dear o dear o dear Soie76; my experience .. some sweet talk from Customer Relations - where everything you say can and will be regugitated back to you - predicament - if you don't talk you cannot express your loss, but it is a fact finding quest - remember for there guys it is nothing more than a job - in my case some old gentleman expressing that he can see my point of view, my loss, BUT never admitting fault and even when they did they will throw in a clanger to incite you, but you try hard not to bite! So, be factual, not emotional, and like the episode here shows - you will get some compensation - which won't be equal to your loss monetarily nor as a means of replacing sentimentality. Finally- you will be made an offer which you won't like, you will go to the Ombudsman, you will get half a dozen letters from the Ombudsman saying they are really busy and the gov't does not give them too many staff, so you will get to a stage when you will not be looking for the Ombudsman's letter, and when 'that' one arrives, you will open it 2nd or 3rd instead of the first one to be opened, and then lo and behold ... "we have considered your case and in our opinion the Bank has made a reasonable offer and we advise you to accept it, and sign here please... however if you do not accept the offer, you are at liberty to take legal action ... blah blah blah PHat! Sorry that this is negative, but it was a journey, and the journey taught me a few lessons in life; 1. you are small compared to the corporate, 2) Emotions do not work 3) Health and Character matter more than wealth 4) Move on. BUT you have to go through the journey as otherwise you won't know whether yours would have taken a different route. You can always earn the money to replace the loss. Don't lose your health in the quest though. Good Luck.

I hear that there is some website where one can post potential cases, and which solicitors visit to search for potential cases - anyone know name of this website? For my issue, I have now referred to the Financial Ombudsman, but am mindful of the time they take (as they are not adequately resourced).

never had need to go look at the items at all in the Bank for such a long time; seriously that is why; incredible that isn't it? And when we did go back to get access, and discovered it had long been gone, we had to take time out, and pinch ourselves - THIS CAN'T BE TRUE - we asked ourselves; but hey it is true - Once we stirred up a fuss, it took circa 6/8 weeks for the box to be returned to us via the bank ... The point really is that this should not have happened at all, and the Bank is negligent - the third party to me is just simply noise ...

*sigh* there is the temptation to put a line thru the episode, swallow my pride, and let bygones be bygones, as one thing this will not do is bring back those sentimental items ... But I may feel different tomorrow ... And England may re-win the Ashes ...

it was a locked petty cash box - which implies it may not be pickable - though the insurance company person who arrived and was an ex policeman tells me it is as easy as lemon-squeezey! The other indiividual kept the box for 4.5 years, never questioning it was not theirs, and only returned it, 'cos fate brought us together and we had formed a friendly relationship. Ouch! Does this hurt! In this episode I have lost a dear friend!

Yourbank, I see your point, and one that the Bank's Customer Relations keeps drumming into me; but I did not ask to be put into this situation; they released the box without my permission to a party that I did not know, never had authorised; I now know this party, and without giving names away, this has occurred because myself and my wife have the same initials as the third party and his wife, and yes the same surname; but then how many Smiths and Lees and Watsons, and patels are there! The Bank *Should* have compared signatures, and apparently did, but have also told me explicitly that the release signature does not match with those on the Lodgement Record. My predicament is how do I prove what jewellery was in the box. Thanks for the comments.

Thanks for that; I too thought it would be a no brainer ... the bank has issued a Final Response; I have replied (specia delivery) to them, and cc'ed the CEO; the CEO's office have replied implying " ... we have deliberated and stand by our FInal response ... ", so I have now wrtitten off to Watchdog, put in this thread here, and next stop is Moneyclaim online. Much appreciated for the response ...

In these days where a victim is considered the harmed party, why am I, who through the admitted negligence of the National Westminster Bank, treated with such disdain? Not only have I incurred financial loss to the tune of £5,000 in addition to the heartache, anguish, stress and time through the action of the Bank wrongfully releasing my safe deposit box to an unauthorised third party, but they won't even let me see their records of who else has had access to my safe deposit box! I also have to endure condescending letters offering insignificant compensation (£750:eek:), which tell me "I should pursue compensation from my own insurers.", and that I am at liberty to take this to the Financial Ombudsman. Anyone can see that the Bank is responsible for its actions - in fact we (my wife and I) had signed up to the clause " We agree that, except in respect of loss, damage or delay directly caused by the negligence or misfeasance of the Bank’s own officers or servants, the above items is/are lodged with the Bank at our own risk". But, as always, it is the Bank who has the upper hand against an individual. The Bank refuses to accept liability for the financial losses we incurred as a direct result of its own admitted wrongdoing. Fair justice, where Banks are concerned, would be a bonus. Any advice on how to proceed?