Mornin' all ! I received my Notice of Issue on Saturday morning. Issued 26/06/07 - sent to defendant 1st class post 05/07/07 - deemed to be served 07/07/07 - defendant has until 23/07/07 to reply. So, the picture so far is this: Prelim sent 23/05/07. LBA sent 07/06/07. N1 filed 24/06/07. Claim served 07/07/07 (spooky !). .................. Here we go then . . . Thanks to everyone for your advice so far - I assume I'll be posting back here in just under 14 days time asking about CPR 18 and a defence from Messrs Cobbetts. Onwards ! jon

Update (again !): I just rang the court and spoke to a very helpful lady - there is a backlog - some of their data entry is outsourced to a (I assume less busy) court in Yeovil - the data entry person is off sick and due back in today - so my claim isn't technically served until she inputs it onto their system - so at the moment "the computer says no !". Poor woman - she's probably got this dreadful summer cold that's doing the rounds - what we really need is some sunshine - I personally, have had it with rain ! Upwards !

Thanks - yeah - I've decided to see what postie brings tomorrow morning - if nothing, then I'll definitely ring them. God, I hope it's not something ominous (!) - I really need this to work out . . . (as we all do). Onwards ! Jon

Hi clOndOn, I'm following your thread with great interest - my case is around a week behind yours ... : prelim:23.05.07 LBA: 07.06.07 N1 filed:24.06/07 (Waiting for news - see my thread) I wish you the very best with your case - I'm rooting for you !! All the best, Jon

Update: I still haven't heard anything from the County Court where I filed the claim (BRISTOL) and it's been over a week now. I hope this is not *too* strange. . . When I filed against Lloyds TSB through MCOL, I got notice of service in 3 days. Can anyone advise whether this is an abnormally long time to wait please ? Should I perhaps give it another day and then ring the court ? The only problem is that the clerk said he couldn't stamp the N1 and allocate it a claim number there and then (and my copy [of the three I took in] would be posted out to me) - and he warned me that they have "up to 4 months to serve it" - I *really* hope it doesn't take that long ! All the best, jon

Thanks. I think I just got the Postal Strike Friday Night Jitters ! I *do* feel confident - I also know that patience is a virtue . . . . (and a necessity !). Onwards !

Hi everyone, I've been pondering something over the last couple of days . . . As my claim is quite large (nearly £11K - with court fee and 8% interest) - do all the threads and extremely useful masses of information regarding AQs and the Court Bundle apply to my case ? (can I fill out an AQ just as for small claims track and is the court bundle going to be the same) ? - also - the CPR 18 request that I assume will be coming - as my claim's well over £5K I take it that I'll have to respond to that. . . If anyone can either give me a thread relating to a large claim (successful) or give me a run-down on the differences (if any) between a large claim and one of under £5K I would be extremely grateful. Obviously, if all the processes are the same, just a simple thumbs-up will do. I would just hate to lose out on such a large sum of money (for the second time really - as it was taken from me once already) due to something popping out of nowhere and tripping me up. Thanks and happy weekend. . . Jon

Just got back from the County Court where I filed my N1 form and paid the £250. Still no post from NatWest regarding my LBA. A massive thank-you to all who have helped me so far. I hope you don't mind doing a bit more hand-holding in a couple of weeks when this claim really gets going. Onwards ! Jon

Thanks Steven - I will probably do that once I've filed my N1, which I am doing this morning. (Otherwise Cobbetts may not know who I am ? - I think I'll give the N1 a few days to soak in and then write requesting T&Cs) Do you know how I change the name of this thread ? - anyone ? .................. Thanks for all the advice. J

not a problem. I'm rooting for you.

Many thanks Steven. Do you think that the 2002 ones will do ? Thanks. J

Does anyone have a copy of the terms and conditions from 1989 ? I suspect not . . . The rot set in back in 2001, but really got a grip in 2003 - so perhaps a copy of the 2002 terms and conditions will be ok for my court bundle (I did say I was being prepared - I am getting the bundle together already, so I don't have a panic later). Could anyone advise on this Terms and Conditions question please ? Happy (wet) weekend everyone ! J

same thing happened to me - the three pages with the most charges on (two in excess of £330 and one for over £250) were duplicated in my pile of what must be around 300 sheets. Strange ........ Or do you reckon someone goes through them first, then they duplicate the big ones in the hope that we won't notice and then they can tell us we are incompetent and wriggle out of paying up - well they didn't bank (excuse pun) on us using CAG did they !!! Good luck, J

Greetings Mr TB One I recognise your name from the Lloyds TSB forum. I read your thread there with avid interest once you got to the Bailiff stage - I won against Lloyds TSB by default and issued a warrant of execution - they paid on the exact same day (about 3 hours too late !!) The Fees section at MCOL kindly refunded my Warrant fee (£55) - now there's a company who knows how to treat "customers" Anyhow, I just thought I should touch base and show moral support as a fellow "I've beaten Lloyds - now on to NatWest" person. Very best of luck ! Onwards, Jon

Thank-you Steven - I knew I could rely on you for sound advice. I like the new "Don't Panic" avatar by the way - nice one ! Onwards ! Jon

One more thing . . . I've got my 3 copies of N1 with attached Schedule (showing 8% interest and with Monday's date [25/06/2007]) - why do I need to take 3 copies to the court ? Also, in my POC, I've put the exact date I opened the account (02/10/89) - I assume this won't mean that they think I'm claiming more than 6 years ? My first charge that I'm claiming for was applied to the account on 20/11/2001 and this appears in the POC. Stupid question, I'm sure, but I don't want to make any mistakes. (My previous claim against Lloyds TSB was issued through MCOL) Thanks J

Yes - not a very tricky name to deduce is it ?! Elementary ! Thanks to everyone for the support.

Hi ! Today is LBA deadline - postie has not been yet, so no news (not really expecting any !). One good thing - whilst plugging a cable into the back of the computer, I found a glossy copy of the NatWest "A guide to Personal Current Account fees and interest" - good to have for the court bundle !! I notice in there that there's a section headed "6. Fees" - which basically outlines all the charges we claim back - then the section after next is headed "8. Fees for specialist services" - such as canceling cheques etc... I think this is where they trip themselves up when they say that their charges are fees for legitimate services - how come they are listed in separate sections then ? - Hmmmm - interesting ! I would really like it if a Moderator could possibly change the name of this thread to "NotWatson vs. NatWest" - as "about to start" is not right any more !!! Thanks. I'll keep crossing my fingers, but am 100% prepared for dropping my N1 form down to the court on Monday (it's all ready to go !). Cheers J

Hi Everyone, Tomorrow (21st) is the deadline set out in my LBA. I am ready and willing to file the N1 form at my local court - I used MCOL for my Lloyds claim, but think I will struggle to get all the info into the on-line form for this one ! I have a couple of questions though . . . 1. How much is this gonna cost me ? (claim is £9,330 - 8% interest is £1,261.29 as of 21st June [tomorrow]). 2. I've read quite a few threads where people have filed their claims only to receive an offer seemingly posted a few days earlier. Will it look really bad if I leave this N1 form until Monday next week ? I just think that as it falls across a weekend, I will only actually lose 1 day, compared to MCOL, as they don't action any claim until 10am the following day . . . I know these probably seem to be dumb questions but I've got a two feelings - one is that I may get an offer any day (dreaming obviously) and the other is that I will have to go all the way on this one (reality bites !). Any thoughts would be gratefully received. Onwards ! Jon

One other thing - can one of the Moderators perhaps change the title of my thread - as "about to start" seems inappropriate now. Something along the lines of "NotWatson vs NatWest" would be better !! Thanks Jon

Hello everyone, Just a quick post to say that my LBA is printed out with my schedule of charges and will be posted by special delivery first thing this morning. As NatWest replied I altered the first line of the template LBA to read: "I am very disappointed that you have only responded to my letter of the 23rd May 2007 with a standard letter." I think this is appropriate, as I am disappointed. The bank have until 21st June to respond. I'm sure that I won't get paid before then, so am bracing myself for MCOL - although I am absolutely prepared - like all the best advice says - I am assuming this will go to court - then if it does I'll be 100% prepared - if it doesn't, I'll be pleasantly surprised !! Have a good day everyone ! Jon

Hi all. Standard letter from Stuart Higley just arrived, dated 01-Jun-2007. Here's the letter... "Dear Mr ****** Thank you for your recent letter regarding the fees applied to your account. We are currently considering your claim. Given the work involved in assessing your claim we anticipate that we will be in a position to respond within 6-7 weeks, but will endeavour to do so sooner if we are able to. Yours sincerely, Stuart Higley Customer Relations" Now . . . I assume this is the letter that everyone else has had at this stage (if they have had contact). The thing is, tomorrow is the day for me to send my LBA with schedule attached as per my preliminary letter (sent 23/05/07) - so I take it that I still send the LBA, as 6-7 weeks does not fit into my timetable. If someone could just confirm this, then the LBA and schedule of charges will go off special delivery tomorrow morning. Perhaps advise whether I should use the template LBA or whether I should alter it to respond to their 6-7 weeks timescale. Thanks. I suppose the fact that NatWest have made contact within my first deadline and, bearing in mind the magnitude of my claim (£9,330 in charges alone) this means that they will take me all the way . . . I am well prepared with all the information at hand and will not rest until this is done. Onwards ! Jon

Thank-you Wendy and Hedgey. Of course, yes, I did add all the charges up for the prelim. and inserted the correct figure into the (excellent) template preliminary letter. And yes, calm down everyone, I used the wrong word - I know that the 8% is only claimable at court claim stage and used the word "optional" to be applied to my viewing preferences for the spreadsheet - I can see it or hide it at will. You are all such sticklers for doing things (and saying things) the right way, the CAG way and imho The best way ! It's good to know that if any of us do get things back-to-front there are good people here to stop us spinning and point us towards the light again ! I sent the prelim. to Borehamwood and will send LBA there too - with the schedule attached. After a 5 month battle with Lloyds TSB I just hope this gets resolved quickly (although at over £10K I can't see it happening like that - in reality). Onwards ! Jon

Thanks for the encouragement. Subsequently, I've completed the spreadsheet showing all charges and with the (optional) 8% - thanks to everyone for those. When I sent my Prelim. I wrote: "I have previously requested details of all charges made in the last six years and you furnished me with a complete record of my bank statements covering this period. I am therefore in possession of a complete schedule of charges and can supply this if necessary (although as the information came from yourselves, I imagine this will not be necessary) " I just wanted to get that letter off asap - and then do the schedule ready for LBA - which I have now done. So I can now send it with my LBA on the 7th June. Do you all reckon this is ok? or should I send it to customer relations now so that they can lose it and not staple it to my prelim. letter !? Having won against Lloyds TSB recently (btw - I had *no* communication from them or their solicitors [only official court documents] - they didn't enter a defence - still radio silence even though they paid my claim in full [including interest] on the 15th May!) and unfortunately being taken right to the wire and having to issue a warrant of execution, does anyone have any idea of the percentage of NatWest claims that get settled before the MCOL stage ? (I read somewhere that actually issuing the warrant is very rare - lucky me !). Eight days left now for them to reply to my prelim. letter - I assume the general advice would be not to hold my breath ! best, jon

Thanks. Can anyone give some idea of how often NatWest settle before the county court claim stage ? I have a feeling (from my reading and experience) that Lloyds TSB never settle before the court stage (my claim against them invloved going as far as issuing a warrant of execution after a Judgment by default was issued against them - they paid on the exact same day that my warrant was issued using MCOL, so didn't pay the warrant fee [as with MCOL things aren't actioned until 10am the following day] - but I've asked MCOL for a refund and if I don't get that, I'll ask the bailiff to get it from Lloyds !). Also, do NatWest routinely make an offer of settlement after either the prelim. or LBA letters ? Stupid questions I'm sure - especially with such a large claim, but in my dream world, they would offer me a complete settlement around about the LBA stage . . . . Ah . . . dream on! Jon