Halifax - Money taken out of account?

[lucky01]

Hi there

Can you help? I have 4 accounts with the Halifax – 2 Cardcash and 2 savings (1 Premium Savings and 1 I opened for my Daughter’s savings). Having lost my job last year, things have gotten extremely tight with us having fallen behind on mortgage payments, loan payments, utilities etc.., With this in mind we started using money in our savings and there is nothing left! I went overdrawn, mostly due to bank charges in one of my Cardcash accounts and so I cancelled all my DD’s etc.., to avoid further charges – these amounted to nearly £409.40. Last week, money was withdrawn from my ‘active’ Cardcash account and (unbelievably) £9 from the £10 which was left in my daughter’s account and paid into the overdrawn account – completely without my knowledge. This still left the account overdrawn but now by around £94.40.

I had nothing left in my Premium Savings, but had ‘borrowed’ £2000 from my dad last week and paid this into my Premium Savings. I did this so that I could manage payments and transfer when I knew something ‘urgent’ needed to be paid (buildings insurance, contents etc.,). On Thursday, all but £1 was withdrawn, I was told that it was due to an ‘Order’ but had to call 01422-336229 on Monday to find out by whom, the number is for ‘Savings Operations’????

Although I have no confirmation yet, I suspect that this could be the Halifax themselves, ie; my mother-in-laws home was repossessed roughly two years ago, my husband was also a mortgagee on the house with his father, but his father passed away 6 years ago leaving the mortgage solely with my husband. When Birmingham Midshires ‘sold’ the house there was a shortfall of some £10,000, HL Solicitors have been chasing us to pay and we advised them of our current situation that we are in arrears in practically every aspect. As Halifax own Birmingham Midshires I think this is due to them. I have not been informed of any orders at all. If it is the Halifax themselves can I do anything? It is such a large amount that has been withdrawn in one go that I now have nothing left.

My fear is that my husband’s salary is paid into my ‘active’ Cardcash account, which was done yesterday. As this is now our only source of income, I am scared that this money is going to be withdrawn also, so am going to withdraw all my money before Monday.

Can anyone tell me if under my circumstances, with all my arrears I can get another bank account somewhere else? I need to do this so that I can arrange for my husband’s salary to be paid in and essential DD’s to be set up?

All help, would be most appreciated, as at the moment I cannot see which way to turn.

Yours depressed

Lucky01?

[yourbank]

I think you need to claim back charges under Financial Hardship but I suspect you are right re the money though.

[maroondevo52]

Hi, lucky01.

 

You should set up a new account asap, you may find one in here......

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/welcome-consumer-forums/58685-do-you-need-parachute.html

 

Also re-claim all the charges on the Card Accounts, do you know what the amounts would be ?

 

I know Banks can 'offset' monies from one account to another, without informing you first.

 

You will have to find out where the money went first, before you can, if possible, take the matter further.

 

Regards.

 

Scott.

[lucky01]

Hi there

 

Can you please advise me how I can claim back charges due to Financial Hardship? What is this?

 

I will check to find out who order the £2000 to be taken from my account tomorrow, but if it is the Halifax, can they just take the full amount knowing that if my Cardcash account was overdrawn there must be a reason. Also, I received a card in the post from the Halifax Retail Bank Collections saying that one of their representives was coming to visit me at home on 3rd April. So, why have they taken out the money prior to his visit? do I have any legal standing?

Many thanks

Lucky01

[yourbank]

What exactly did the letter say to you about 3rd April 2009?

[lucky01]

Hi there

 

It was just a smalled folded over card addressed from

Halifax

Retail Bank Collections

PO Box 607

Trinity Road

Halifax HX1 2UJ

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 

Our representative will be calling your home on: 3rd April 2009

 

PLEASE TELEPHONE 0845 602 8842 IF THIS IS NOT CONVENIENT.

 

This is all that was all that was written on the card, no explanation, no further details?

[yourbank]

Hi there

 

It was just a smalled folded over card addressed from

Halifax

Retail Bank Collections

PO Box 607

Trinity Road

Halifax HX1 2UJ

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 

Our representative will be calling your home on: 3rd April 2009

 

PLEASE TELEPHONE 0845 602 8842 IF THIS IS NOT CONVENIENT.

 

This is all that was all that was written on the card, no explanation, no further details?

 

I have a feeling you won't be answering your door on Friday 3rd April. However, might as well start the process of reclaiming charges,

http://www.consumerforums.com/resources/templates-library/48-bank-templates/110--data-protection-act-1998-subject-access-request-.html

[emmaf01]

It does sound like you are being ofsetted- though the children's account bit does leave a very nasty taste doesn't it?

 

I would spend time gathering together all your account paperwork- statements, letters, etc and start figuring out-

 

-the total bank charges per account for the last six years

-if there is any missold PPI on accounts

 

 

Get yourself a parachute account asap- try the Co-op cashminder or Natwest Step account. Neither are connected to the Halifax so they can't take anything else from you. And transfer wages/child benefit/child tax credit/other income immediately into new account.

 

Can you withdraw all husband's wages immediately? Before the Halifax might? They really don't know where to stop on this offset business.

[yourbank]

It does sound like you are being ofsetted- though the children's account bit does leave a very nasty taste doesn't it?

 

I would spend time gathering together all your account paperwork- statements, letters, etc and start figuring out-

 

-the total bank charges per account for the last six years Emma, remember FSA Bank Charges waiver means that the OP can go back to 27th July 2001(so that might add a bit more to their claim).

-if there is any missold PPI on accounts

 

 

Get yourself a parachute account asap- try the Co-op cashminder or Natwest Step account. Neither are connected to the Halifax so they can't take anything else from you. And transfer wages/child benefit/child tax credit/other income immediately into new account.

 

Can you withdraw all husband's wages immediately? Before the Halifax might? They really don't know where to stop on this offset business.

 

Emma, Thought would add a bit more re the bank charges element as the clock stopped at the start of the OFT and on limitations argument.

[emmaf01]

Good thinking Yourbank. Everything helps!

 

I hate it when banks do this offset- they don't consider leaving people with no food for their children morally wrong. Horrid.

[yourbank]

Having re read post 1, I suspect the money has been moved due to a court order to do so. The banks definitely have to comply with that.

Parachute account is a priority tomorrow.

[lucky01]

Hi there

 

Thank you for making me feel I'm not alone. With respect to a possible Court Order surely whoever applies for this must ask for a form where I have to complete all income & expenditure for the family or indeed the Court themselves? Otherwise they are withdrawing money leaving my family and I with nothing to live on?. Also, received letter from Bank of Scotland yesterday, saying that as my Cardcash account was overdrawn and no suitable arrangements had been made to clear this as such they had withdrawn £312 from Active Cardcash account and £9 from my daughters account!!! (1st I heard from anyone! except the note re: visit on 3rd in the post!) they had taken

 

I have today, updated my Charges Spreadsheet with the new charges (since my last submission to Halifax which is now on hold).

 

Have withdrawn my husbands salary over the last two days so balance in all accounts is nil. Will advise employers to hold all payments until 'parachute' account set up. Applied for 'Step' account online - told to wait for papers in the post then to supply ID - does this mean I have the account?

 

Anyway, all help appreciated... any advice re: claim back charges due to Financial Hardship? What is this?

Many thanks

Lucky01

[yourbank]

If they have asked for an order to freeze all accounts while they issue that, then I think they can without necessarily referring to yourself. I would call the number given in post one just to clarify why they have frozen the account only. Don't get involved in any other discussion on that issue.

 

How old is your daughter? Is the account in your name re your daughter or is it in her name alone?

That bit I don't think they can do unless it is in your name specifically.

[lucky01]

Hi, if they had frozen my accounts then I would not have been able to withdraw any money? All will be revealed tomorrow. Either way, if this is due to a Court Order, then I am furious that I have received no notification or as I said before any Income & Expenditure Form to complete so they could assess how much I could afford???

 

The account was in my Daughter's name c/o me.

[emmaf01]

http://www.consumerforums.com/resources/templates-library/48-bank-templates/117-letter-for-an-application-for-consideration-for-hardship.html

 

Apply for the Halifax to look at your bank charges under hardship with the above template letter. Include income and expenditure plus copies of any letters relating to getting behind on mortgage/utilities etc.

 

Ask child benefit and tax credit (if paid into these accounts) to be paid by giro or on hold until new account is set up. Just ring and ask how to do this.