NatWest Student Account 2008-09: A Guide

natweststaffmember

I registered when I was doing some research for something else, and recently found a gap in knowledge which I thought I would plug in the same way that I did with NatWest and Bank Charges over on CAG and other sites.

justmakebelieve

Hi, really helpful thread!

I'm starting on a post-graduate course in September - Presumably then I would get the £1250 overdraft limit during my course. Do you know what would happen to the overdraft after I've finished my course (September 2009)?

rach1989

so am i right in thinking if i sign up, I can have access to the overdraft facility from the 16th August?

natweststaffmember

rach1989 wrote: »

so am i right in thinking if i sign up, I can have access to the overdraft facility from the 16th August?

You would need to apply AFTER that date. Bizarrely it is a Friday so any overdraft would apply for the Tuesday 19th August

natweststaffmember

justmakebelieve wrote: »

Hi, really helpful thread!

I'm starting on a post-graduate course in September - Presumably then I would get the £1250 overdraft limit during my course. Do you know what would happen to the overdraft after I've finished my course (September 2009)?

That is my understanding. BUT the way it works is that in July f the following year you will have the option to increase it to £2000 interest free(1st year Grad account amount)

rach1989

natweststaffmember wrote: »

You would need to apply AFTER that date. Bizarrely it is a Friday so any overdraft would apply for the Tuesday 19th August

So if i book an apointment to open my account on the 16th august I will have accest to th overdraft from the 19th?
How come i cant apply now and have access to it on the same date?

RachelRa

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Picking up plastic cards and cheque books




This is one of the most frustrating things in the world. My experience tells me that all Internet applications made will have the cards sent to the branch which their account has been domiciled. What that means is that the sort code on the account will be where the Card and cheque book will be sent. Normally the card will arrive before the cheque book. Once the card is activated, on receipt,
the pin number is sent within 5 working days(1 week), normally to the same place where the card was sent. If the account has been upgraded, then once confirmation of the place at university has been met, you should be able to upgrade the card from a cashcard/solo to a maestro/switch code.

Rant
I have been having serious issues with this account. I applied online, but then was told to finish in branch. I finished in branch (having to go to two different branches, since the first one, despite me having rung up and checked it was ok to come in, had no staff to help me), but then a week later received a letter saying that because I'd done half online half in branch "too many changes were made", so I had to reapply (This makes me very nervous about what it's doing to my record!) Now I have my account number/sort code. I have set up my online banking. I've got my welcoming pack. However, I have not received my card or cheque book, I was told it would be sent to my branch, when I went in a week later I was told it would be sent to my home. Now another week later I have no sign of it at home and branch haven't seen it either and are now "unsure if it will be sent to [my] home address or branch".

It's been a pretty stressful process so far, and I didn't even bother trying to apply for an overdraft second time round since they have had so much trouble just sorting out the basics.

Question
Now, hopefully at some point I will get my Solo card... now am I right in thinking that this is basically a cash card? So buying online and in stores, etc will be limited. And you mention an option to up grade to a "maestro/switch code, what is the difference exactly? and what is required to do so?

I'm thinking of keeping my current account with Barclays (Visa Debit), since I know I can pay for anything online with that, and transferring money when needed... but I would like to close my barclays account if I can.

callum9999

RachelRa wrote: »

Rant
I have been having serious issues with this account. I applied online, but then was told to finish in branch. I finished in branch (having to go to two different branches, since the first one, despite me having rung up and checked it was ok to come in, had no staff to help me), but then a week later received a letter saying that because I'd done half online half in branch "too many changes were made", so I had to reapply (This makes me very nervous about what it's doing to my record!) Now I have my account number/sort code. I have set up my online banking. I've got my welcoming pack. However, I have not received my card or cheque book, I was told it would be sent to my branch, when I went in a week later I was told it would be sent to my home. Now another week later I have no sign of it at home and branch haven't seen it either and are now "unsure if it will be sent to [my] home address or branch".

It's been a pretty stressful process so far, and I didn't even bother trying to apply for an overdraft second time round since they have had so much trouble just sorting out the basics.

Question
Now, hopefully at some point I will get my Solo card... now am I right in thinking that this is basically a cash card? So buying online and in stores, etc will be limited. And you mention an option to up grade to a "maestro/switch code, what is the difference exactly? and what is required to do so?

I'm thinking of keeping my current account with Barclays (Visa Debit), since I know I can pay for anything online with that, and transferring money when needed... but I would like to close my barclays account if I can.

Solo cards are accepted pretty much anywhere that takes cards, online and in store. The switch card is accepted in a few more places but other than that I don't know if there is any major benefit to a Switch card over a solo card.

Helix

RachelRa wrote: »

Question
Now, hopefully at some point I will get my Solo card... now am I right in thinking that this is basically a cash card? So buying online and in stores, etc will be limited. And you mention an option to up grade to a "maestro/switch code, what is the difference exactly? and what is required to do so?

I'm thinking of keeping my current account with Barclays (Visa Debit), since I know I can pay for anything online with that, and transferring money when needed... but I would like to close my barclays account if I can.

A Solo card is still a debit card but its not as widely accepted as Visa/Maestro is. Maestro is accepted just about anywhere in the UK and most of Europe, the only time you would really have problems is if you were purchasing items outside of the UK.

If it is a new account with Natwest then you should get Maestro straight away. The upgrading Solo bit only applies to people who already have an account with Natwest and they have upgraded it to a Student Account.

RachelRa

Thankyou Callum and Helix!

Ok, so it's basically not as bigger deal as I thought? ..and I can close my barclays account? Smashing