This topic was closed on 03/06/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/06/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/06/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/06/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

stefbate Who's the letter from? Natwest have a policy to resolve, or be on the way to resolving customer complaints within 10 days. Is is Natwest, or RBS?... AG

So I guess we are all at the mercy of the CRA's. I applied for my CRA file from Equifax. It's ridiculous, the way its set up is so anti-consumer its unreal. I had a DD returned from to Orange for my mobile bill. It's listed on my CRA file as a month late. Back to my original thread. My bank are threatening to default my account, but claim that they can do this before a CCJ is applied for, yet its not the same for me. I have to have a CCJ in place against the bank, then can enter a default. Thats sick! AG

stefbate As long as you really beleive that you are right, then you should not worry about explaining why they should pay you YOUR money back. Have a glass of wine and take a deep breath. You'll breeze it. AG

stefbate That's a huge amount of penalty charges. I still can't understand how they justify this to themselves. I think you have everyone's full support here on the forum. Don't back down, don't let them bully you. There are people here who can offer you some very sound advice. FAQ section is the best way to get a foundation on the law and the way that actions should be progressed. Then the library has most, if not all things you'll need. Once you've read through the relevent topics and spoken to people in a similar position, you'll feel more and more confident that you are in the right the bank is the one in the wrong. Best of luck mate. AG

I actually only owe them £202 + interest. This is my authorised OD plus two cheques i wrote totalling £102. They then added £300 in charges onto the £202 totalling £500+ In Dec 05 I paid back £209 in charges for a returned DD, this amount being fee on fee on fee etc. I wrote to Natwest to say that I was challenging the amount outstanding as £300 of it were unfair charges. My settlement offer was; I owe them £202 + interest in actual money I have spent of theirs. I had already paid £209 in charges in Dec 05. I suggested that they do not refund the £209 I had already paid, but keep this for the £202 + interest I now owe them. The other £300 in charges I am not willing to pay. Stuart Higley declined the offer with his standard letter. I am now in the position of the account being £500+ in arrears and they want the full amount. My salary does not go into this account, so they can't actually take the money from me in that way. They are threatening legal action to recover the debt. Including a Default Notice. How do I defend my position from hereon in? Thanks AG

This is regarding my ongoing battle with Natwest. Opened my account in May 05. Started occuring charges in Sept. 05 for DD returned. I have £100 authorised overdraft, the charges took me to £390 OD. I paid them in Dec. 05 in full and bought my account back into it's authorised OD. I then wrote 2 cheques with a card, which took me £202 OD. From then on the bank has applied charges which have taken the account to £500+ OD. The bank are threatening to default me if I don't pay the money back. I have spoken to Custmer Lending Centre, who told me that I could have £171 taken off the charges. I said thanks, but I want all the charges taken off. I then took this onto Customer relations who registered the compliant. I also sent the 1st letter from the library, adding that I had already paid them £209 in charges in Dec which I consider to be a penalty etc. and that I was willing to allow them to keep this, which would in turn cover my OD of £202, the balance they could keep as interest. Standard letter back yesterday from Stuart Higley saying the charges are fair etc... My question is. What do I do about arguing the case of me owing them money for charges which I consider to be unfair. I'm not chasing them for my money as such? Any help would be very much appreciated. AG

Ooops....yes you're right. Thanks AG

I thought 'without prejudice' was a term used when two parties are in dispute to make it clear that the settlement offer should not be construed as a waiver of rights. Could you explain why I shouldn't include it? Ta

Without Prejudice Penalty & unfair charges – request for settlement for Mr. Antigravity Acc: XXXXXXXX Sort Code: XXXXXX Dear Stuart I am writing in response to your letter dated 10th March 2006 with reference to the above issue. I must say that I am extremely disappointed to have received a standard response letter from you. The letter does not address many of the points in my letter dated 8th March 2006. To simply be sent a computer generated letter which has no doubt been sent to countless other customers is simply insulting. The whole reason behind my compliant stems from this fact; Natwest sending me a letter to tell me that it is applying charges to my account, varying from £28 to £35. My argument is that I am complaining to Natwest for imposing ‘Unfair’ charges on me, as the true cost to the Bank is many times lower than the actual charge for sending me a computer generated letter, with no human intervention. To further compound this, when I receive a letter in response to my complaint, it is also computer generated. You state in you letter that ‘We believe that our charges are fair, reasonable and transparent’. I would be extremely grateful if you would demonstrate the ‘transparency’ of your charges by including a breakdown of how they are calculated in your response. A considerable amount of my time has been spent in discussing this matter with various departments within Natwest which has led me here. Had you actually looked at my account and the history of dialogue between myself and Natwest, then you would be aware that an offer had been made by Mohammad Sajjad in the Customer Care Team for a sum of £171 to be deducted from your imposed charges. From that point on, several more conversations have ensued to further my compliant against Natwest. On receiving your letter today I contacted the Customer Relations Department and spoke with one of your representatives. She informed me that the matter had now been referred back to the branch, and would then be redirected to the Regional Department, who would re-address the issue and contact me sometime next week. I have offered Natwest a settlement which I consider to be reasonable, this was not mentioned in your response, neither was my reference to Natwest contacting the Credit References Agencies or any other Third Parties. May I remind you that under Section 13.6 of the Banking Code, Natwest may not give information to Credit Reference Agencies if monies are in dispute, which they clearly are. Despite this fact, I have recently received a ‘Formal notice of intention to file a default’ I would ask you to perhaps look at the history of dialogue between myself and Natwest before you respond to this letter to ensure you are addressing my complaint, and not just responding as per bank policy. Once you are fully up to speed with all the issues arising from my compliant we can then begin structured negotiations over the current issues, ensuring you uphold Natwest’s commitment to resolve my compliant fairly and quickly. Thank you again for your time, I look forward to hearing from you shortly. Yours faithfully Antigravity

Hi zincoxide, I have just received the same letter from Stuart Higley - Senior Manager, with the OFT part. This must now be a standard letter, as they didn't address any of the points I asked. They had offered me £171 out of £400, so for Higley to say " Will not be refunding any of the charges applied to your bank account" is just nonsense I don't understand why they keep saying that their charges are 'transparent'. Does this mean that everyone can see right through them for what they really are! How are things proceeding with you? Please post updates as I would be really interested as to how you get on. Good luck! AG x

How is your fight with Natsvest going? I'm currently rolling in the mud with them too.

Wisperwolf, How are you getting on with your pressure on Natsvest? I'm in a similar position, asking them to justify their costs. Would be great for any feedback you have on your progress. Good luck! AG

Hi, Does anyone know if it is possible to enter a default against a financial institution? I know you can effectively sue them over owed monies, but if they refuse to pay before court action is taken against them, can a default notice be entered with the Credit Ref. agencies. Anyone with any knowledge? AG x

Just saw on bbc.co.uk that RBS, the owner of Natwest have swallowed a US bank called Charter One. I called a Charter One branch in Illonois, saying that I was about to move to the US and I needed to ask about specific charges etc. It turns out that the US have the same problem as us. Their charges are $38, about £22 per unpaid/ paid item if there are insufficient funds in the account. They also have a thing call 'overdraft protection' which allows funds from a savings account to be used if there are insufficient funds in the checking(current) account. This fee is $15 per day, not per item. I asked the operator if this was standard banking practice, she answered 'Yes, it usually ranges from between $30-$40' She was much freindlier than the call centre simians in the UK, and even asked if I was ever in the St. Charles area to drop by and say hi! :twisted:

Charge-free period New customers who indicate on their application form that they are transferring their main current account to a Halifax moneyback Current Account or Halifax Current Account will not pay any charges (except any charges for special services and cash machine charges) for the first four months after opening a Halifax moneyback Current Account or Halifax Current Account. http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/rates.shtml#chargefreeperiod That's nice of them.

Well done on crafting a letter of such awe inspiring magnitude! Seriously though, it's very well written. May we have your permission to use it as a draft when opening new accounts with a bank? Your co-operation would be greatly received. AG x

ebonytanny The charges were a mixture of late payments, and going over my agree credit limit, which happened because of the late payent fees. With regards to my current account, I have sent off the standard letter today, following conversations with the Customer Lending Centre and Customer Relations Manager Dept. I also spoke to Capital One, with whom I have a CC. I eventually got through to one of the Managers there and challenged him on the phone over the fee they have charged me. He told me that yes, under The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 the charges they were imposing were not recoverable if the matter went to court. He then went on to say that they would never go to court, but send the debt to an outside collection agency and enter a defualt statment to the Credit Ref Agencies. They would then try to recover the actual loss, minus the charges. This made me realise that at least some financial institutions know what they can and can't get away with. Which gives me some faith in pursuing matters with Natwest. Best of luck with your case, I'll keep the forum updated with any news. AG X

Duh!!!!!...just found it Thank you for the post tho. I think I have data blindness trying to follow threads and subjects! AG x

Where is this DPA page????...I can't find it, or the librabry! Any help would be great. AG x

Also found this Halifax 08457 25 35 19 – Customer Relations Spoke to them, but they were as unhelpful as anybody else at Halifax. Good luck!

Hi ebonytanny, I managed to have all the charges on my Natwest CC dropped yesterday. I know it's not quite the same thing as claiming back money, but it meant that I didn't have to pay £200 in late payment charges! Good luck with this claim. I am also pushing for £417 in charges from my current account. I was offered £187 back as a 'Goodwill' gesture, but I refused this and am going for the full amount. Will post news as I get it. Antigravity