The Bingley has bungled

Photo: Picture: Darren Robinson

LINDA GRIME speaks to a member of staff during her one-woman protest outside the Bradford and Bingley branch in High Street, Oldham.

Cheques mix-up freezes woman’s savings
A FRUSTRATED saver launched a one-woman protest outside the Bradford and Bingley bank in Oldham after her savings were left in limbo.

Linda Grime has been unable to touch the £9,000 in her account since April, when she decided to transfer the sum to the Yorkshire Building Society.

Although the two branches are only a few hundred yards apart in High Street, her savings have been trapped since she decided to close her B&B ISA.

Mrs Grime, of Pennine View, Royton, said: “I wanted to do better with my money, so I decided to open another account and to take out a bond.

“Because of the taxman, I had to make sure I got two cheques — one for the bond and one for the new account.

“But the B&B didn’t follow instructions, and sent one cheque instead of two to the Yorkshire.

“The Yorkshire returned the cheque on May 9 and since then I have written to the B&B head office, been to see the branch manager twice, and contacted the banking ombudsman, who has acknowledged my letter.

“There have also been numerous phones calls but the B&B says the cheque was lost in the post.

“Then last week it was found at the bottom of someone’s paperwork. But now the B&B is too busy to deal with it.

“Last Friday, I decided that if something wasn’t done I was going to the Chronicle.

“And on Saturday I got a computer-generated letter, not a personal one, saying it would take another three weeks to sort out.

“All I have got at the moment is the £40 a month I have been putting into my new account by direct debit since April — £120.

“The B&B is saying my account is closed, but because of data protection the Yorkshire can’t speak to them about it.

“I am getting nowhere and no one seems to be interested. That’s why I have decided to protest outside the bank.”

A spokeswoman for the Yorkshire said Mrs Grime made her application on April 8, but because they were sent one cheque instead of two they had had to return it.

She added: “We are doing everything that we can, but the account is in her name and there is only so much we can discuss with the Bradford and Bingley. It is very unfortunate but our hands are tied.”

A B&B spokeswoman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience and concern caused to Mrs Grime.

“We are working closely with the Yorkshire Building Society to get to the bottom of the issue.

“If it is found to be Bradford and Bingley’s fault, we will obviously pay compensation and any interest lost.”