A RETIRED accountant has said he is “shocked” at treatment from a leading high street bank after discovering a cheque paid in for nearly £1,000 failed to appear in his account.

Elliot Furniss

A RETIRED accountant has said he is “shocked” at treatment from a leading high street bank after discovering a cheque paid in for nearly £1,000 failed to appear in his account.

David Bigg, also chairman of the Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association, complained to Barclays Bank last week after a cheque he deposited at his local branch in Witham failed to register on his statement.

After enquiring about the matter, Mr Bigg, of Maldon Road, Witham, was told that he would be contacted within 24 hours in a bid to resolve the issue - a phone call that he never received.

Yesterday, after it was brought to the attention of the EADT, a spokeswoman for Barclays said the full amount had now be deposited into Mr Bigg's account and he had been offered an apology.

Mr Bigg, 61, paid in the cheque on March 17 and only discovered that it had failed to be processed when he received his statement at the end of the month.

He visited the branch last Thursday and again on Saturday - each time he was politely told to await a phone call from a representative of the bank.

“There's been no shouting or hollering and I have been going about it in a professional way, but as a customer of 30 years standing, I expect to be treated with a bit more care,” he said. “I'm actually shocked by the way this has been handled.”

Mr Bigg has now contacted the financial ombudsman and feels his loyalty to the company has not been reflected in the service he has received.

He added: “All they did was offer me a loan - that doesn't solve anything.”

Irene East, head of community relations, eastern at Barclays, said the issue had been thoroughly investigated and an apology had been issued.