What do you do when you have no money?

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I had my bank card cloned. Everything’s gone. I’ve been through the banks process and they can’t help - then advises me to go to the police (lol) who, no surprise, can’t help. I literally don’t know what to do and I have nothing for 3 weeks. I have 3 kids.i can’t get a credit card or a loan, I have nothing to sell. I’m just stuck and I guess I know there’s no answer but I just needed to let it out. I’m scared. We are ok for food, but other than that im screwed.

Disclaimer: this is NOT a begging post and I am NOT hoping that any mumsnetters will offer to help in any way!!!!! I’m sure mumsnet will be along to reiterate their thoughts on this but I wanted to make it known myself too.

I just feel broken, lost, and just exhausted with life and don’t know how to move forward

Hello everyone

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're just putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away - and they've been with us some time, too. But obviously, we at MNHQ can't ever know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here we're afraid.

We can see the OP has made clear that she's not asking for anything other than advice but we always think it's worth reminding folk as a general rule not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon. In the meantime, you might find some useful information on our guide for dealing with financial difficulty

You need to be raising merry hell with the bank. Agree on phoning them and complaining and taking it as high as you can get, followed by Citizens Advice and Action Fraud.
Good luck.

What a horrid situation. I agree with messaging the CEO of Lloyd's.

Look on Money Saving Expert for advice and I second contacting CAB. Don't take this lying down, your bank is trying it on.

You will know which cash points you used and your card won't be the only card cloned there. That's how my bank knew about my card being cloned. A bunch of others were, so they tracked people who used the machine that day. Definitely report to Action Fraud and tell them the ATMs you have used. If you are shielding it won't be many.
Keep pushing the bank OP.

Phone Lloyds again and speak to a manager in the fraud dept - I had this exact thing happen a few years ago and must have struck a lucky call handler as they were impeccable - they froze everything, returned stolen monies to me and did everything possible to help. Go back to them first thing and ask for a senior member of staff.

When this happened to me with Lloyd's they were able to tell me which cash machine it was, they also refunded the transactions I hadn't made, as well as giving me advice on what to do if it put me into financial difficulty, did they not do this with you? Did you definitely speak to someone in fraud? It was apparently compulsory for the man to give me the information, in case the 2.84 I had been defrauded caused me problems, I can't see them being less useful for several hundred pounds...

Banks usually refund the money if a card has been cloned. It sounds like they are investigating whether it actually was, or whether you/someone known to you actually spent the money.

I suppose they have to be very careful due to fraudulent claims, is really crap when you are honest though. Hopefully they have cctv

That’s absolute rubbish. My husbands card was cloned online. The first we knew was when Lloyd’s rang to ask us about some strange transactions. They stopped some that were pending and refunded those that had already gone out. They were brilliant. We didn’t know anything was amiss till they phoned. Get back on to them and remind them of their obligation to bloody well help! Good luck.

You need to go back to your bank. If the bank have advised you to go to the police do that tonight and get a crime reference number. Then phone the bank back let them know that you have no money and you are in financial hardship as a result of fraudulent transactions.
If they still won’t help ask to raise an official complaint they have 8 weeks to respond.
In the meantime speak to friends and family I’m sure one of them will be able to help until the money is refunded

If you have food, what are other immediate needs - transport, electric meter? That's what I would focus on. Covering immediate needs. How long will the food you have last you?

Other things can wait a week or two (or even 3) until you get this sorted out and/or your next UC payment, so don't panic. Other posters have given good advice on who to contact.

Go back to the bank and ask for the fraud department.

I’ve had this happen to me once and it’s a nightmare but the bank were good and I got refunded the same day.

If you’re getting UC then you might be able to approach them for a budgeting loan to tide you over.

I’m on UC too and it shows up on the dashboard as “advance payment” or similar.

I love how I have many previous threads about various things, included a disclaimer that I wasn’t in the beg AND stated that I know mumsnet will be along to reiterate never to do this and people have STILL reported it?!! Talk about kick someone when they are down! Jeez.

It was definitely fraud and he said based on the information provided that he could not issue a claim further. I will call again today but obviously I’m not exactly full of confidence.

As stated in OP, I have food, and I have a family advisor who will always help with food bank if needed.

Other things required? Fuel, potentially public transport as my ex is threatening to take “my” car away (it’s his) a whole new secondary school uniform and everything that comes with it for my son to start big school in September, a counselling session which I need for my mental health and will be billed for wether I turn up or not, I’m sure the list goes on.

Thanks for any help advice received, I appreciate it. Mumsnet are more than welcome to zap the thread because frankly I feel like a dick for even asking if anybody has any other ideas.

Ceo of Lloyd's banking group email is [email protected]

I've had to email a complaint to this address before, it gets things moving.

Uniform can wait a few weeks if not going back to school until September.

If you don't get any joy with Lloyd's get on to your mp.

I would go into the bank and speak to someone and pretty much refuse to leave until it’s sorted.

It's not clear why the bank have confirmed it's fraud but said they won't do anything further. They should be tracing back to where the card was cloned.
How long have you been isolating for and was the card used during this time? Has it been used locally?
Call them again and ask why they won't investigate.

Are you sure that nobody else has had access to your card? Where are the transactions and are they local to you?

Talk to the police again and get a crime reference number.

Talk to the bank again. Ask to talk to the fraud department, give them the crime number and ask for the money to be put back into your account.

This had happened a couple of times to me. Lloyds have always been impeccable at sorting it out. Get back onto them.

I’m sure. I’ve had my card and nobody else has access to my home. I used my card on one the days the transactions were made (reasonably local transactions, within a less than 2 hour journey away and a couple in the next town) there is even a jd sports transaction and REFUND on the card. Like they’ve just been using it to go about their every day business. Have been on phone again this morning and seems they’re not willing to progress the claim. I’ve had more bad news today and I just can’t deal with any of it right now. I won’t get the money back. I just need tips on making minimal cash for the little things I suppose. God I wish I had something to sell but I just don’t!!!

So someone is using your card in physical stores? That's very unusual for card fraud because of CCTV cameras.

I agree with the PPs who say you should email the CEO. I did that when I had a problem with Lloyds and an assistant called me later that day and everything was immediately sorted.

Are you in England? If so, don’t panic yet about school uniform, as there is over a month before schools go back. When it gets nearer to the time, contact the school and they will help, even if it means supplying you with second-hand uniform.

Please contact CAB and get advice and email the CEO. Has the bank said why they are not reimbursing you? Do they think it's your fault? This is the first instance I've heard of a bank not reimbursing someone when fraud/cloning is involved.

Check on your Council’s website to see if they run a local welfare assistance scheme. You may be able to get some help that way.

I would just take it day by day and deal with the immediate concerns, whilst continuing to peruse the bank etc.

So you don't have any immediate concerns today? Set yourself say 2 hours to deal with the bank issue. Talk to action fraud. Or the energy company. Or the family worker. Or the therapist. But no more than the time you've set.

Then get stuck into a good book or series, play some board games or do a puzzle, have a nice bath, do some yoga, meditate, listen to music, get an early night. There might not be a quick fix, but it will resolve eventually and in the mean time you need to look after yourself because too much stress and adrenal fatigue can make you really unwell.