Bank won't give me my wages

Aylana

I am so upset right now I don't know what to do. My Natwest bank account was frozen because of an unauthorised overdraft so I opened a new basic bank account. My employer even though I gave them the new account details have paid the money into the old account. The same thing happened to my boyfriend the other week and he was able to go and withdraw his money the same day as long as he made arrangements to overpay the overdraft. I rang up and they girl was so horrible. She said I couldn't have the money unless I could provide a letter from my employer stating that they won't use the account again. Knowing my HR department that could take weeks. She wont' even let me have the money my account is in credit as my wages were over £700 and the overdraft was only £200. When I complained about this she refused to let me speak to a manager about it. I ended up hanging up in floods of tears she was so unpleasant. I have to pay the bailiff today or he will probably start turning up at the door again and I just can't stand to go through all that again.

I just want something to go right for me for once, I am so sick of all of this. I have no money at all.

Kmac_Edin

I used to work in a bank so might be able to help you...

The reason they have frozen the account because of the unauthorised overdraft is because they are worried you will keep spending on it. Is this the first time you've fallen over your limit?

The reason they are not releasing the money is because they are worried you will not pay back the overdraft.

What to do is phone back and dont even explain to the person who answer the phone what you are doing, just ask to speak with the manager. If they refuse, politley say you are making a formal complaint and wish to speak with the manager. The HAVE to allow you to speak to them as complaints management is an FSA piller.

When you speak to the manager, don't start off by telling them about their rude staff, just say something like " I was paid today into the wrong account, the one which you have frozen. Apologies for this, however now that that account is in credit, would you be able to transfer £X out of there and into my new account please? "

Don't ask for the full £700 as they will refuse, but go for a lower number, just the bare minimum that you need right now. And while they are doing that, phone your HR dept.

I know at my work here it can take up to 2 months for HR to change payroll details so you might want to let them know why you are changing the details.

Hope this has helped.

K xx

Aylana

Thanks for your advice Kman_Edin. Do you think they will let me withdraw the whole amount that the account is in credit and then close the account as the overdraft is paid off? I don't want to have to ever deal with they again even if It means eating nothing but beans for the next month! I work in a callcentre and I would never ever dream of speaking to a customer the way she spoke to me. I would certainly never tell refuse to let them speak to a manager if they asked. I am still upset now. I wish I had asked for her name at the beginning of the call now.

Aylana

Sorted! Phew. I was put through to the credit services department (or something similar) this time. The woman was lovely asked if I could pay something off the overdraft today and the rest in monthly installments. As my boyfriend is already paying £60 a month towards an unauthorised overdraft on an account that has my name on as well as his, she has just added the amount to that and taken this months installment out of my wages. She has put a note on my account so I can go to any branch and withdraw the rest of it. That was easy. I wish I had gotten through to her the first time round. Natwest will be getting a stern letter about the previous call though!!!!