How to respond to gesture in response to complaint

[Ambient1978]

Hi,

 

In 2011 I was refused a student account with Barclays whom I had held an account with for 12 years. There was some kind of minor, very old infringement (the next bank I spoke to said it should just have been underwritten).

 

In 2014 Barclays changed their overdraft fees and I became one of the huge losers. I was a mature student with no spare income whatsoever and was transitioning from a undergrad to a postgrad course funded by a sponsorship for students from under-priviliged backgrounds. I was right up to my £1600 limit for almost all of each month because the minuses were much bigger than the plusses. I went into two branches at the time to ask for advice or support and on both occasions I was basically told nothing they could do for me.

 

I wrote to complain a couple of weeks back, to tell them that they had introduced charges I had no way to escape and that for almost 2 years they had had me pinned against the wall, taking £30-45 in interest monthly. That now I have come to the end of my course and have money flowing again I feel greatly aggrieved at their lack of support and irresponsible profiteering and am considering which bank to use for career, homeownership etc. I haven't received a letter yet but have some kind of 'with apologies' £50 credit in my account.

 

Frankly, compared to both the amount of money they took from me (approx £800 total) and the amount of stress and anger and further financial problems it caused, it's insulting.

 

How should I respond to this. Am I lucky to have been offered anything? Is this an admission of guilt? I do not need or want the £50 so should I call customer services to tell them to take their money back, and if I do, what's my next step?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

PS - My account says 'current' though doesn't specify exactly which kind. I AM paying a monthly fee too though, which I found out yesterday after receiving their 'annual eligibility statement' telling me that I am eligible for insurance for a phone I have registered (from when, 1999?!) and gadget cover, for which I have no use and consequently no gadgets registed. Absolutely no idea where this fee came from, but that's another story!

Edited April 14, 2016 by Ambient1978

[dx100uk]

sar time that's for sure

 

 

and no I wouldn't accept it

well without asking for more

that's an insult

[Ambient1978]

Many thanks, i'll do that as soon as i've politely told them it's an insulting gesture and given them the opportunity to make their own reassessment of the situation.

 

This may be a dumb question but how do you pay ten pounds via post thesedays? Postal order... made out to?

[dx100uk]

read the full sar thread

 

 

dx

[slick132]

Hi Ambient and welcome to CAG

 

The £50 offer is not an admission of guilt. It's their attempt to nip your complaint in the bud and avoid having to address it properly.

 

Do NOT call Cust'r Svs and keep everything in writing only, so you have proof of all exchanges.

 

Unless the bank wrote to you about the £50, I see no need to refer to it at all just now.

 

Write to the bank with a copy of the original complaint letter saying you require their full reply within 14 days or you'll complain to their London HQ.

 

Re the monthly charges for the a/c, were you not aware that they were charging you for the a/c ?