Help please - my bank is driving me to despair!

[georgygirl]

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

[BankFodder]

I'm not sure what new law you are referring to.

 

However, if the problems have been caused entirely by their improper administration of your direct debit instruction – then you shouldn't be liable for anything.

 

Can you confirm that the problem has always been caused by the banks practice of taking the direct debit early?

 

I understand that you are ill and feeling rather fragile. However, if you want to deal with this, you will have to be prepared to grasp the nettle and face them down. We will help you and give you lots of support.

 

If it does turn out that it is entirely their fault then not only will you get all the charges revoked or refunded also we will help you get some compensation.

 

Do you keep all of your bank statements? I think that you need to send an SAR to the bank and make sure you get copies of all statements, direct debit instructions and any other information. When you have a full file then we can start to work out exactly what the story is and what action to take.

[Boltmaker]

I have been a Nat West customer for almost 50 years and have to admit I have never had any problems with them.

Send them a SAR request (costs £10) which should get you most of the information they have about you and copies of your statements going back years. I had a couple of years ago to make the same request to them for PPI reasons and what arrived at my home was like a library in five envelopes, so they do have the info you are advised to ask for. Then check all the dates of your direct debits were paid against the dates they should have been paid and if they do not match report back to this siteand the experts here will guide you through the next steps. Good luck.

[georgygirl]

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

[BankFodder]

Send the SAR