You ain't gonna belive this!!!

Guess you learned CYA tactics at work, too! 

Balmer's right. Amounts of 10,000 or more are reported, not 5,000 or more. It's just a sneaky tactic of Barclay's to gain interest on the money. (In the meantime, they're charging a hefty fee on the overdraft we now have on that account, which wouldn't have occurred if they'd cleared the check--from the same business as it HAS been for four-and-a-half years--in a reasonable amount of time.)

Correction. Aimiloo's the one who pointed out that it was $10,000 (not $5,000) that got reported. I tried to modify my previous post, but the laptop kept locking up.

Hehehe.  I was so close to saying 'No, that was me Suzanne!' but didn't want to seem petty. 

Funny! I always give credit where credit's due, a.

S

it makes me happy to see that i indeed remember some things from my financial training. 

I remember it from law enforcement guides I've edited--what they look out for as far as money laundering/drug money goes, and now, terrorist funding.

I started with NatWest and hated their service, especially the online banking. I'm now with HSBC and am happier. On the other hand, i know that fraudelant charges also occur with HSBC cards, and the one fruadulant charge that occurred with one of my US cards happened after I had gone to HSBC to withdraw cash with it. I can't help suspecting that it's bank employees doing most of the fraudulant stuff.

Update: The U.S. business check I deposited in my Barclay's account on the day after Thanksgiving (from one of the same organizations I've BEEN receiving checks from for four-and-a-half years) STILL hasn't cleared. In the meantime, I'm getting charged a ludicrous amount for being overdrawn on that account. I'm definitely switching banks when I get back to the U.K. Some have recommended HSBC on here--I think that's the way to go.

Update:  my bank submitted a fraud refund request for the £96 that was stolen from our account b/c of THEIR idiotic policy of sending out active chip and PIN cards by Royal Mail on 19 November.  We are STILL waiting for our refund.  I phoned the bank today.  They are currently processing claims from 1 November.  We can expect to wait another month for our refund.  So that will be TWELVE weeks to refund money stolen from us b/c they don't have their act together. 

Which bank, ex? "You're NOBODY until a cat has ignored you."

Update:  my bank submitted a fraud refund request for the £96 that was stolen from our account b/c of THEIR idiotic policy of sending out active chip and PIN cards by Royal Mail on 19 November.  We are STILL waiting for our refund.  I phoned the bank today.  They are currently processing claims from 1 November.  We can expect to wait another month for our refund.  So that will be TWELVE weeks to refund money stolen from us b/c they don't have their act together. 

have you asked them to pay interest on it? I would

Liz,

Are you overall happy with the Bank of Scotland? If not, do you have any recommendations? We've been debating whether to open a bank account here, but it would be a major hassle.

S

It's the Royal bank of Scotland (as distinct from Bank of Scotland which is a totally separate bank).  We've had a few problems - they have their fair share of incompetent workers but overall I find them better to deal with than Natwest who I used to have an account with.  Their staff are usually very helpful with day to day things but as I say they have messed up a couple of times (eg they set up our rent standing order for an incorrect amount).  My parents switched to RBS from Barclays and find them a lot better.

Liz,

Are you overall happy with the Bank of Scotland? If not, do you have any recommendations? We've been debating whether to open a bank account here, but it would be a major hassle.

S

We were happy with them . . . until now.  I mean, what a bunch of muppets!  And TWELVE weeks to refund money stolen from a customer?  Their service is far from consistent as well.  In addition to the £96 some thief charged up on a Switch card, s/one also set up a direct debit to O2 for £30.  I wasted a LOT of time trying to get that £30 back - no one would tell me we needed an Indemnity Claim and several employees, including those in our branch, told us we needed to claim the funds back from O2.

Bank of Scotland has been Halifax Bank of Scotland for about a year now, and I wouldn't touch them w/a ten-foot barge pole if I were you, Suzanne.

Britwife, thanks for the idea about asking for interest on the monies.  All they did was extend our overdraft, so that every month since we've wound up about £100 into it. 

Two thumbs down to these numpties for moronic security policies and crap service.  As soon as we get the money back, we're going elsewhere.