Hi,

Don't know if anyone can help, RBS closed my account in 1999. I sent a Data Protection Letter with my account numbers but they have written back stating they have no record of the account. I intended to apply to have the statute of limitations overturned to claim back the charges, but if they are saying they have no record of the account I don't know where to go from here.

To further complicate things, they passed the (overdraft) debt on to a company called BTMK. They reduced the amount originally demanded and I was paying them £50 month for years (repaid £1,118.91 in total). Anyway stopped paying them in April when this OFT announcement came out. BTMK started sending the nasty letters and I wrote asking for the deed of assignment, (11th August 2006). They wrote to me stating they had wrote off the remaining £500 which they said was outstanding and my case was now closed. They returned my £1 postal order. They then phoned me and said that I acknowledged the debt by agreeing to repay the reduced amount and if I pursued the matter they would make me repay the £500 they have written off. I have still not received the deed of assignment and want to know if I can take action to recover the £1,118.91 I have paid to them. Also I want to know if I can use BTMK to get RBS to acknowledge the existance of my account.

Would really appreciate any advice on this one.

I had similar problems with old, now defunct accounts. I gave RBS a list of my previous addresses, account opening branch, date of birth -every identifying thing I could think of, but they claimed they could find no trace. I hadn't kept my old statements, which were lost during a house move.

Luckily I found an old compliments slip which had the current account number on it so using the SAR got those statements, and trawling through them I found my linked loan account. Still having throuble getting those staements but a letter to the information commissioner is on its way.

I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found the old compliments slip. I find it hard/ impossible to believe that RBS don't have a database record somewhere.

Can anyone else think of something to help Soudimail? - I think the bank are just playing games. I certainly found them infuriating to deal with when I didn't know my account details. Common sense says BTMK must know the account details and RBS must keep records of debts they sell/ pass on.

I've had same response on an old account - fortunately I have the statements so they're not getting away with it!

I think this must now be a standard response from RBS until you start to get heavy. I'm going to report as well as claim.

It will be interesting to see how many more CAG members post on this.

NatWest can't find my accout details and the account was closed by them two and a half years ago. I fail to understand why details would just be wiped. They need to keep them for a number of years, right?

My case is below, any help is appreciated.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/natwest-bank/147769-natwest-****-allegedly.html#post1571344

Can't believe NW haven't got them after only 2.5 years. I understand companies have to keep them for a minimum of 6 years after your contract (account) has finished. Think it's statutory - to do with Companies Act & Statute of Limitations etc. Maybe check on the provisions of the act?

If you have the account no & sort code, they have the data. we did our SAR in march & got back statements from 1991. however 1 account we couldn't find the acc no for, we gave them the sort code, date it was opened.....but still nothing. Unless its on the screen infont of them it never existed. Don't believe anything they say.

...keep asking questions.