to be fuming with barclays bank?!

[Vulty]

I get paid on a Friday, so I stayed up to pay some bills and order some stuff in for DDs xmas. There was some crackin deals that would have saved me an absolute fortune. My card kept on being declined so of course I went into full blown panic mode, worried about how I was gonna pay for food, electricity and all the rest of it. I stayed up until 2 and gave in. Called in the morning, I had been paid but my card had been blocked? I was told to go to my local branch to get my money out and find out why it had been blocked. So I get down first thing get my money, there is basically no reason as to why it was blocked. I have missed out on so many savings, some of the stuff I had ready to order was less than half the normal price, or is now out of stock. My bills are late. and I have money that gets paid in on a Saturday that I can't get out because my local branch is shut for a fortnight to get done up! On top of all that my rents due in, and I'll have my landlord on my back about it being late. I could cry! I am really upset about the stuff I wanted to get DD as I'm struggling a bit with xmas. Wwyd? Sorry about the rant it was well needed :(

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

Your direct debits and standing orders should still go through if the money came into your account, im assuming you don't pay rent using your debit card?

Often new unusual account activity flags up as potential fraud and get blocked automatically. Spending lots of money late at night would certainly come up if it's not something you usually do so this could be why? Have no idea why they couldn't sort it over the phone though!

[JenLindleyShitMom]

Epic fuck up on their part!! Write everything you have said above in an email to CEO of Barclays now and demand instant reinstatement of access to your account. Don't fuck about with branch
Managers etc, go straight to head honcho. And let them know just how much damage this has caused with landlord and bills etc.

[Vulty]

I've had my card blocked before because they thought there was suspicious activity but it got unblocked really fast and I was actually grateful for the security. I often stay up late to pay bills so I don't spend the money on wine things I shouldn't before I pay off what I should lol! I'm absolutely gutted at what I've missed out on for my little one. My rent gets paid into my account by the council then I pay it to the landlord, but I have to go to the bank to do that and it's shut for 2 weeks. I don't have mobile or telephone banking. I emailed them and told them how much distress this has caused I know it sounds bad but I'm hoping to be compensated.

[melj1213]

The block on your account should only stop you from using your card as payment/to withdraw cash, any existing standing orders/direct debits should be unaffected.

I've had this happen before when I've got paid and the money is showing as arrived as it's a regular wage transfer that shows up right after midnight, but it hasn't actually been processed into the account since it's just gone in ... and trying to do a lot of transactions in the middle of the night straight after a large deposit has gone into an account is a huge red flag to banks, especially if you don't usually make them so they'll put a block on the account to prevent fraudulent charges being made. They won't unblock it over the phone as presumably your bank wants the customer to come in, in person as it's easier to prove you are the account holder if they can check ID etc rather than over the phone.

I'd go in and speak to someone in branch but I wouldn't go in all guns blazing as you'll get nowhere. Just explain the situation and the effect the block has had on your financial position and they're more likely to offer a goodwill gesture (eg paying any late fees if your direct debits have been affected) than if you start shouting the odds.

[previously1474907171]

Barclays messed up so many times with my account, the final straw was when they bounced the deposit for a house that was going to the solicitor because THEY had changed the signature records back to my single name from my married one.

That went to the ombudsman, it was the last straw. I moved my account elsewhere. They phoned and offered me a payment, still went to the Ombudsman though as it was pretty serious.

Go to the banking ombudsman and ask for compensation.

[melj1213]

I have to go to the bank to do that and it's shut for 2 weeks. I don't have mobile or telephone banking

Can't you do a transfer through your internet banking? I know with my banks there's almost nothing I can do in branch that I can't do online and I have various accounts - current, saver, isa, credit card. It's only the really complicated things that need authorisation or involving large sums that I have to actually go in branch for.

Also, if your branch is shut I'd phone the next closest branch and ask them what you're meant to do with regards to banking that has to be done in person since you can't physically get to them as I'm sure you're not the only person affected by them just closing the branch

[NightWanderer]

I doubt you will get compensated. Barclays have a 24-hour number you can call if your account is blocked. It would have been better to call straight away. It's inconvenient and annoying, but it happens.

I assume you knew your branch was closing for 2 weeks, so the situation with your rent was forseeable. You could have sorted out something out, like online banking.

I don't think you will get very far on this with the Ombudsman or CEO.

I'm not being mean, but it's just one of those things. I get it's frustrating though.

[Bogeyface]

Are they sending you a new card? Has the account been unblocked?

If it has then contact your LL and explain that you have the money but you are waiting for a new card to be able to withdraw money. Then you can go to his bank and use your new card to pay the money into his account, you dont need to do it via your branch.


As long as you are upfront with the LL and explain that its not that you wont pay but that you cant until the bank sends you your new card then hopefully they will be ok, especially if you have a good record of paying on time.

[NightWanderer]

Sorry I think I misunderstood.

You don't usually pay your rent at the branch but they've deactivated your card and are sending a new one, so you can't withdraw money at a cashpoint anymore, only at a branch? Only as bad luck would have it the branch is shut for 2 weeks.

I thought Barclays did instant debit card replacement in branch? Could they not give you a new card on Monday when you went in? Or at the latest they will send a new one within 2 working days so it will be there before Saturday. I mean it should be there today or tomorrow at the latest.

You would have been without money all weekend though. That would have killed me.

[goddessofsmallthings]

My bills are late. and I have money that gets paid in on a Saturday that I can't get out because my local branch is shut for a fortnight to get done up!

The fact that your nearest branch is undergoing renovation doesn't mean your account is closed for a couple of weeks and you can access the monies in your account and obtain a mini-statement at another branch.

If you have a chequebook you can send your landlord a cheque with an explanatory letter and use your bankcard at other banks' ATMs to withdraw cash.

Register for Barclays online and telephone banking and you won't encounter this problem again.

[sleepy16]

Not great, I once had my card stopped because I had ordered a pizza (and apparently they thought it was fraud, because I don't normally order pizza)

[whyohwhy000]

Are you not able to get to another branch? You can manage your account at any of their branches.

[pudcat]

When my card was blocked a number came up on screen to ring. Didn't trust it so rang number on back of card. After a few questions I was put through to the fraud department and they sorted it out there and then and also confirmed that the number on screen is valid. So when it happened a month later again I rang the number on screen and it was sorted. I was never told to go into the bank.

[mumonashoestring]

They really are a special kind of useless. There's you having to try and convince them to let you spend your own money, while I had to explain to them that I couldn't possibly be withdrawing money in London and Tunisia at the same time and spend a month trying to recoup the £700 that had been nicked from my account

I changed banks in the end.

If you can get to another branch, do it - make sure you keep receipts for any extra fares/costs you incur and reclaim that and any late payment fees from Barclays complaints dept.

[PoldarksBreeches]

You need to get into the 21st century and start using internet banking. You could have another account and do instant transfers. Branch banking is almost obsolete.

[NickMyLipple]

I have the barclays app and if you log in on that and then call the number, you don't need to go through security and they can do/change everything as it's "the highest level of security". Changed my address over the phone the other day through the app, which used to be unheard of!

[QforCucumber]

You don't have to have telephone banking to call them and confirm it was you doing the spending.
You'd have been able to sort it immediately just by giving the number on the card a call, theyd have unblocked the card straight away and allowed the purchases.
I had this when spending a few thousand on a car, they actually phoned me to confirm it was Me and then allowed the purchase.

[InfiniteSheldon]

None of this makes much sense, you could use another branch I know it's a pain but you've had plenty of notice, Barclays do instant card replacement, and pay your rent by direct debit. Also go back online most of those deals will still be there Black Friday is a con. If you can shop online you can bank on line. I bloody hate Barclays mind you I vote for Santander if you can be parsed to change I have a current acc with both banks and Barclays are idiots compared to Santander.

[80sWaistcoat]

When it's sorted switch to first direct....

[ChocolateButton15]

I don't think it's the banks fault if you haven't even called them. If they have blocked it due to thinking its fraud the branch won't be able to help you anyway. You will need to call them to get the card unblocked, you won't need telephone banking for this, just call the customer services with your account details and I'm sure they would help you. Maybe set up online and telephone banking incase something comes up again

[Vulty]

I have called them! I called them first thing the next morning! They wouldn't unblock it lover the phone and they wouldn't unblock it in store. I!m sat waiting like an idiot on a new card. I didn't know my local branch was closing for a fortnight until I was down Friday morning and I don't have direct debits I prefer to pay things myself in case they come out when there's insufficient funds.

[Vulty]

There was no reason for the blocking. I was told this in store when I asked like I wrote in my original post. They said its just been a mistake hence why I am so angry!

[HermioneJeanGranger]

If you know you get paid on a Friday, why not set up your direct debits for the following Monday? You're not going to spend a whole weeks' wages in one weekend, are you?

Sorry, but there's so much you could do to stop this causing you problems - have more than one account, have a credit card you can use to buy online and pay off each month, use direct debits to pay your bills.

[WouldHave]

Have you got a cheque book? Can you use that to pay your landlord?

[Vulty]

I don't have a cheque book. And quite often I can spend pretty much all of what I get at the weekend. I'm a Sahm currently on benefits, once I pay what I need to, get food in for the week what little is left gets spent on doing nice things with my lo at the weekend. I don't mind not having money during the week sometimes as I have everything in I could possibly need. I have a few people saying I could have avoided this yes thats true, but the fact is it shouldn't of happened in the first place. I doint like credit cards its too easy to overspend.