Natwest and me

karajane

I had a current plus account with NatWest, after losing my job last year I was having my benefits (IS, CTC and CB) paid in. About 6 half months ago an unpaid DD sent me over small100 OD limit. NatWest were really unhelpful as those charges then other DDs over nxt couplle of days sent OD to nearly £300. My account was then taken over by lending centre. Everytime my benefits went in they would then charge me £38 to go in branch for an encashment the fees and charges all the time accruing. I made them anoffer of £20 per month last Dec which was genuinely all I could afford, they refused and said system would only accept £70 per month.

At this point I just gave up on it and arranged for all my benefits to be paid into my basic Step account also at NatWest.

A couple of weeks ago I went to cash machine on Friday night to find card wouldn't work, so went in branch Saturday morning, bank had frozen account so I would phone lending centre. The Branch Manager was lovely and did this for me, they said there systems were down but they would now accept £20 offer and took stop off step account. 5 days later after hearing nothiing same thing happened with cashcard at ATM. I went i branch and they let me use phone to ring Lending Centre.

I got into a real dng dong with the man and he kept threatening to not give me my benefits and told me it was a miistake unfreezing my account. Eventually however, he said he had arranged for me to cash my £136 and to go to counter, but accounts were now ineffective and to arrange to have money paid elsewhere. I told him I was due a CTC payment of £88 in 2 days which would already be on way via bacs so he said he would put a note on, and I could sort that in 2 days.

When I went to counter he had only arranged an encashment of £36, I was really upset so Branch Manager phoned them back on my behalf, the new advisor asked where I got figure of £136 as only £36 showing as balance, I had printout with time from cashier clearly done 30 mins before showing balance of £136. It turned out the fiirst man had transferred £100 into overdrawn account and left me £36, this action was quickly undone and I was allowed to cash my money.

On Thurs went in to get CTC, told nothing they could do it had been transferred into OD account, they didnt care it wwas benefits, I explained it was unlawfulunder Social Security Act all to no avail.

I have now sent a letter in saying they have unlawfully arrested my benefits and demanded their return, I hace also sent first letter in for refund of charges (totaling £3500 nearly) over last 6 years

Oh yes forgot to say I got a letter today to say they were charging me £30 for sending the £100 back to the Step account Oh My God!!!!!

I have now arranged to have benefits paid by girocheque temporarily and will be opening new basic account elsewhere on Monday morning.

natweststaffmember

I answered the question on consumer forums, it is not unlawful for the bank to take charges under the Social Security Act. I would claim your charges back

karajane

Hi thanks for your help with this matter, just to let you know they said exactly the same as you did on the other site in their reply yet sent me a cheque for the full amount anyway as a gesture of goodwill, so happy days.

natweststaffmember

karajane wrote: »

Hi thanks for your help with this matter, just to let you know they said exactly the same as you did on the other site in their reply yet sent me a cheque for the full amount anyway as a gesture of goodwill, so happy days.

Absolutely fantastic news. Congratulations!
Can you post up the letter you used as that might help others who are in similar circumstances?