FROZEN OUT BY Nationwide

Couple's account is locked without any warning just weeks before Christmas and when they ask how they are supposed to feed their two kids the answer comes back GO TO A FOOD BANK

-  GEMMA RYDER

FROZE OUR ACCOUNT & TOLD US TO GO TO A FOOD BANK

Callous remark made as access to money to feed kids is blocked| Dad: It's our cash but we have been treated worse than criminals

A FAMILY accounts whose bank were frozen without warning claim customer service staff told them to visit a food bank.

John McGuigan, 39, and his partner Stacey Peat, 28, had their current and savings accounts suspended by Nationwide on Tuesday and suddenly found themselves unable to even feed their young daughters.

The couple, parents to Sophie, eight, and Rachael, 18 months, were left stunned when they asked for help from a staff member at the bank, which is using The Crown's Dominic West to front its latest ad campaign.

John, who works for a bathroom company, told the Record: "The last four days have been nothing but stress. To put a young family through this in a cost-of-living crisis is a disgrace.

"For a bank to suggest going to a food bank to feed our children when it's their incompetence that has put us in this situation is incredibly insulting and insensitive."

Stacey, who works as a carer, was first contacted by Nationwide on November 3 when the bank said it was reviewing accounts the couple, from Uddingston in Lanarkshire, have had for five years.