Closing Nationwide Flexaccount

Doshamento

This is a bit long..


I currently have a Lloyds Current Account and an old Nationwide Flexaccount.
I have not used the Nationwide Account for over a year, and passing by a branch today, decided to go in and close it.

Having had only £4.86 in the Account and asking to withdraw the balance and close it, the Cashier asked me why I wanted to close the account, then refused saying that Nationwide do not give out change/coinage.

Ok, No Probs. So requested a cheque for the closing balance.

She then told me that it was not possible to issue a cheque and close the Flexaccount, because I also have an e-Saver Savings Account linked with it, which has to be closed down first.

The balance of the e-Saver is Zero, so I asked the Cashier to close that too.

She told me that I have to go online to close my e-Saver, as it cannot be done in a branch.

I told the Cashier that I had forgotten my Log in Details, Security Details, Memorable Info etc as I had not used the Online Account in such a long time.

She said that I have to Re-Register again online at Nationwide website to enable online access of the e-Saver, then wait until I receive online banking details/password through the post to be able to close it down.

How do I Re-Register?
How do I close the e-Saver online when I receive these new details?
Can I close the Flexaccount online as well?


I'm confused

FluffyFiFi

The cashier is right in saying that you have to close the e-saver on line and once you get your details through it is quite straightforward. Once that is done you should be able to go into any branch and close the account. I am surprised that they said they would not give you cash for the closure and I would query that with them next time. I work for a branch and although the basic flexaccount has counter restrictions these do not apply when an account is closed.

To re-register just go to the nationwide web site and there are step by step instructions.

[Deleted User]

1. Use the 'Register for service' link on the left hand side of the logon screen.

2. Click on your esaver account and one option is to close it (possibly need to select other options first, can't quite remember).

3. Sort of. You can print off a form to close the account which you need to sign and post to them (so guess that's really a 'no' to can I close it online). Having sent them at least 2 forms in the past which they've lost, I'd go into the branch if you can (once your esaver is closed). You could also bacs transfer out your flexaccount balance via a bill payment before you do so they don't mess you about re change/cheque etc.

CLAPTON

look at the website under 'forgotten your details'

however just to say if you ever go abroad, nationwide debit card is one of the few that don't charge any fees for handling spending or cash withdrawal abroad.

olly300

Nationwide do not like people closing accounts down.

Therefore I suggest you contact customer services on the telephone ensuring you get the name of the helpful person you are speaking to on the phone. Tell them you want to close your account down, how you go about doing it and what ID do you need if any. They will explain to you that you need to go into a branch to do this and what exact ID you need to prove who you are.

Then go back into the branch and tell them you have spoken to customer services and you want to close your accounts down. (You can actually close an esaver in a branch because that's what I did.)

They are likely to call the branch manager over to assist you who will again tell you untruthful information to stop you closing your accounts down and in the process act like you are an idiot for not understanding how to do online banking. Just insist that's what you want to do. All you have to do is sign two bits of paper and present your ID.

If the manager is persistent and horrible take down the person's name and write a complaint letter to Member Services. Regardless of whether you are still a Nationwide customer or not.

I wanted to close one of my Nationwide accounts down and the branch manager of the branch I went into was extremely horrible about it. I eventually managed to close the account down and made a formal complaint to member services about the branch manager's attitude.

Luckily I live in a place where it's easy for me to get to other branches so I don't have to go into that branch ever again.

[Deleted User]

I've been with Nationwide for years but have found the service very poor over the last 12 months. My local branch has long queues every time I call (at varying times of day) and only has 2 cashier positions; they've put in machines but they don't work much of the time. Swindon office has lost at least 2 forms I've sent them. Has something changed eg staff cuts, new processes etc or have I just been unlucky?

CLAPTON

anactuary wrote: »

I've been with Nationwide for years but have found the service very poor over the last 12 months. My local branch has long queues every time I call (at varying times of day) and only has 2 cashier positions; they've put in machines but they don't work much of the time. Swindon office has lost at least 2 forms I've sent them. Has something changed eg staff cuts, new processes etc or have I just been unlucky?

several things.. take over of portman was awful, plus because they are perceived as being 'safe' loads of new customers have opened a/c with them and they clearly haven't recruited enough staff to deal with the new business... and their IT systems have always been rather poor.

Doshamento

Thanks for all your helpful responses. Most appreciated. :T


Seems a bit of a palaver the Nationwide put you though. Just to close down your flexaccount.

Kavanne

They lost my application to add my OH as an add cardholder on my CC and refused to put me through to any kind of complaints dept or give me an address or speak to a manager. I think it is because I made it clear I was looking for compensation as he wanted to use the card whilst he was in bulgaria for 6 weeks and made a LOT of card transactions which we had to pay for with halifax but wouldn't have with nationwide. Appalling.

FluffyFiFi

The admin cost of a flexaccount does not make it desirable for Nationwide to keep the account open if someone is not using it. They have started to automatically freeze accounts that are not being used to stop people from opening the account just to use abroad. We have had people come into our branch because they have gone to use their card and found the are not able to.

Milarky

Draw out the cash (write a personal cheque for £4.86 to yourself assuming you have a chequebook). What's the problem with having a couple of accounts with a nil balance - unless they start to charge for having an account....