Lee vs Nationwide

[darth spurz]

CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!

 

 

Let me please explain my situation:

 

Earlier this year I was made redundant and it unfortunately took me the best part of half a year to find new employment. Thankfully though, when I was laid off I had some savings which meant I could pay my rent and buy food – that kind of thing. As the time of my unemployment lengthened my money ran out, which meant I was at the mercy of the local council, the benefits office and lastly, the Nationwide. Now, whereas the council and the benefits office eventually started giving me benefit, the Nationwide thought it would be better to take it all away from me and leave me with nothing. In fact, less than nothing!

 

As my money ran out the Nationwide began charging me a little here and a little there. The majority of the charges levied against me were due to bouncing direct debits but as these charges added up I went into the red. My reward for this was having the Nationwide charge me for having an ‘unauthorised overdraft’. This chain of events continued until I had been charged a total of £530 over a period of four months.

Eventually my unauthorised overdraft reached three figures until I was £270 in the red,

 

Now, as mentioned I was being paid unemployment benefit, which was being directed into my bank account. The Nationwide now began taking the whole of this as payment against my charges, meaning that I was left with nothing to live on whatsoever. It would be about now that I reached the end of my tether and contacted the bank. The first person I explained my situation to was a young chap who worked in my local branch. Apart from looking completely disinterested he managed to inform me of something I knew only too well – that I had no money in my account to withdraw. When I mentioned I was unemployed and that this was the only money I had to live on for the following two weeks his interest (or lack thereof) remained the same. Upon getting home I contacted the bank by telephone, to which I received the same general reply. Now I thought fine, I’ll get a job and this won’t happen again. So, two weeks later, exactly the same thing happened again. This time, after another ‘polite discussion with a caring human being’ I was told the same – I had no money. As well as this I was still being charged and now the cupboards were bare.

 

This is when I discovered the Consumer Action Group and began learning that perhaps I was being unfairly treated by those looking after my money. Now, after having read through some of the other comments I’m posting with a request for guidance. At the moment I think I’m on the right track but I just wanted to ask those who know to prod me in the right direction and to let me know if I’ve gone about it the right way and claimed for the right things. Anyway, that’s the story, this is what I’ve done so far…

 

1 – Went to the bank and explained to the clerk (who didn’t give a hoot) that they had taken the only money I had and specifically that it was a Government benefit that they had taken.

2 – Spoke with a Nationwide telephone representative (same result)

3 – Downloaded, doctored and printed out a copy of the initial contact for payment letter. Armed with this I went for a meeting with my branch manager who basically said that they were well within their rights to empty my account and then charge me for an unauthorised overdraft regardless of the fact that it was unemployment benefit and that I had no other money to survive on. I left her with a copy of the letter, stating that I would be sending another copy off to their head office later that day.

4 – The same day I received a phone call from another Nationwide employee who offered me £150 as a way of saying ‘no hard feelings.’ As there were hard feelings I turned down this offer and posted the letter.

5 – Ten days later I received through the post an official letter stating that the Nationwide were not going to give me a penny back and that they were well within their rights to take my money. After receiving this letter I telephoned a local solicitor for some advice and they basically said that I could get some legal assistance but I would have to be very wary of this and that it could end up costing money I may never make back.

 

Now I believe I’m on stage 6, which is to send a second letter requesting a refund of monies taken.

 

My question is, am I on the right track?. I am relatively certain that I can claim back for the entire amount, given the information on this website but could someone please confirm or deny this for me.

 

So that’s it i,m £270 overdrawn and the total sum of bank charges comes to the toal of:£530.

Any help will be truly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lee.Moore

[

[dolly]

Totally - you have £530 bank charges, yes? Then you can claim it all back. Is that all there is for the whole of the last 6 years as well?

 

Do the second letter, the LBA, and after 14 days (cos they won't refund you), issue moneyclaim. As you are on benefits you won't have to pay court costs, I believe.

 

In the meantime, set yourself up another bank account ASAP. NatWest step account you can do online and it is set up pretty quickly. Lloyds TSB, you go in and they open one there and then for you and you get an account number straight away. Get the Benefits agency to change your bank account details - if it is too late for this time, ask if there is any chance you can have a Giro and explain the situation why...that you basically have no money as it is swallowed up by bank charges straight away. Don't know if they still do this but they used to when I worked there a few years ago.

 

You don't need a solicitor - Nationwide are pretty straightforward and you will get your money back very soon.

[darth spurz]

Thanks Dolly.

I have done the things that you have suggested alreay.

i have set up a new account etc

I will be sending them the LBA and then take it from

there.

Thank you for your help it has benn very much

appreciated

I will keep you poisted on further developments

Lee

[dolly]

Please do and make sure those benefits payments go into that new account

 

When you get your' our charges are fair...blah blah...' letter from Nationwide and you are about to issue your claim, come back and you'll get loads of help and support. Things will get better

[darth spurz]

Thanks again.

I have recently found a job so I,m back in the land of the living.

I just hope they payout

Lee

[dolly]

Great stuff on getting a job

 

And they WILL payout, trust me.

[darth spurz]

Hi Dolly

Got a letter back from the bank.It basiclly said that they refering it to their

member service team if I was not satifsfied I could take it up with the Ombudsman.

 

My question is,shall i just proceed with the Moneyclaim or just wait for their decision?

 

Many Thanks

Lee

[dolly]

Moneyclaim - I got one of those letters asking me to wait...funnily enough I never received a reply!!

 

Go get that money back

[darth spurz]

Hi Dolly

Just to add, they said once they have made a decision it

will be final.

Can I still claim even if they have made their decisison? or should i send another

letter stating that i will be issuing a moneyclaim?

I just nedd to clarify it.

Many Thanks

Lee

[dolly]

They make a final decision but that changes once you have filed moneyclaim

 

Don't send anything else, it won't make a blind bit of difference, trust me.

 

If you claim, online tonight, I am betting you would have money back in your account by early next week.

[darth spurz]

Hi dolly

I received another letter today saying that it will take upto 8 weeks to make their decsion.I think they are taking mick so once i have the money i will issue a claim.

Thanks for all your help,Iwill keep you posted

 

Lee

[darth spurz]

Hi Dolly

Got another letter today 16/8/06.It says that they have finished their investigations

They say that they have abided by the rules etc but they will not be refunding the charges.

What should i do?

Please advise me because I am livid

Please contact me a.s.a.p

 

Many thanks

 

Lee

[davisc02]

Hi,

 

With a user ID with Spurz in it I shouldn't be helping you but seeing as we snatched your Champions League spot I will:D .

 

Looks like they are just trying to fob you, like Dolly said just enter the Moneyclaim and you'll have your money back shortly. All these letters are designed to make you "livid" and lose heart but as long as you stick to the timetable and procedure you won't go wrong.

 

Good luck

[darth spurz]

Hi Davisco2

 

A begrudging thank you mate,you were lucky getting that champ league spot,on the other hand we were crap the last game of the season...

 

I will be sending the moneyclaim asap

 

Thanks again for your help and good luck for the season.

 

Lee

[dolly]

Lee

 

Chill out babe, it's their usual response.

 

Ignore it, file that moneyclaim and get your cash back - sooner you do it, sooner it is back with you (about 10 days).

 

Never even realised you were a Spurs fan....the only team we walked all over and played off the park last season and still came away a loss

[darth spurz]

Hi Dolly

 

I will be sending the moneyclaim today hopefully they will cough up without going to court.

 

Not sure what team you like my guess is your a Blackburn fan?

Thanks for your help twinkle

Lee

[vicaragefarm]

Hi Dolly

In one of your reply's you said "if you claim online tonight, etc". As I now live in Spain and the postel service out here is defunct, I have tried to "claim online" with nationwide and whilst the copys of my e-mails still remain in my online banking mail box, I have recieved no replys or aknowledgements from the nationwide.

[dolly]

Hi Dolly

 

I will be sending the moneyclaim today hopefully they will cough up without going to court.

 

Not sure what team you like my guess is your a Blackburn fan?

Thanks for your help twinkle

Lee

 

Certainly am a Blackburn fan - season ticket holder

Let us know when you have filed.

[dolly]

Any news yet?????

[darth spurz]

No none yet,waiting to be paid.

not a bad uefa draw for both our teams,could have been worse

[dolly]

Could have been a lot worse...still, we have a history of appallingly bad results in Europe so I won't hold out for much!

 

Has your claim been acknowledged?

[dolly]

Come on, let us know then??!

[darth spurz]

sorry dolly I have not done it yet I just had so much to pay out for I just hav'nt had the dough.As soon as i have done it i will let you know.

I hope there is no time limit.

 

thanks

Lee

[dolly]

No time limit at all - do it whenever you can.

[darth spurz]

Hi Dolly

 

I have made the claim today I hope it works.

I have also received a letter from the bank saying that they will issue a default notice on my account.What should I do?.

I hope i have not left it to late.

 

Many Thanks

 

Lee