Mis-selling Advantage Gold by NatWest

[patmac3]

Hi,

I'm new to the site - I have been trying to find out as much as I can about mis-selling of Premium Bank accounts and came across this site and hope that I may find some help here.

My godson who is 21 dropped out of College last year and his only banking access was with his Natwest student account - which rarely had more that £5 in it.

In February he went into his local NatWest ( the same branch as his Student account) with his brother and asked to open a current account. At this time he was working in the family cafe and earning £400/month, on the payroll, and paid to him as cash - essentially pocket money. Sadly the business folded in March and he went off to old college friends and did some odd jobs here and there.

When he returned home 2 weeks ago he found a pile of letters waiting including 3 statements from NatWest showing charges of £416 against his 'Advantage Gold Account.'

When he went to the Bank in February he remembers that he and his brother asked about opening a current account were taken into a small room with a lady bank employee who engeged in what his brother calls a 'massive conversation' about bank accounts. My godson's only recollection of what was said was that 'he could have mobile phone cover'

The account has never been used - he has had no money to put into it and he has taken nothing out, nor used any of the 'services' of Advantage Gold.

I went into the Bank with him last weekend and asked them to shut the account immediately - this can only be done with one month's notice - with - of course- another £180 added ( at £6/day unarranged overdraft fee) We were allowed to ring the payments dept whilst at the Bank and I managed to speak to the helpful NatWest employee who ascertained that he was unable to pay off a minimum of £100/m and who volunteered that he may have been mis sold the account !

She has put in a complaint about misselling and we must await word from the Bank about this.

Do members think that this has been mis-sold? What tips for our case?

I feel that a customer with only a previous student account (which, when the advantage gold A/C was opened had £1.99 in it and no regular payments showing into it) should not have been considered for a premium account - especially as their income was so low.

Any views and help would be much appreciated

patmac3

[pistachio]

I notice they say they publisher customers' comments every 6 months on their website

 

We’re committed to becoming Britain’s most Helpful Bank

 

 

And you'll be the judge

 

Every six months we'll publish a report to let you see how well we have fulfilled our commitments and identify any areas which need improvement. It will also include a full range of customer comments.

Might be worth submitting your comments there - I presume they'll publish it as part of their 'full' range if not resolved.

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I don't actually know on this one, but even common sense says a premium account which is charged for is not suitable for someone on that sort of income.