Is the bank taking your Benefits ?

[steven4064]

he thinks he will be a star!

And why not!

 

Perhaps he will get longer than the statutory 15 minutes.

[trollstar]

today i finally in affect closed my account with Nationwide

i'm sad because i've been a member (not customer!!) since i was a baby

today i went to my local branch they had taken £120 from my benifits leaving me almost £90 overdrawn meaning ALL of my carers allowance will be taken on monday and still be overdrawn so i told them my income support on tuesday will NOT be going into my account (getting a giro though DSS stated i had to open another account i guess that will be fun) handed them a wad of letters relating to 'first right of apportion' relevent to my sons DLA and my CB (till i can get them moved), strangely they instantly refunded a £30 charge (bizzare i was under the impression this was no longer possible at branch level?) thus making my account after monday a few pence in credit. the lady at Nationwide was very patronising!! and basicly stated the best way to avoid bounced DDs was to not have DDS, sat in the public waiting area with her interigating me about my bank statement!! so now i am back to paying ££ more than 'normal' people to pay basic bills (cos most companys also prefere DDs) signing up with another bank (seems they are all in cahoots and as bad as each other??) up to my neck in 'other' debts because the bank took my 'bills' money and fretting myself silly about claiming, even with the guides its at best...daunting...

[TideTurner]

Trollstar,

 

I was in a similar position. Then I got angry. As long as it's contained, it helped me overcome the fear they try to instil into you.

 

If you think something's wrong, demand they put it right. After all, they will demand it of you.

 

Who's in the wrong here?

 

Tide

[steven4064]

Well said TT

[maybelline]

outrageous, they have taken the charge, and put a minus value in red on my account, so that means my carers allowance will be taken!!!!???

 

does anyone know what section of the act it is again so i can ring them?

[maybelline]

hope this works steven -

[trollstar]

maybelline we are in the 'same boat'

from what i can work out you can only protect future payments with first right of appotion, i'm assuming like me you get your careers allowance weekly? if so you need to get this letter into them asap (should give them 7 days notice) be sure you hand it to a supervisor or a manager if taking into branch and GET a signed reciept or sent via recorded post etc

i found with nationwide their standatrd answer is, apply for a refund of charges which we wont concider until after the test case.

have you contacted the FOS? i went straight to them (mostly cos i was totally UNaware of CAG or the test case (ohhh how that seems such a long time ago now *sigh* mere days)

from what i can understand people who had charges taken solely from benifits can claim that claim should not wait for the outcome of the test case??

anyway hun i'm the newbie here not you, best of luck, please let me know if you get anywhere with this

[maybelline]

thanks trollstar, I did sent a letter, three, and recorded but still no use, they have minused the account, no funds at all in there at moment but too late to stop the next, I foolishly didnt think they would take it but now they have I am mad mad mad and will start proceedings if nec, I dont mind waiting for the test case, its the principle,

 

I was sorry to see what your bank did also, what rotters, we all know it does not cost £39 to bounce a DD and just taking the money is tantamount to stealing in my book!

 

and this time i will be asking wasted costs!

[trollstar]

I belive that when the banks take bennifits. that the dwp can take back off the back.

as when i had problems and asked the dwp to not make any payments too the bank

I was aske if they had grabed any and if i wanted them to swipe it back.

 

edited......please we cant use these words !!!

 

and what ones are they ?

 

hmmmmm

[steven4064]

It might be worth trying what dragonlord suggests. If anyone tries it, keep us informed what happens.

 

 

(ps like the avatar trollstar - is the hairdo specially for Chrsitmas? )

[trollstar]

steven thanks for the hair comment (was a reaction to the 'troll' thread in bear garden lol), as to dragonlords suggestion, as stated in another thread, i did go to the benifits office yesterday where a helpfull lady stated that the benifits office has NO power to instruct the banks regarding benifits money, that it is up to the individual to protect themselves (ie letter re appotion) and suggested that persons in reciept of benifits are best advised not to set up DDs, the only constructive action the benifit office seems capable of is issuing a few giros till you've set up your paracute account (whilst putting additional presure on the individual because the benifits office also preferes a bank led system)

[steven4064]

a helpfull lady stated that the benifits office has NO power to instruct the banks regarding benifits money

I did sort of think that - but it might have been worth a shot

[maybelline]

the advice from FSA is that banks (despite the waiver situation) are supposed to take genuine hardship situations into account, if they do not complain to the FOS.

[JGJ]

TROLLSTAR, APPROPRIATION is the word you are looking for, not appotion. Do not give up it is your money/benefit to pay YOUR essential living costs. Talk to the area director if your branch are being obstructive,most of them are ignorant of the banking system with the "FIRST RIGHT OF APPROPRIATION" See my thread on the first right of APPROPRIATION there is some very helpful info, good luck. "EXEMPLO DUCEMUS"

[trollstar]

holy typos lol ta for that lol

[vandermerwe]

. Talk to the area director

and where would one find such a person?

 

Not through a call centre in Timbuktu surely?

 

Not by addressing a personal letter either.

 

Have you managed to find a geographic number for your bank?

 

As I am with the HSBC, and have to key in my account number before the call centre answers (even when using the geographic number to use when overseas) I get the roughest of the lot.

 

As I am fighting unlawful fees and interest thereon they have now removed by account from their internet banking site, or so it would seem.

 

I opened a parachute account into which all my state benefits now go I suspect they have become a little cross.

 

Vandermerwe

[jailbird]

Van

 

I have the email address for their Chief Executive [email protected] hope this helps.

 

Chris:D

[jailbird]

Troll

Email address for their Chief Executive is [email protected]

 

Chris:D

[vandermerwe]

Thanks jailbird.

 

It's certainly worth giving it a go.

 

Vandermerwe

[jailbird]

Hi Van

 

I heard from them within the week ! Still going down FOS route tho as they are still arguing with me. If you show FOS that you have tried with bank they usually support you in hardship cases and give you a reference number. Good luck. I will watch you and keep in touch but if you need any more help just let me know.

 

Chris:)

[trollstar]

ok further update (still talkin to myself?)

just recieved a letter from Nationwide acknowledging the FOS complaint letter, NW state their 8 weeks exspires 17 jan 08

in the mean time they ask that i fill in a ' income and expenditure form'

i'll assume this is standard? and i should fill it out? and enclose a covering letter stating my case?

should i still get S.A.R - (Subject Access Request)? see other thread, all i've done so far is call FOS

anything else?

p s to MOD's if i reposted this too many times, please delete those incorrectly placed

[steven4064]

Hi trollstar

 

The income and expenditure form is to demonstrate hardship. Make sure you allow enough to cover your basic housekeeping - National Debtline advice is to allow:

 

Single person £35-£45/week £152-£195/month

Couple £60-£75/week £260-£325/month

Each child £20-£35/week £87-£152/month

Non-depentdent £20-£35/week £87-£152/month

 

Send with a covering letter explaining your case as you suggest. Did they actually send a form or do you need to produce one?

[trollstar]

thankyou again Steven

bein that i live in a village with NO car etc and my shoping option is the local COOP or 40 mins on 2 buses to Tesco a large potion of my income goes on 'basic' housekeeping *giggle* and (rather bizzarely my 8 year old likes to keep those reciepts)

the income and expenditure form states in CAPITALS that ALL figures MUST be monthly ,cant help wondering if this is them being more 'helpfull' as most benifits are paid weekly or 4 weeks, if i change their form to weekly am i giving them grounds to reject it (i wonder?)

anyways thankyou so much for your continued help to this newbie, ya a star

huggles (cos thats what trolls do best)

[trollstar]

ohhhh and thankyouuuu jailbird

[JonCris]

trollstar Sorry to disagree with Steven but if the bank have taken your benefits you don't have to 'prove' hardship & the fact that you are on benefits more than demonstrates hardship.

 

They have no entitlement to them.m If your sole income is derived from benefits alone then it's a complete waste of time filling it in. Also if you do you may be giving them tacit consent to take your benefits.

 

The decision is yours but my advice would be to refuse or at the very least ASK THAT AS YOUR INCOME CONSISTS SOLELY OF BENEFITS WHY DO THEY REQUIRE THIS INFORMATION BEFORE THEY WILL REFUND THE MONIES THEY HAVE TAKEN UNLAWFULLY. Their response should be interesting