RBS

[tedblue]

In real trouble now as the bank are still stating that my account will still be terminated, but I also cannot get an account with anyone else as my statements, both personal and business, are in such disarray.

[andrew1]

Ted, this might not be the best of times to say this but as I'm on your thread it appears to me you could use this. I run a small business and some years ago joined the Federation of Small Business (FSB) It costs £75 a year (+-) and worth every penny. Membership gives you 24/7 Legal Help line and support if Inland Rev & VAT decide to give you a hard time, and also 18 months free banking with the Co-op Bank. This might help you get back to some normality where there are no charges for transactions at all. You pay for Overdrafts etc in the normal way and they have charged penalty fees, but I'm negotiating to have them returned as we speak! They are not a bad bank and you might find with the help of the FSB you could get yourself back on a sound footing. ( I am not on any kind of commission for recruiting FSB members by the way and I am not advertising I just believe for the small businessman they are a very cheap and very usueful support line). Talk to the Co-op and the FSB http://www.fsb.co.uk

 

You will get all your fees back as advised above keep faith in it all and keep posting.Hope this helps and I wish you luck.

[tedblue]

Many thanks Andrew. Strangely enough I actually had a look at the FSB website yesterday and had a message from a very efficient sounding lady this morning on my answerphone. I will get straight onto it.

[seylectric]

I'm not sure that the FSB's legal service will take on an existing case, please check with them first.

 

Re. Bank accounts, this may not be what you're looking for but it may help. All the major UK banks mus now provide a basic bank account to those who can not otherwise get one. These do not have a debit card or cheque book or overdraft facility but do have an ATM card and internet banking services, which include direct debits, standing orders and bank transfers. There are no charges except for the usual (unlawful) overdraft charges if, say, a direct debit fails and you go overdrawn as a result of the charges imposed as has happened to me.

 

After a few months you might be able to supplement this with a Capital One credit card. They may decline but if I can get one anybody can. I only got a £200 credit limit and they asked for a £200 deposit but the limit was upped to £400 after six months on request. The interest rate is high at 29.9% but I pay mine off in full each month and incur no charges. You may get a higher limit and lower rate and may not have to place a deposit.

 

In the meantime you might get by with a Cash Plus prepaid Mastercard. It's a bit like a debit card, you can only spend the funds you deposit and there is a £10 set up fee then either a £5 monthly charge or a £1 per transaction fee if you only intend to use it occasionally. You can top up your card at the Post office.

 

http://www.mycashplus.co.uk/

 

There are also online payment services such as Paypal or Nochex that can be considerd.

 

This combination has helped me to continue with banking facilities over the past couple of years. the only thing I am missing is a cheque book but they are becoming less and less relevant these days.

[Bean]

Do any mods have any advice for tedblue? - He's in trouble and I think there's more we can do to help him.

 

tedblue - I sincerely hope you get the right advice fast.

 

If the FSB can help, I am sure they will - in my experience, they are an excellent organisation.

 

Otherwise, I get the impression that things are so difficult for you that you are limiting your dialogue here. It's understandable, but you might want to try Private Messages or other methods to get the help you need. My apologies if you are already doing this.

 

You are not alone.

 

Best Wishes,

[Robertxc]

Tedblue, you need to set up a basic bank account imediately and make sure all your income goes into it, rather than RBS. You need to get your alternative banking set up before they terminate your account. Do a Google search for "Basic bank account comparison" which will bring up a number of website showing how different accounts work, and what the criteria are for opening them. You'll be in a much better position to deal with RBS once they no longer have the ability to take your money whenever they feel like it.

 

My wife and I manage quite happily with just two basic accounts - one for all the bills, and one for 'spending' money. No borrowing. No hassles. Banks can go f**k themselves.

[tedblue]

I have just spoken to IBAS (http://www.ibas.co.uk) with regards to my situation. Has anybody dealt with them before? I am slightly put off by the membership fee, but if it works the fee is only a fraction of what I could receive back.

[andrew1]

Is there any particular reason Ted why you need these people? Forgive me for being personal but I'm wondering how they differ from what this site has?

[tedblue]

No reason other than I was looking at the links on this site and followed the trail. It seems for businesses it is slightly untested water and I am trying to gather as much info as possible. This site is invaluable and has been a great help and source of information, but there is never any such thing as too much information.

[tedblue]

I am about to send the business letter before action, but I am wondering if I need to keep the 14 days notice or can it be amended to 7?

[tedblue]

LBA letter sent. Nothing to lose.

[Sugar-walsh]

Hi Ted, Just to say good luck. Like you said, you have nothing to lose, apart form that which you already have.

 

I'm just at the beginning of the process and can see that it can really become tough, but you seem to have hit the low and be coming out the other side.

 

Best of luck and smile whilst selling those clothes!

Sugar:p

[tedblue]

It's actually not too tough, but just a case of holding your nerve. They are a huge company and we are only the minions, but enough of us will stop this farce. To think what they owe me is probably a 100th of the cost of just one of their letters on the side of a Formula 1 car, really rubs salt into the wounds.

 

We'll get them, clothes or no clothes................er....you know what I mean

[Sugar-walsh]

Thanks for the encouragement, think I'll be keeping my clothes on, don't think terrifying the bank ito submission is really legal!!!

 

Already posted letter and a quick scan thru my statements from march 2004 is encouraging. One thing, not sure if you will know, but can we also claim for 'refferal charges', which were applied in varying amounts to my account. Don't worry if you don't know, i will look it up. New to all this but it seems a sort of 'mentoring' system would be good to help each other thru all the jargon and forums etc.

 

Cheers, Sugar:p

[Bean]

Good to see you are bouncing back tedblue. Step-by-step, you will get back on your feet. A rising tide raises all ships.

 

You are right about this being a farce. The personal and social consequences of unlawful penalty charges must be astounding. When this all comes out in the open, and it's only just beginning now, I suspect that there will be some major changes to the way banking business is run.

[tedblue]

Received a letter at work today at work that they are calling in my business overdraft and business loan.

 

Then arrived howm and found a second letter that they are calling in my PRIVATE mortgage! The ****ing little ****s. So for me asking for the money back that they have (edit) from me they now wish to take away my business and home! Why don't they just send someone round to remove my bollocks to so I can't have kids either.

 

I feel like just driving up to Edinburgh and going postal in their offices!

 

 

moderated whilst we understand your annoyance we have to remove any comments that could be seen as libelous

[Sugar-walsh]

Blimey Tedblue, don't know what to say, bieng new at all this and all. I just hope they leave you intact as that would be really cruel. Although it appears they have you by the bxxxxcks already. I'm sure someone should have some good advice for you.

 

Keep positive, Satruday is shoppers paradise day and somehow things never seems quite so bad in the light of a new day.

 

Sugar:p

[barracad]

Received a letter at work today at work that they are calling in my business overdraft and business loan.

 

Then arrived howm and found a second letter that they are calling in my PRIVATE mortgage!

 

Just to clarify, you are claiming back unlawful charges from a business account, and they have withdrawn business overdraft, loan and mortgage? Were you also claiming back charges on the loan and the mortgage?

 

I know they can call in the overdraft, but I don't see how they can terminate the loan and mortgage. Will seek further advice on this.

[tedblue]

The good thing is that I refuse to go down without a fight. If they want to try this then I am happy to go the whole distance, be it legally or via the media. What exactly do they hope to achieve by threatening to take everything away? Am I supposed to roll over and go away? Bollocks to that. Nothing to lose now anyway. If I lose, they take everything, which they plan to do anyway. If I win, then hopefully they will not pull this kind of tactic on another person again, and it would be nice to lose a couple of people their jobs so they know what it feels like to have a part of your life snatched away.

[tedblue]

Just to clarify, you are claiming back unlawful charges from a business account, and they have withdrawn business overdraft, loan and mortgage? Were you also claiming back charges on the loan and the mortgage?

 

I know they can call in the overdraft, but I don't see how they can terminate the loan and mortgage. Will seek further advice on this.

 

Correct. I was only claiming charges on the business account with the overdraft attached.

[Seminole]

Do you have any arrears on the mortgage?

 

Did you give a personal guarantee for the business loan?

[dave]

Do you/we know of anyone else where they have closed accounts etc...?

 

If so, then I think you should apply immediatly for a temporary injunction.

 

Watch this space, I will find out more.

[tedblue]

When I started having problems earlier this year my accounts ended up being transferred from branch level to Edinburgh to be controlled centrally. I was concerned about mortgage repayments and the chap dealing with my account told me as he was controlling the accounts they would worry about the business account first and the mortgage second, as the mortgage could be dealt with over the long term. So mortgage repayments were taken out of my hands, so they are now in arrears, but only due to the banks intervention.

 

Obviously with the amount I am claiming the overdraft and arrears would be cleared in one sweep.

[tedblue]

Do you/we know of anyone else where they have closed accounts etc...?

 

If so, then I think you should apply immediatly for a temporary injunction.

 

Watch this space, I will find out more.

 

I do not know of anyone. I plan to speak to my solicitor on Monday.

[Seminole]

Could you confirm what they've said in respect of the mortgage?

 

They are entitled to commence possession proceedings in respect of a mortgage if it's in arrears. However, actually taking possession is much more difficult as the courts will try to help you to reach an agreement to pay back arrears. Have you been in arrears before?