The army veteran said he had to survive on tins of soup until a replacement card arrived
00:01, 25 Jul 2026Updated 00:58, 25 Jul 2026
Paul Melling says he lived on ’emergency rations’ for three weeks(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A pensioner says he was unable to buy food or pay his bills for three weeks after his Barclays debit card was cancelled. Army veteran Paul Melling said the ordeal has left him “full of nerves” as he struggled to access his money.
The 72-year-old, who lives alone in Crosby and has no family, said his problems began on June 30 after reporting two Amazon transactions that he did not recognise and requested that his existing debit card be cancelled and replaced, because he believed his card details may have been compromised.
Mr Melling said he was told a replacement card would arrive within seven days, but claimed he was left waiting for around three weeks before receiving a working replacement card.
During that time, Paul said he was unable to buy essential items, including bread and milk. He said he first realised there was a problem when his card was declined while shopping at Iceland.
He told the ECHO: “It’s been murder. Barclays said they were going to send me a new one and it would be with me in seven days.
Army veteran Paul Melling(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“It took three weeks. All that time, I couldn’t get food. I had no bread, no milk. I had the money, I just couldn’t use it.”
Without a working debit card, Paul said he relied on tins of food he had stored at home.
He said: “Luckily enough, I had tins of soup and beans in the cupboard. I keep rations just in case of emergencies.
“I’ve got two freezers, both of those were empty, my fridge was empty, all I had was tinned food and that was going down quick.”
The pensioner said he was too embarrassed to ask neighbours for help and did not know where to turn.
He said: “I was too ashamed to ask my neighbours for help. I live in a pensioner’s bungalow and you don’t see many people around – most people stay in.
“I wanted to go to a food bank but I didn’t know where to go. I wouldn’t even have been able to pay the taxi fare to get there.”
Paul said he contacted Barclays several times while waiting for his replacement card and was repeatedly told it was on its way.
After the expected delivery window had passed, it is understood Barclays arranged for a second replacement card to be sent out to him.
Mr Melling later received the original replacement card after it had already been superseded by the newer card, meaning it was no longer active. The courier-issued replacement card was subsequently delivered.
It is also understood that, during a later call, Barclays was unable to complete Mr Melling’s security checks and a temporary 24-hour restriction was placed on his telephone banking in line with standard safeguarding procedures.
Paul said: “They asked for my name, phone number and my mother’s maiden name. They told me I got it wrong. How could I get any of those wrong? I said I wanted to file a complaint and then the woman told me I was blocked and couldn’t call again for 24 hours.”
Separately, the ECHO understands Mr Melling’s mobile banking registration had previously been removed as part of an unrelated fraud-prevention review. As customers must use valid card details to re-register for mobile banking, he was unable to do so while waiting for a replacement card. He has since successfully re-registered.
Paul said the experience had taken a serious toll on his mental health.
He said: “I suffer with PTSD from being in the army and this has really made my health 10 times worse. It’s really weighed on me.
“My nerves have gone. I’m scared to use my card even now in case it gets blocked again. Every time I go to use my card, I’m shaking. I feel so embarrassed to go to the shops in case it declines.”
Barclays was approached for a comment about Mr Melling situation.