Knowing he was terminally ill with lung cancer in 2011, my late husband organised a Platinum Barclaycard on his account to make my life easier for paying bills etc.
Several weeks later he died and I went to pay for the funeral flowers; but the card was rejected.
This was a very painful and humiliating experience. I didn’t know that bank and card accounts were closed immediately upon the holder’s death.
Still smarting from that moment I bought five shares in Barclays Bank for £10 and attended their Annual General Meeting in London.
As a shareholder I exercised my right to express my feelings to the main board.
The result was that Barclays changed their rule on the cards and extended their use so widowed partners could continue to use them for a month.
Surely it would be worth the while of a group of local people to buy Barclay shares, (now around £1.44), hire a minibus, and attend the AGM to express their deep concerns about the impending closure of the bank.
If each shareholder told the main board how much the closure would affect them, describing different aspects in each case, they might possibly dent the steely consciences seated below and affect a change of plan.
Many disabled people, non-drivers, and others living in outlying villages may be completely unable to access their bank if this local branch closes.
At least they could say they tried!
Joan Woolard
Fleet Hargate
