mental health and Natwest Gold Advantage Card

r324295

Hello. I hope I am posting in the right section.

A close family member opened the Gold Advantage bank account with Natwest October 2007. He had lost his job recently, and had no regular income. We later found he was also suffering from mental health(schizophrenia) , and was sectioned in December 2007, and again in January 2008.

He received quaterly statements detailing the account expense. A family member found one of these letters in the bin, and explained to him that he was being charged monthly and should close the account. He retorted that the charges would be reimburse after 3 months ( something the manager said ? ). We explained they would not, he was either misled or had misunderstood He went to close the account. They said fine. It remained open. This happened once again in November( ?) 2008. We found a letter torn up. He went again to close the account. They said fine.

In January a letter was issued asking for payment on the debt of £464.

On not one occasion did he ever have any money in the account. Nor was he capable of truly understanding the gravity of the situation, the nature of the debt whatever.

Now he has until March to pay off the debt. I am wondering whether there is anything we can do considering the lack of mental capacity. I apoligise if this is answered elsewhere, in the massive threads for example. If it is so please direct me where to go, what to read, as I am typing this in an internet cafe as I do not have internet at home.

Thanks for any help.


R

Kavanne

If your relative had cancelled the advantage gold within 3 months of opening the account he would have received his fees back. After that there's no reimbursement offer. Natwest won't deal with you over the phone (unless you have power of attourney or third party management of the accounts), Can you get into the branch with your relative? Or are they in hospital atm? A letter to them is probably the best place to start. I am sure people with far more experience will come along with some advice soon. Hope you get this all sorted!

r324295

Thanks for the reply

He went into the bank with his mother yesterday. They put him on the phone ( to head quarters I presume) They gave him a March deadline. They were not prepared to discuss any further.

natweststaffmember

Kavanne wrote: »

If your relative had cancelled the advantage gold within 3 months of opening the account he would have received his fees back. After that there's no reimbursement offer. Natwest won't deal with you over the phone (unless you have power of attourney or third party management of the accounts), Can you get into the branch with your relative? Or are they in hospital atm? A letter to them is probably the best place to start. I am sure people with far more experience will come along with some advice soon. Hope you get this all sorted!

Kavanne, that was providing that no benefits of the account were used is the criteria.
I would add all the details that you have as Kavanne has stated for the account to be cancelled. I would put that in writing and possible send it to the branch to begin with and then if there is no response then escalate it. If there has been bank charges then perhaps the reclaims board may be a further route as the circumstances would indicate that there may be a cause to do so.