Claim back any unfair bank charges! Article Discussion Area

PJHilder

Has anyone asked for charges back if they have a Natwest Step account?

I'm planning on writing to them to get refunded on the silly £38 fees they've charged me a few times now for a non payment of a direct debit.

Ironically the Step account is usually given to those with a low income. £38 being quite a lot of a weeks JSA. :S

Kronies

I closed a Lloyds TSB account in 2003 because of charges (I paid off the debt, then closed), does anyone know if I am entitled to claim back the charges, or does this ruling only apply to open accounts?

LearningtoSave2006

I finally received a reply from Natwest on Friday - doens't look hopeful in any way though.

Account in the name of [my name] [acccount number] [sort code]

Your enquiry of 13 April 2006 concerning the account in the name of [my name] has been referred to me.

Having looked into the matter I can confirm that, after careful and exhaustive seach has been made, there is no trace of any account remaining in the name of [my name].

Had the account become dormant and remained so for a period of five years, under our audit procedure the brance would first have endeavoured to make contact with you seeking instructions. If this proved unsuccessful, then the account would have been transferred to our Head Office where a permanent recored is maintained. However a careful examination of these records has not revealed any monies outstanding.

Having considered all circumstances, I conclude that the account has been closed and the balance withdrawn. I regret that I cannot give you the precise data because we do not retain all our records indefinately.

NatWest has a policy of only keeping old vouchers for five years, old statements for eight years and details of closed accounts for three years. I am unable, therefore, to provide any further details of the closed account. However, I can assure you that there is no question of us evading out obligations. Every care is taken to safeguard a depositors position and this is demonstrated by the stringent precautions and procedures which I have described. I am sorry to disappoint you and trust you will accept my explanation.


First of all, I'm confused... she says 'there is no trace of any account remaining in the name of [my name]'. Yet has even me details at the top of the page of my account.

Also, This is in response to a form I had to fill out in order to get the account number and sort code of my bank account (which I closed in October 2003). Not my letter of 13th March - being the Data Protection Act disclosure request.

So technically if they do keep details of closed accounts for three years, they should still hold that information until October of this year?


Any advice on how I should proceed?

bookworm1363

LearningtoSave2006 wrote:

I finally received a reply from Natwest on Friday - doens't look hopeful in any way though.

Account in the name of [my name] [acccount number] [sort code]

Your enquiry of 13 April 2006 concerning the account in the name of [my name] has been referred to me.

Having looked into the matter I can confirm that, after careful and exhaustive seach has been made, there is no trace of any account remaining in the name of [my name].

Had the account become dormant and remained so for a period of five years, under our audit procedure the brance would first have endeavoured to make contact with you seeking instructions. If this proved unsuccessful, then the account would have been transferred to our Head Office where a permanent recored is maintained. However a careful examination of these records has not revealed any monies outstanding.

Having considered all circumstances, I conclude that the account has been closed and the balance withdrawn. I regret that I cannot give you the precise data because we do not retain all our records indefinately.

NatWest has a policy of only keeping old vouchers for five years, old statements for eight years and details of closed accounts for three years. I am unable, therefore, to provide any further details of the closed account. However, I can assure you that there is no question of us evading out obligations. Every care is taken to safeguard a depositors position and this is demonstrated by the stringent precautions and procedures which I have described. I am sorry to disappoint you and trust you will accept my explanation.


First of all, I'm confused... she says 'there is no trace of any account remaining in the name of [my name]'. Yet has even me details at the top of the page of my account.

Also, This is in response to a form I had to fill out in order to get the account number and sort code of my bank account (which I closed in October 2003). Not my letter of 13th March - being the Data Protection Act disclosure request.

So technically if they do keep details of closed accounts for three years, they should still hold that information until October of this year?


Any advice on how I should proceed?

Let me get this right(sorry, it's difficult to follow when wading through so many posts): You did not have the account details. They sent you a letter saying they can not trace the account details, yet, give you the ... account details on top of the letter? Yeah, right.
Something's not right. If they cdn't trace your account, she would be duty bound to tell you what are their time limitsin general, and that's fair enough. BUT if that's your account info, then it doesn't make sense at all.

I would suggest calling the DPA Dept at Natwest, and say that you have managed to get the account and sort code, and that since they are now WAY beyond the 40 days, you expect them to comply within 7 days, or you'll 1 gotot the IC, 2, hit them with a s7 of the DPA claim. Click on my sig and register to get template letters if you need to.

On a slightly separate note, would you be able to e-mail me a copy of that letter (after removing your identifying markers, of course)? It would be very useful, as we have people trying to get beyond the 6 years limit, and this is the first indication we've had of how long NWB keep their info, and as such would be invaluable.
If you can do that, the address is research@bankactiongroup.co.uk., and thank you very much in advance.

melpomene

Hello again,

It took me ages to get into the templates, but i have done so via an email received this morning, yipee!

I have the list of charges I want to claim back from First Direct, & the initial letter is self explanatory. I'll be leaving the red bit out, but should i also leave out the paragraph about being 'shocked'. I'm not shocked as the charges date back to 2002-2003!

Also, I don't calculate interest at this stage do I? I've read replies to this latter question but am still unclear. It will be tricky to work out anyway, some charges themselves being interest on the debt, ye tthe debt being largely composed of charges (you know the sort of thing!)

Thanks very much
Mel

melpomene

Sorry!!!!!!!! I just saw on the Spreadsheet not to claim interest yet...

indenial_2

Another success story!!!

After the Halifax had told the court they were going to file a defence, they wrote to me (less than a week later) saying the usual "if we went to court it would be too expensive....bla bla please manage your account better in future and we are here to help etc....." They have now transferred the full £643 back into my account!! Yipeeee!!!

So thank you to everybody who has contributed..... we all know we couldn't of done this without this site, therefore I will be showing my appreciation by means of contribution, as I'm sure all other successful bankers have and will do.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you.........

I do have a another query but will post it separate!!

melpomene

Do I send the initial letter to any particular department within the bank, or jsut to the registered address?

Ajax18

melpomene wrote:

Do I send the initial letter to any particular department within the bank, or jsut to the registered address?

I sent mine to the General Natwest Address and received a reply within a week so i guess the general address should do...

Ajax18

PJHilder wrote:

Has anyone asked for charges back if they have a Natwest Step account?

I'm planning on writing to them to get refunded on the silly £38 fees they've charged me a few times now for a non payment of a direct debit.

Ironically the Step account is usually given to those with a low income. £38 being quite a lot of a weeks JSA. :S

Hi, I have just filled in my money claim form for my step account with NatWest... Lets see what becomes of it...