Thank you Bankfodder and Boltmaker for your very quick replies. I cannot at the moment confirm if the cause was every time taking the Direct Debit early. I have been downloading my bank statements from 2008 - 2015 but it says there are no statements for 2013, 2014 and 2015. All my banking was done online so i have no paperwork apart from what i have now downloaded. I will follow both your advice and check the details on the bank statements i have and also request what is needed, and will be back to you when i have managed to get it all. Thanks for your help. Georgina

I really hope that someone can help with this situation as i am in despair as to what to do. I have been with NatWest for a long time and have been on benefits since January 2008 due to various complex medical problems. During this time the bank has on numerous occasions charged me for direct debits that were collected before the time agreed and then extra charges each day until my benefits went in, then they would take the full amount owing and leave me very little money to live on for the next fortnight, so much so that i have gone without food and fuel on many an occasion. After getting advice i telephoned NatWest to explain my situation and they wrote off a substantial amount of the charges but still charged me a basic amount of approximately £50. I had to call them on three different occasions from 2008 - 2014 to sort this out. Two years ago i moved from England to Northern Ireland and where i am in Northern Ireland there is no NatWest and things started to get more difficult. After having my sixth mini-stroke last year i decided to open a post office account and have my benefits transferred to that account after i paid off the previous charges and the bank then stopped me using my bank card. I am now getting letters and texts saying that i now owe £300 plus as each day more is added even though i don't use the bank account as i can't anyway. I have recently been hospitalised due to a recent stroke like episode and feel that i cannot contact this bank again as it is too stressful. I have been informed that there is a new law regarding bank charges and people on benefits but i don't know where to start to look for this and am feeling overwhelmed at the thought of getting this sorted once and for all. Please help, and thank you Georgy

This may be okay if you are not currently on benefits, but if you are, and this has happened to my sister, a debt from 15 years ago and no paperwork provided but a regular amount was automatically taken off her benefits weekly to pay that debt that she couldn't even remember.