Overdrawn by 43p - Natwest slap on £28 'maintenance charge'

lotto-dreamer

For going over his limit (unknowingly and purely accidentally) by 43p my son has been charged £28.

He was sent a statement by Natwest saying they would be deducting a £28 'maintenance charge' without any explanation of what it was for so he had to go to the bank to query it.

He was told it was for being 43p overdrawn.

Although this is probably a good lesson for my son about the banking system in general- the maintenance charge seems totally disproportionate to the 'crime'.

He is a student and works part time so this charge is a big deal in terms of his earnings.

Has anyone had a one-off charge like this and written to Natwest with any success? Any help would be much appreciated.

Lokolo

If its his first thing they will most probably let him have it back. Just explain its the first time and won't happen again and they will most probably give it back to him.

genieuk

I did that with my bank they charged me one lot then refunded it then charged me again the very next day as OH wages went in and I transfered money from one account to the other. I told them it was an oversight as we are living overseas and can only manage account via internet banking.

Anyway to cut long story short they repaid that also, stating the account had been in good order for the last 12+months.

Worth a phonecall or a visit

lotto-dreamer

Thanks for your replies lokolo and genieuk -much appreciated.

Sounds as if he might have a chance of getting the money back then, so I'll suggest he approaches it on that basis.

hotmama

i too have been charge 28 pounds for being overdrawn by 10 and then they slapped me with 38pounds for unpaid D.D. Far too steep!

I have been with them for 15 yrs, never incurred a charge- don't really use account as i think they are dire. No loyalty, poor interest rates!!!:mad:

Went in branch today- 'sorry those are th charges' I will call cus services tomorrow, hopefully they will remove them- moneys tight enough!

Any

I am not surprised they didn't return it.
I had the same problem 2 years ago with them - went overdrawn 79p and they slapped me with charge. BUT! They sent out a letter, that went in the post 9 days!!!! to inform me of this (I didn't realise about final DD for canceled mobile phone contract) so by the time it arrived they took out the charge AND the DD was tried again so I got slapped again!
My husband (then boyfriend) has an account with them as well (wages £50k), savings AND we have joint account. I wanted the charge back, called them, got dummy on the phone (oh, believe me, she is!! I know her from the branch, never understood how she still works there and the whole village complains about her) and was told the charges stand!
Changed to Nationwide - got £100 for the change as it was on offer at the time - 3 months wages go in, my £100 nowhere, sent them email AND reply within 1 day and appologies AND £100 in my account next day. Never looked back again.
Sorry to go on - I soooo hate NatWest!

Forgot to mention I was good enough to give me credit card but thet refused to take me off my student account even though I was earning more then their staff at the time. Which was pain because I wanted normal VISA card not electron as it is not as widely accepted.

Richard019

Any wrote: »

Forgot to mention I was good enough to give me credit card but thet refused to take me off my student account even though I was earning more then their staff at the time. Which was pain because I wanted normal VISA card not electron as it is not as widely accepted.

I know it's not polite to ask a lady's age, but when did NatWest use Visa and Visa Electron cards with their student accounts? I've been with them on the prestudent/student/graduate account since the mid-late 90s and have only ever had Solo/Switch/Maestro cards, and the Solo was only until I started uni. Once I'd started they automatically gave me the Switch card without me having any income (I started work for the first time a week before starting uni) because it was a standard feature.

Lokolo

Basically there are 2 types of cards which are debits. They are either run by Maestro or Visa. The costs of using them (for retailers etc.) are then associated with them.

HSBC are currently on Maestro but are planning to switch to Visa or Mastercard or something by 2010.

They most probably switched over sometime after you got yours.

Lloyds offer Visa debit cards with their current account.

richt71

I got one for £28 as a direct Debit went out at 4am and money wasn't credited until 9am the same day leaving me 7p overdrawn...yes a whole 7p! Had a big arguement with my branch manager who refused to refund saying I should have realised DD could be taken anytime after midnight and credits only showed up after the bank was open. So I just filed court papers. I'm sure a judge will want a laugh.

lotto-dreamer

Will be reporting back when my son has had a response to his letter

richt71 So I just filed court papers. I'm sure a judge will want a laugh.....

:rotfl: Waiting to hear how that goes too!!

Paparika

Unfortunately its all in th T & C and whether we read them or not, your expected to know about it.