whether there is money in the account or not and charging me AGAIN for not having the funds in there! OMG!

[enamae]

On August 18th Barclays brought in the Personal Reserve.

 

As I understand it,

If you go into your personal reserve you incur a fee of £22

If you have not cleared the reserve within 5 days, you incur another £22 fee.

If you exceed your personal reserve limit, you are charged a fee of £5 per transaction whether guaranteed or returned.

These fees will continue until you deposit enough to clear the reserve.

 

More details on Barclays webpage.

 

Fees, charges and limits explained - Personal Reserve - Current account - Barclays

[thekat1979]

They are charging me £8.00 per transaction, when in the past I couldn't make a transaction on my card UNLESS the money was in there. These are just bog-standard run-of-the-mill debit card payments with a Visa Delta. When I made the transactions, there was nough money in there, the only thing I can think of is that when they religiously take their £22 from my account EVERY Monday that this puts me over, or near, my personal reserve limit. But how am I supposed to know if the transaction is going to be charged a 'guarantee' amount of £8.00 if they OK it at the time when there WAS enough money in there then take all kinds of fees AFTER the transaction. Their large print letters take on average 3-4 extra days to get to me, so it takes a while to know what charges are being added - I'm registered blind so need the large print versions. Garrr!!!???

[thekat1979]

Just been looking through my online bank account and with the exception of 2 items, all the ones theat they alledge tehy had to 'guarantee' had more than sufficient funds to carry them out. Its not like i was THAT close to the reserve limit either - a good 60 away from it. I may have to make a complaint I think.

[slick132]

Hi TK,

 

You could go into your branch and ask for an explanation.

 

If no joy there, take it up with Cust'r Svs.

[thekat1979]

I've just put a letter together - the branch near where I currently live is only a diddy little thing that only has like 2 people in it and none of them are personal bankers. I always get told to go to a bigger branch lol. I've put together a letter that I'm sending off today though. Hopefully that should get me some answers.