Skylario v Natwest

[skylario]

Just changed jobs and took a serious drop in money so as you can imagine, when I saw GMTV last week and they were saying how you can claim your unlawful bank charges back, I felt a glimmer of hope that my kids might actually eat a decent meal again! lol

I used to be a bit lapsy daisy with Bank Charges. Before the days of kids I used to pay them and not argue. Sometimes you just don't want the agro do you? Plus Natwest have a great habit of making you feel 5 years old again. But since meeting my beloved, he's taken my under his wing and I am a lot more careful with my money - probably to the point of an OCD. Check my internet banking everyday just in case I've forgot a card payment for £2 or something that will make me over my overdraft!!

Sent my SAR off on Friday-I think I know what I'm doing up to yet but I'm sure there'll be a few questions asked later on.

Has anyone who's fought with Natwest had to close their bank account? I do have other accounts elsewhere but hope I don't have to go through the hassle of changing everything.

Anyway. Wish me luck with my battle. Can't wait to see what my statements say!

 

[zootscoot]

Hi Skylario,

 

If you 've been good recently there should be no reason for them to close your account. Natwest have not been routinely closing accounts and the Ombudmsan is also cracking down on account closures. You should be safe but it is a good idea to open another just in case.

 

Best of luck

 

Zoot

[skylario]

Thank you for that. Thats reasurring to know. :grin:

[skylario]

Just checked my 6 months statements on line and I've been charged twice in the past 6 months. I'd read somewhere that if your claim is below £150, you can claim over the phone. I thought I'd try and claim for this while I'm waiting for my copy statements to come through. They've told me today, though, that I have to wait and claim for them all altogether. Not sure if I believe this and it is a pity because the charges would have covered my phone bill!

I don't know whether to phone and be ditsy and ask if they have received my SAR just to push them a little bit - I only sent it on th 23rd but I am a very impatient person! I can't wait to tot up my charges

[bankoftoon]

sky

 

could always try it - not sure about the rules on 'smaller' amounts, if these rules even exist - out of interest, where did you get this idea from?

 

i had a similair amount of charges from cap1 and they paid up after 1 letter and with v little fuss, and just credited my account with the amount which made a tiny little dent in it

 

good luck

 

sod

[skylario]

Thanks

I read the 'less than £150' thing on this forum somewhere - I spend all day reading it though so not sure where it was? I think I will find the number for Natwest and ask them about my letter. I don't know how long they take at the moment to send out the statements but I know I'll be looking for the postman every morning!

[bankoftoon]

so long as you don't scare him, peeping thru the curtains like that!!!

[Guest NATTIE]

The timescale on a SAR is 3 to 4 weeks at the moment due to the volumes being received.

[skylario]

Ok. Thanks - guess I'll just have to be patient for a while then!

[hedgey06]

Don't worry skylario - at least it gives you time to get do your reading, download the spreadsheet and get your letter ready! Good luck, Hedgey xxx

[skylario]

Isn't it frustrating when you can't do anything? I've took the advice and started my spreadsheet with what charges I know I've had and got the preliminary letter saved and ready to fill in!

Phoned Natwest to be a bit silly and ask them if they've received my letter (SAR) and she didn't actually say they have but said they are taking about 7-10 working days at the mo. I confused her though because I told her my married name and the system still says my maiden name. She told me I need to take my marriage cert into branch but I did, even my bank cards and statements says Mrs ..? I hope this little detail doesn't cause any delays along the way?

After talking to the friendly lady, they transfered me to somebody else to try and push a personal loan for £1000+, even told them I only work 10hours a week now but they were still willing to give it to me - I CAN'T AFFORD IT!! Thats the whole point of me trying for these charges! (Although it's always very tempting when someone's waving money at you... MUST be strong..).

[bankoftoon]

sounds like they have been smoking cigars with the plastic still on them!!

 

not sure what to do about the maiden name bit but I would just plough on with YOUR deadlines and ignore the excuses

 

pretty sure that when the courts get involved the 7-10 working days excuse will disappear!!

 

keep going (oh and obviously don't get the loan......but you knew that anyway:D LOL)

 

 

sod

[skylario]

Well, still waiting for my statements to come - is anyone else in the same position? I know this is only the 28th day since posting the SAR but they haven't cashed my cheque yet?

 

I've emailed Customer Relations a few times and have had good responces each time. I don't know what was going off with the name thing but whatever it was is sorted now..? And I've chased my statements and apparently they're dealing with my issue as a matter of urgency-bless em! Do they think I believe that?! With how many claims they must be sorting out, I don't for a minute beleive they're going to think mines any more urgent. I somehow don't think I'm going to get my statements within the 40 day time limit. But, we'll keep playing the waiting game.

 

This site is sooo addictive though. Even though I have nothing much to do yet but read, I'm on this site every spare minute I get. I feel like a stalker listening in on everyone's threads but it's so interesting and everyone's so nice and helpful.

 

Anyway, let me know if you're waiting for your statements...

[skylario]

Right!

 

I'm no good at waiting so I've phoned Natwest again today to check the progress of my SAR because the 40 days run out next week and they still haven't cashed my cheque, and it's a good job I did. They have on file that they are now waiting for my claim for my charges and the very nice lady said that I should have had my statements within 5-6 days and does not understand why I haven't had them yet. Sooo.. full set of statements are on their way to me free of charge. YAY!! I'll soon be able to tot up my charges!

 

I had started to refer to NatWest as Nasty West as so many of us do on here but I actually feel quite bad about that now - every body I have spoke to at Natwest have been lovely and the lady I spoke to today was a star. They are only doing their job and mistakes do happen - I hope I'm not eating my words in the months to come!

[skylario]

I had the standard letter in the post this morning from Joyce Tudor (dated 20th April)...

 

 

Thank you for requesting copy statements held by the Bank.

 

Any information that is required to be provided to you under section 7 of the Data Protection Act will be forwarded to you at the above address as soon as possible.

 

In the meantime we acknowledge the receipt of the payment for £10.00 in respect of the fee. (Oops - they'll have a job because the cheque's been cancelled!)

 

Manual Intervention

With reference to your request concerning any 'manual intervention' to the administrative charges debited, these charges have been processed in accordance with the terms and conditions of our current agreement with you as a result of the activity on your account. In the event that you breach the terms and conditions, we will take the appropriate action, contacting customers where appropriate, or handling customer enquiries regarding their account status. When a customer has raised a concern in relation to this process, the deicision will be communicated to the customer and where appropriate noted on the account...

 

Now we keep waiting...

[WendyB]

Hi.. I rang them and played up when it went over 40 days. Rang the Boreham Wood number, pressed option 1 for complaints, spoke to two different lads who both promised to send copies free of charge. Got statements within two days, received last Thursday, highlighted charges and sent back with letter on Monday. Then surprise surprise, in the post this morning I got - copies my statements again! I'd like to think that this is because there is actually more than one efficient person at Natwest!

 

And you're right, most of the people I've spoken to have been lovely.

 

In the mean time, my original £5 cheque has still not been cashed - they'll probably present it tomorrow then charge me. Don't want to go to the trouble of cancelling it though as no doubt the'd charge me for that as well!

 

Sounds like we're pretty much at the same stage - Good Luck!

 

Wendy

[skylario]

I've been banking on my statements coming through in a couple of days but they haven't yet

 

It's really sad because I'm rushing home everyday after dropping my daughter off at school in case the postie cant fit the envelopes through the post box and he needs me to be in! I'm soooo desparate for my money back! lol.

 

Good luck with your claim. I'll post every little bit of mine on here. It is exciting though.

[skylario]

Well, on the final day of the 40 days, I've had some of my statements through the post this morning. Missing from April 01 to Oct 02 but I have read that this normally happens and they'll come later?

 

My claim is just shy of £500 so I hope this one will get settled quite quickly..

 

I think I'm going to send for these charges and when I do get the rest of my statements I'll claim for them seperately..?

[bankoftoon]

sky

 

think i am right in saying that you can estimate the missing bit based on the info you have from them

 

sod:D

[skylario]

Ok. Thanks for the advice.

 

I keep fighting with myself because I don't know what to do. I keep thinking I might just ask for all the statements they have for me instead of just the six years - especially as I'm probably going to have to chase up these missing bits - but, I am in a hurry for the money. I want it to go as smoothly as possible...?

 

GRRR!

[fendyweather]

Im pretty sure that for this amount they will probs settle at LBA stage, but it is taking a bit longer than 2 weeks. So its up to you. If after LBA and two weeks you havent heard anything re: an offer of refund, then phone borehamwood, and they often give you info over the phone regarding your claim, i.e. Yes it will be settled in 2 weeks or whatever. For this sort of amount I think you have a pretty good chance of it being settled pre court. All the best anyway. Fendy xxx

[skylario]

Thank you Fendy

 

I've been following your thread with interest - I hope you get your claim settled soon.

[skylario]

Has anyone got any advice as to which address to use when sending my schedule and prelim letter?

 

Thanks in advance x

[Parkvale]

Borehamwood address. Good luck. http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faqs-please-read-these/31052-contact-details-banks.html?garpg=15

[skylario]

Thank you.

 

FINALLY managed to get through to Natwest to ask about my statements and as expected, they said that the pre 2002 ones have to be ordered seperately and should be here in a couple of days. I think I will be patient and wait until I have all the statements and claim all at once. I can imagine it all getting confusing if I have two claims going off at the same time for the same account number.