Fundraising Scouts hit by bank blunder
Group can’t pay in cheques for its roof campaign
02.07.2018 A Scout group that is fundraising for a new roof has been left unable to pay cheques into its bank account because of a blunder.
Paisley’s 33rd Gleniffer Scouts had a long-standing account with the TSB at its Neilston Road branch.
And when the branch closed the account was transferred to the banking giant’s High Street base.
But when Scout leaders tried to pay in cheques at the new branch they were told they could not do so as their account name had been changed.
Simon Lieberman, Group Scout Leader, said: “I went into the High Street branch to pay in some cash and some cheques for the group.
“The cashier said ‘Oh, that’s strange, they’ve changed the name of your account’.
“They also have downgraded our account from a charity business account to a personal account, which means that the two-signatory system for charity accounts doesn’t exist on our account.
“It has also given our treasurer access to online banking with sole rights to transfer money where they wish, and this is also probably breaking our Charity Commission code of practice for having a charity account with two signatories.”
As revealed in the Paisley Daily Express, the 33rd Gleniffer Scouts has just started a fundraising campaign to put on a new roof at its hut in Paisley’s Stoney Brae.
This will cost several thousand pounds.
Mr Lieberman added: “After starting our fundraising efforts we had a large cheque from a donor – a thousand pounds – and some other money.
“So I went into the High Street branch and tried to pay in cash and cheques.
“They accepted the cash but the cheques they would not accept.
“The cashier said they wouldn’t accept them and went to speak to the manager who basically said no, it’s not the account name.
“I was actually so annoyed that I left and went an filled in an online customer feedback on their website, which I’ve received nothing back for.”
And despite several attempts to get the matter sorted out, nothing has been done by TSB, according to Mr Lieberman.
“The ombudsman is or next port of call.
“At the moment with all of our efforts to try and fundraise we can’t actively do unless it’s through cash,” he added.
“A business like that with their banking codes of practice. I cannot see how they can set up an account in a different name, delete all the records of a group that’s been running for so many years, been paying money in regularly and then not do anything about it – and have no power within the branch, or even head office, to send a letter out to the correct person.”
And Mr Lieberman added: “I just hope they can do the right thing soon enough.”
A TSB spokesman said: “We are really sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.
“A member of our business banking team is in the process of getting in touch with the customer to put things right.
“In addition, the customer will have a dedicated relationship manager who will be able to help them make payments until this issue is fully resolved.”