News and Star - Bank charges row

A CARLISLE businessman spent a night in jail after a row over bank charges led to two cheques worth £90 bouncing.

Simon Tucker, 26, was furious after police arrested him at his home while he spent the evening with friends at his home.

He blamed Barclays Bank, with whom he had been in dispute after £240-worth of charges were slapped on his business account, for his arrest.

The former Workington Reds and Annan Athletic player reportedly threatened to close his account unless the charges were refunded and told bank officials to transfer its balance to his personal account.

Barclays, however, claimed Mr Tucker, a salesman, instructed them to close his account.

He said: “I have never been in trouble with the police before and the arrest was very upsetting.”

Police, who accused him of obtaining property by deception because the cheques were dated after the bank account was closed, released him on bail the following morning and later dropped the investigation.

And despite the Financial Ombudsman investigating the incident and ruling that Barclays were not at fault for the incident, the bank has offered him £1,000 compensation to the account of his firm – Tucks Limited – as a gesture of good faith, which Mr Tucker is understood to be considering.

A Barclays spokesman said that in light of funds being removed from the business account, two requests for the account to be closed Mr Tucker not attending an appointment, management thought he no longer wanted to retain his account.

He added: “Mr Tucker is upset the dishonour of the cheques led to his arrest. However, he asked for the account to be closed and requested the money in the account be removed.

“He would therefore have been fully aware that the account had insufficient funds and it either was closed or was being closed and no further cheques should be drawn on it.”

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