Natwest HELP!!

Scarlett

HELP! I need advice urgently

I got paid today, and was just on the phone trying to book some tickets for an event that cost £300. While I was on the phone, the operator tried to put the transation through 3 times, each time saying it had failed because the system couldn't match my address exactly to the address on my bank statement. So the transaction was never completed, and I don't have the tickets.

I just had a look at my account and :eek: NO money left!!!

I rang Natwest and they confirmed that the transaction had been attempted three times, and the money had been transferred out of my account and held for the ticket operator, waiting for them to come and ask the bank for the money when they do their banking.... if the ticket operator doesn't come and ask for it, the money will be transferred back to me IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!! Meanwhile, I have no money and no tickets!

I don't think that's acceptable at all but they're saying there's nothing they can do. I don't believe that!!

A supervisor is ringing me back in the next hour. Any advice on what I can say?

Thanks!!

Scarlett

No-one? Anyone?

cifpower

I doubt there is much you can do but wait for 2 or 3 days for the authorisations to lapse. Saying that, I bank with the Halifax and a company authorised a transaction twice accidentally. I telephoned the Halifax and she was able to cancel one of them automatically and put the funds back into my account.

Scarlett

Thanks cifpower.

I've been back and forth a few time with the bank and the ticket people, and now the advisor at my bank is calling the ticket people directly, which I'm grateful for - it's better than lil ol' me trying to talk sense to them, without knowing all the correct things to say.

Seems like a silly system to me. Why does it take seconds to take the funds out and days to put back?!?!?!?!

firsttimestudent

Hi Scarlett,

Hope this was not too late for you. I had a similar experience with Halifax.

The Halifax call centre people was extremely helpful. They told me the authorization codes for the few tried transactions, and asked me to phone the company concerned, give them the authorization codes and ask them to send a fax to Halifax, telling that they will NOT be taking the payments.

I called the company, which again was extremely helpful, and faxed the details to Halifax's Head Office. My 'authorized' funds were released in the next hour or so.

Maybe you can let the Natwest agent know about this, and maybe suggest them that this is a way to resolve the problem?

Hope this helps!