R85 forms & Barclays

[pignpog]

I have had 14 (to date) R85 forms sent by Barclays for my 2 daughters over the last 18 months. I have complained, rung, been into bank etc. I have had 3 'case handlers' and �25 per child compensation, oh and a bunch of flowers, and 3 times it has been 'sorted' -NOT. Today I received my 13th & 14th... I have dates/names/letters etc, I think its time for a fight. Am I right in taking this up with The Financial Ombudsmen Service? Will they deal with it, and put an end to it? And do I deserve compensation for all the time, effort & stress? Advice please?

[kayakamina]

Write a letter to their new chairman Paul Idzik

[kempie]

Since an R85 is a request form to receive interest Tax Free, why are you getting so stressed over what is basically junkmail?

If they were sending you bills I would understand your statement "time for a fight", but not over pieces of paper you can put in the bin.

Please explain further to help me understand why receiving this junkmail upsets you so much.

[pignpog]

Ok, the full story.... the R85 forms were filled in and sent. I keep receiving letters saying 'You have recently registered to receive interest without tax (gross deducted) by virtue of form R85' 'Unfortunately, the form has not been received at our processing centre........etc' I know what will happen next....... OFF comes the interest! Oh.... I didn't mention... they also 'changed' the name of one of the accounts of my daughters into the others, which is where this all started going wrong! This isn't junk mail, its blatant incompetence by them. The case handlers can see what is happening, they told me...... they just dont seem able to stop it. Last time I was told to 'ignore it, its sorted'

[kempie]

As the situation is indeed more complex than first described you may well find your only recourse is the FSO.

The FSO website (link) offers advice on how best to complain to the institution (Barclays) and how to make a complaint to themselves.

[Sammy Snake]

Personally I wouldn' t want my money in a place with such incompetant staff.

Have you considered switching the accounts to another Bank or Building Society?

[pignpog]

Thanks for valid replies...... yes to all. I am going to go to the ombudsman, I will send a copy too, to the new chairman...and yes I am definitely moving their accounts. Beyond me how they couldn't receive even the set of R85 forms which I personally handed in at the branch, who sent them for me, after we worked out they had changed the name over. No fears, I have a log of nearly all contact, dates etc and all letters. Cheers!

[lady_p_gold]

And maybe try Watchdog .. maybe there are lots more of you out there !

[kazza12345]

hey, why not try informing them that you are going to start charging them for every letter you have to send them about it?

[stevie21]

kazza12345 - to answer your question, the questioner here has no right to apply a charge for any letter received.

I'd stop complaining about this issue and just move banks. The ombudsman can only become involved if you've completely exhausted the bank's own complaints procedure and I'm not 100% certain that's happened here.

[kazza12345]

stevie21, thats why i put tell them you are going to start charging for every letter you have to send them about it

[stevie21]

kazza12345, that's just as impossible. Unless a representative of the bank who is authorised to do such a thing signs a legally binding agreement which entitles...
ach, it's not even worth entertaining the idea!!

If the original problem hasn't been sorted despite all of the effort put in so far, I'd admit it's a lost cause and go elsewhere.

[kazza12345]

is it though stevie21? My bank charges me for letters it sends me when i have done things that annoy them - and can change the amount they charge by giving me 30 or so days notice. If i gave them notice of me intending to start charging them in a particular matter, im sure they would make damn sure i didn't have to write to them about it again

[stevie21]

No, no, no and more no.
You need to have an agreement with them (often called "terms and conditions") which you've agreed to and which has the other person's signature on which outline :
"if you do this, we can charge you �30. We can change this charge or reason for incurring it if we give you 30 days notice in writing"

You do not have such an agreement with the bank that allows you to charge *them*. Abandon any notions of common sense and see it from a "legal contract" point of view.

"If i gave them notice of me intending to start charging them in a particular matter, im sure they would make damn sure i didn't have to write to them about it again"
Then bank need to agree to these charges before you can expect cash from them.

[pignpog]

DING DING --- ROUND 2!!! kazza & steve.... shake hands and return to your corners. Thanks for your advice all- case CLOSED

[stevie21]

I hate being called "Steve" :(

[pignpog]

my apologies stevie......... i saw my mistake after i had typed it.. didnt think u would notice :os