RaaO vs natwest

[robagainstallodds]

Hello to Everyone!

 

At the start of May I phoned NatWest asking for the 6 years worth of bank statements. The helpful person at NatWest asked if it was to claim back the 6 years of bank charges, to which I said yes.

I was then informed that I would receive a call from a specialist team (and I cannot for the life of me remember what the team was called) that would be able to help me with my request.

Sure enough I received that call, to which I was told that I would get my statements within 6-10 days, and was advised that I should go through the statements to highlight all the charges and then send them back to the following address:

 

Customer Relations Manager

Natwest

Freepost NAT12685

Boreham Wood

WD6 1BR

 

It would then take 6-8 weeks to process, before I am to hear anything back.

 

My question is, should I go ahead with what Natwest told me, and send the highlighted statements to them and wait 6-8 weeks, or am I still able to go ahead, photocopy all the statements (which I guess I should do anyway) and send them the 14 day letter? (letter 2 from bank templates library)

 

I have also done my own spreadsheet of charges listing date, amount and reason (also had a advantage gold account, so taken those charges into consideration)

 

Is there anything else I should do?

 

Thanks,

Rob

[hedgey06]

Hi Rob, welcome on board the nat west forum!

 

DON'T send them your statements once you receive them!! When your statements arrive, enter all charges details into one of the interest spreadsheets - schedule of charges (sounds as though you're already well on the way to doing this).

 

Send them the preliminary letter giving them 14 days to respond - if you don't have a response send them the LBA giving them another 14 days to settle.

 

But whatever you do - don't send them your statements, you'll need these at a later date if you end up filing your claim at court.

 

Good luck, hedgey x

[robagainstallodds]

Hello Hedgey, and thanks for your welcome.

So am I allowed to calculate interest straight away?

Do I have to send photocopies of the statements with the schedule of charges, and if so all of them or just the offending ones with charges on them?

I take it that I just use: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/ for the 14 day letter?

[Tipsy0nBacardi]

I would suggest you reading these if you haven't already

Frequently Asked Questions - Consumer Action Group

Example Step-By-Step Instructions - Consumer Action Group

[hedgey06]

You can calculate interest from the start Rob - download one of these 6. Interest calculation spreadsheets making sure it's compatible with your pc. Once you've entered all charges into the spreadsheet - 'hide' the 8% interest column as this can only be awarded by the courts if it gets to that stage, so leave it off for the moment.

 

If, however, you want to claim overdraft interest, this is a bit more tricky to calculate. You can only reclaim (if you do have an overdraft) the portion of the interest that's been applied because of charges that sent you over your overdraft (I think one of the spreadsheets can work this out for you - I personally left it off as I found it too difficult!!!)

 

Once you've got your schedule correct (remember - you can't reclaim Advantage Gold fees if you have an AG account), print it off and attach to the prelim 2. Letter - Preliminary approach for repayment. and send off to Borehamwood recorded delivery.

 

Keep hold of your statements though - you only need to send them the schedule of charges.

[robagainstallodds]

Right,

Thank you Tipsy, I thought I had read most of the information, but I was wrong!!

I don't think I will ever have read enough info, but I am confident that through re-referencing and asking questions that this will not have to be a daunting or scary task.

Thank you Hedgey for your advice on how to start claiming back my money. (You're right, the interest applied to overdrawn charges does sound very complicated. I might give it a quick go, can I claim this interest before the courts?)

I do have another question (for the moment anyway) I did NOT send a SAR to NatWest, I phoned them and got my statments, am I right in thinking that this wont actually affect the preliminary approach letters' 14 day time scale?

[hedgey06]

You can reclaim overdraft interest from the start of your claim. Don't worry about not doing the SAR - as long as you have all statements showing charges from the last 6 years, just go ahead with the preliminary letter giving them 14 days.

[robagainstallodds]

If, however, you want to claim overdraft interest, this is a bit more tricky to calculate. You can only reclaim (if you do have an overdraft) the portion of the interest that's been applied because of charges that sent you over your overdraft (I think one of the spreadsheets can work this out for you - I personally left it off as I found it too difficult!!!)

 

After much thought and consideration, I have also decided to leave the overdraft interest off my claim.

 

So, I take it from this that the prelim letter shoud say something along the lines of... AHEM,

"What I require

I calculate that you have taken £X,XXX.XX.

I enclose a schedule of the charges which I am claiming with this letter."?

I just want to make sure that I have the correct wording on my letter, before sending it off to NatWest tomorrow.

[hedgey06]

Perfect - after the £xxxxx add 'from my/our account unlawfully'! Send the letter tomorrow.................. 14 days and counting! x

[robagainstallodds]

I thought that some people might like an update on my claim, so here it is...

There was a postal strike just as I was to send of the prelim letter.

So after a that, and a well earned rest and holiday in Butlins, I sent the prelim letter off (recorded of course) on the 9th July.

This Friday just gone, I received 3 (yes THREE) standard "please wait 6-7 weeks whilst we sit on our @r$e and do nothing" and thought, that as I really don't want to wait 21 weeks for Natwest to do something, I am today going to send my LBA letter. (Again Recorded to the Customer Relations address.)

We shall see what happens now....

14 days and counting....

[hedgey06]

They do like their standard letters at the moment do our natwest........... bless! Best of luck rob

[lesleyjane]

You say in one of your posts that Natwest should reply within 6-8 weeks. I have waited over 10 weeks (from the standard letter acknowledging receipt of my claim). I have phoned the customer services a few times and keep getting fobbed off. Where do I stand legally -does anyone know? I'm getting very frustrated!

[hedgey06]

Lesleyjane, welcome on board!

 

If you start a new thread of your own in this forum, we'll be able to advise you fully with your claim

[lesleyjane]

Can't work out how to start a new thread!!

[hedgey06]

Lol!!!.......... click on here http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=12 and then submit the details!!!

[lesleyjane]

You're a star! I'm having a "blonde" day - and I have brown hair!