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Original poster

Urgent!!! Anyone know how banks work.

25 replies

charlize · 08/10/2004 18:19

My sister in law rang today and is extremely worried. Her husband hasn't been paid cos of a computer cock up or something with the result that they have gone overdrawn. They have never been overdrawn before as her dh earns a good wage and they have been comfortably off. However her dh has been getting messes around by company he works for and they havent been paying him enough or giving it in dribs and drabs.
They have now promised him they will pay him some of the money they owe him in the 18th and the rest (a large sum) on the 1st.
However the bank have written to them today cancelling his cheue book and debit card as they are overdrawn!!
This seems ludicrios to me what atr they supposed to do when thousands go into his bank on the 19th how will they accses it?
Btw Her dh is my brother who I hate seeing this happern to he is a wonderful hard working man and poor sis in law is pregnant with only a few weeks to go.
Any advice I can give them?

OP posts:

jnbsmum · 08/10/2004 18:24

If its the first time he's gone overdrawn then they can't take all that off of him. They only do that if its a regular occurance.
They need to get on the phone to there bank and explain the circumstances

marthamoo · 08/10/2004 18:30

I second that - they need to talk to the bank NOW and explain what is going on. Other than, when it is sorted out, they should change their bank - many banks now allow you to go a pre-set amount overdrawn with no penalties: cancelling a cheque book and debit card is less than helpful.

jnbsmum · 08/10/2004 18:34

I agree.I'd definatly change banks too. I changed mine after a big high street bank sent my new debit card and pin no to a completley different adress at the other end of the country. Get on the phone to them NOW. It doesn't sound right at all

luckymum · 08/10/2004 18:36

Get on the phone and explain to the bank. They can cancel the cards if they want to whether you think its reasonable or not, but they're more likely to be sympathetic if you are up front about it. And tell them to take copies of their bank statements and ask the company to stump up for any charges. TBH though I'd be worried about working for a company that can't/won't pay the wages properly.

Papillon · 08/10/2004 18:37

The company he works for should contact the bank. They have been messing him around with irregular payments. The 18th is over a week away and it is not his fault he is overdrawn.

Original poster

charlize · 08/10/2004 19:12

I have just rang sis in law, And she has even worse news. Her dh called the bank today and explained the situation they told him they have cancelled all his direct debits so her dh told them where to go and said he would be taking his buisness else where.
Sil is beside herself, He needs to open a new bank account to get paid and set up 12 direct debits asap!
Does anyone know if my brother has to ring each company directly to sort out new dircet debits or can he just take a list to his new bank and they will sort it out.

Assuming he can get a new account?? He has evidence etc of his salary. It is a large one so its crazy if he can't get one. Any one know.

OP posts:

ggglimpopo · 08/10/2004 19:14

Message withdrawn

DelGirl · 08/10/2004 19:14

Smile is a great bank and they will sort out all the dd's and letters etc. they do it all over the phone/net. would really recommend them.

Tissy · 08/10/2004 19:29

the new bank should sort out the direct debits for him- ours did- Royal Bank of Scotland. Very good personal service at the branch- no call centres!

JanH · 08/10/2004 20:50

charlize, please tell us which bank they are with so we can all avoid it (and spread the word!)

IIRC it is now supposed to be easy to switch current accounts by just presenting your new bank with a list of all your DDs etc - at least I read that in Which magazine but don't know anybody who's done it.

We are with Alliance and Leicester who are an expensive building soc but an excellent bank. Can definitely recommend them. They are linked with the PO (via Girobank who they took over) so you can pay cash in, get cash out including foreign currency, pay bills etc at any PO. Very useful. Plus the account can be accessed via phone or internet, and you can link it to a high-rate savings account and switch money back and forth easily.

ladymuck · 08/10/2004 20:59

When I moved to First Direct, they took care of everything - I didn't even have to give them a list - they contacted my previous bank and did it all.

Would recommend First Direct btw esp if you're usually in credit.

Original poster

charlize · 08/10/2004 21:07

Thanks everyone I'll pass all this on to sis in law. BTW the bank is barclays!

OP posts:

JanH · 08/10/2004 21:18

Oh what a surprise, not!

SofiaAmes · 08/10/2004 22:20

Barclays are the very WORST bank in the world. I now bank with Royal Bank of Scotland who are wonderful!!!!!! They are only human and make occasional mistakes, but seem to be perfectly happy to apologize for them and always make it up to me. And the best thing is that I can call my branch directly and get my manager on the phone (he answers it himself half the time).

WideWebWitch · 08/10/2004 23:38

Yes, Barclays are shite and just lost my business after I'd been with them 10 years. Hope your sil sorts this out.

Skate · 08/10/2004 23:38

Oh yes, Barclays are CRAP!

We have found Royal Bank of Scotland absolutely fabulous - can't fault them.

BTW, your brother did the right thing telling them where to go.

Dear me - it beggars belief.

80sMum · 08/10/2004 23:50

If you're looking for a good reliable bank, with a user-friendly website and competetive interest rates, you can't go wrong with Smile. We changed our account to Smile in 2001, after 23 years with NatWest. I can honestly say we earned more in interest in the first 2 months than we had in the previous 23 years! We haven't had any problems at all. Smile is recommended as a best buy by Which? magazine too.

JanH · 08/10/2004 23:58

A & L is recommended by Which too, nerner!

If you want, charlize, I will rummage and dig out my Which with the banks in and give you the lowdown.

80sMum · 09/10/2004 00:10

Try Switch With Which here

JJ · 09/10/2004 04:57

charlize, I hope your sil gets sorted soon. What a jerk of a bank

80sMum, thanks for that link. I read these discussions with interest as we're going to switch banks (from Natwest) in the not so distant future.

marthamoo · 09/10/2004 09:47

I almost said "is it Barclays?" They are the pits (though obviously doing very well with all the big name stars in their ads...grrrr) They were atrocious with me when I was unemployed after graduating.

Another vote for smile - have been with the Co-op, then smile, since telling Barclays to stick it (once I got a job!) in 1992. Absolutely no problems with them.

edam · 09/10/2004 11:49

Another critic of Barclays here, what a shower. Act as if you should be grateful they allow you to have your finances stuffed up by them.
BTW, something similar happened to my uncle, self-employed but cashflow crisis with one debtor. Bank really screwed him around and he lost all his credit ratings. So a. please do pay tradesmen on time, it can have a major impact if you mess them around and b. if someone doesn't pay you on time, GET TOUGH straightaway.

ggglimpopo · 09/10/2004 12:08

Message withdrawn

CleanKittyCat · 09/10/2004 13:04

Tell them to avoid Natwest too. something similar happened to me last year and they cancelled everything oernight. They sent debt collectors letters threatening to take me to court because they kept charging me when they shouldn't. I am still having problems with them now, all over a late deposit of my student loan. I left it late and had a real problem switching banks. Am now with Halifax who gave me checque book solo card etc. no problem.

Why does all these things happen at the worst time?

hatter · 09/10/2004 18:57

CHarlize - they do right to take their business elsewhere. Re the employer though - if they paid him late, incuring costs to him they shoulf pay their costs. No idea if that's remotely legally enforceable but when - on one occassion my nanny's salary didn't go through on time causing here to go over her limit and get charged I paid the charge without question. It was my fault and there was no way she should be expected to pay. Sounds like your bil should speak to his employers. Late payment is not on

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