Day One Into The New Year And I'm Already In Trouble...

[Georgia-]

*** hopefully this is the correct thread to be posting in, apologies if not, I!m still fairly new :oops:***

I'm freaking out. Im so stupid. My anxiety has come back since leaving my abusive boyfriend at the end of August, to the point where I've probably left my house about 10 times since leaving him. I rarely use my bank (debit) account and in September I received a letter from HSBC saying I was £10.14 overdrawn due to a Spotify subscription that I had completely forgotten about, since I was so rarely home (at my absuers house for weeks at a time) the letter said I'd have to pay the £10.14 off in the next 14 days or my account would be closed, yet I'd still have to pay off the money.


I also didn't recieve the letter until half way through the 14 days which were dated on the letter. I had built it up to be something giant and intimidating and I was so scared to just do it. I didn't think it was a big deal if my account got closed since I never used it, and I thought I could pay off the money any time. Except yesterday I read online that someone got charged £40 for being 5p overdrawn from the same bank and I have been freaking out ever since.

So I mustered up the courage to go out this morning at 8 to check my balance at an ATM and my card got swallowed... I went home and dug up the letter and there was a number to call but it says its closed on public holidays (is new year a public holiday? I guess?) I haven't even tried calling because I'm so scared. It's literally been months now because the letter ddidn't specify that there would be interest. I know the bank won't care or sympathise and will just want the money. Nothing like this has ever happened before. The only reason I opened an account so I could receive EMA from my school, which I've been out of since 2012.

It's probably hundreds and I don't have the money... I really don't know what to do. I've been crying and shaking since and I just want to die because I'm so afraid :( If anyone could give any reassurance or has been in a similar situation, advice would be appreciated :cry:

- Georgia

 

[macca]

Hey Georgia. I've had dealings with HSBC before, and haven't had them charge like that. Maybe that one you read about online was a mistake, rather than a policy of theirs? I think that there would be consumer law against crazy fees like that. Banks do take New Year's Day off, so you'll be able to call them tomorrow. I'd guess that the ATM swallowed your card because they've closed your account. That's happened to me before too.

This is where my T would say - what is the worst thing you can imagine happening? Is it something you can get through? For you, maybe it's that they do actually charge you a lot. You could then take it to whatever consumer protection group you have in your country, or ring the bank and come to a payment arrangement. Very worst case. But - what about the best thing you think might happen? The best thing I could think of is if they just closed your account and wrote off the debt. And what I've been taught is - what usually happens is something between these two extremes. So that might be - you might owe a bit, (like the 10 pounds), but not too much. I've unfortunately had to deal with debt a lot - they are always happy with a payment arrangement if you cannot pay straight away.

I hope this helps! And I've freaked out heaps before. We all do from time to time. It's the PTSD, we are just so wired, it's easy for it to tip over. Just breathe deeper, and slower. You did great to leave the house to check!

 

[Georgia-]

Thank you so much, Macca! I just let out a huge sigh of relief. I do have a slight (ha) tendency to overthink and as a consequence I expect the worst case scenario. My original plan was to check my balance and then buy a new journal for the new year because I had a wave of determination for self improvement. Thankfully that determination is still there and though it's slightly wavered I will be sure to phone them tomorrow. I'm also heavily considering getting back into councilling because I figure the longer I leave these things the worse they get.

But again; thank you so much, this is only my second time posting on here and once again I'm blown away by how understanding this community is. It's incredible how much I've managed to work myself up now and on other occasions when all it takes is a few words of reassurance from others to snap me back into reality.

 

[Echo]

Hi Georgia, everyone in the UK is entitled to a basic bank account. I understand that it doesn't matter what kind of debt you might be in, you are still entitled to have one. So if I were you, I'd open one of those. I would also suggest you go to Citizens' Advice about how to deal with HSBC. I have read some articles about them, and they are bullies, but there are lots of consumer protection laws to stop them asking for more money than you are able to pay back. As Georgia says, getting a payment arrangement sorted out is the best way to go - ask at Citizens' Advice (I consulted them about something else, and they are very good) - and you will probably be able to pay back whatever you owe in very small amounts each month, so it doesn't make it difficult for you to cope in the meantime. When you've got PTSD, everything seems so much more overwhelming, doesn't it? But, in this case, I'm sure you'll find lots of help available to you.

 

[arfie]

Hi Georgia. You did just fine with your posting. Hope to see your next post soon.

I have zero experience with UK banking, but a general trend I have noticed in all the countries I have lived in is that SNAFUs happen. "Situation Normal. All Fouled Up." I try to treat them like flies, ticks and mosquitoes. Pesky little critters are gonna find me, no matter where I live. Not worth ruining a day over. Sometimes it works... Sigh.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Your bank may be forgiving because this is your first time? I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to freak you out. Just be sure to call your bank first thing in the morning.

 

[Hashi]

I know the bank won't care or sympathise and will just want the money.

You don't know this! A lot of banks will be sympathetic and try to help you, especially if it's the only time you've slipped up. The bank doesn't want to make things complicated or unaffordable for you, because then it takes their time and that's expensive for them.

If the letter said they would close your account, then they've probably done this without any more charges anyway. There might be a little interest on the overdraft, but if they were about to charge you lots extra they would have said that in the letter.

Whatever the situation, this is something you can sort out with them. I'd recommend not listening to/reading other people's stories about bank charges. Your situation isn't their situation. Your experience with the bank doesn't have to be their experience.

The important thing is to contact them (when they're available), explain, and be nice! Say that you made a mistake and want to sort it out. If you're able to say anything by way of explanation - for example, that you've been under a lot of stress the last few months - they'll probably be sympathetic to that.

Day one into the new year and you're taking control. Take it one step at a time. Try not to imagine hundreds of pounds of charges, because that's incredibly unlikely. Wait and see what they say. The situation probably isn't nearly as bad as you're worrying it is. And once you've sorted this out it won't be hanging over you any more. Stay brave! Good luck.

 

[Georgia-]

Argh okay - I phoned them and I need my card details for them to access my account, and since I don't have my card I need to log in online and get the details from there. I explained what was said on the letter and the man on the phone said there will be interest added and I need to go into my nearest HSBC branch asap. Trying not to think too much about it but I am stressing a little. Hopefully the interest will be low but I'm scared. He didn't know how much I was overdrawn by so perhaps that will make a difference since it's a little amount of money? I sure hope so.

I'm determined to get this out of the way today because I'm a bajillion times more stressed out :( thank you everyone for being so kind. I really think teenagers shouldn't be trusted with things like this haha.

 

[cherryblossom]

Your card details might be on a previous statement from them, if you have kept them.

Whilst I understand not wanting to think about it - don't put off acting on it. The sooner you can get this sorted the less interest you will have to pay.

Someone else mentioned the citizens advice - brilliant idea. I'm sure they could help you out. Even if it's just sound advice as to where you stand legally, so the bank doesn't take advantage of you.

The worst case scenario really wont be as bad as you think, so long as you deal with it. Know is much better than stressing about the unknown.

God luck!

 

[Georgia-]

Thank you :) since my last post I've had a bit of a breakdown, I still feel shaky and nauseous. My WiFi cut out for hours and I panicked about not being able to access my bank account, but that is being sorted now.

I've been putting off going to the bank but a friend who is home from university for the holidays contacted me and asked me to see her this evening. I told her what's going on and she provided reassurance and I may visit the bank before I see her tonight.

I don't feel as though I can trust my family very much but I know my eldest brother has helped with financial issues in the past so I'm quite tempted to ask him for advice since I'm nervous about phoning the Citizens Advice as I am so shaken and I'm not sure if they will see this as an issue/any thing but my fault.

I feel really pathetic for being too scared to do anything about it. I really feel l should of had some form of training before being classed as an adult because this happened far too easily :P

 

[cherryblossom]

Honestly, the Citizens advice won't judge you, they are there to help, and are used to dealing with people who are upset and depressed. I think you'll be surprised just how helpful they could be.

Talking to your Brother sounds like a good idea too. A problem shared . . etc

 

[Echo]

Hi Georgia, the last thing Citizens' Advice will do is to judge you. They'll just give you solid, good advice and probably be very friendly. You may be able to speak to them over the phone to get it sorted out, or you may need to make an appointment to go in and see someone. Either way, everything is done with respect and privacy, so you have nothing to worry about. Really.

You are not being pathetic. You just need some support because in your condition you can't help but get more stressed than someone who does not have it. We understand that. It might be worth giving the people at Citizens' Advice a bit of an idea about how scared you are, and why, so they can take that into account.

Best of luck. You can do it.