Closing a overdrawn account

debie150403

Hi, hers a tricky one that i need to get sorted asap!!!!

I need to close my bank account, as i have cancelled a direct debit and the payee are still taking the payments. (Im under negoitation with the payee). My bank which is natwest is allowing this to happen even though i have not authorised any new direct debit! Despite many visits to the bank, they are refusing to help and so i want to close the account so the payye cannot take the money anymore. Problem is im £2000 overdrawn! I dont have that kind of money lying around but obvisously i cant close the account if its overdrawn. Any ideas of a way round this? I thought of setting up an overdraft with my other bank and and repaying natwest and closing it, but ive had a reduction in my income and doubt i will be able to have £2000 one. Got enough credit cards etc so dont want to go down that route either.

Any help or idas would be gratefully recieved!
Deb

glider3560

You won't be able to close the account until the overdraft is paid off.

Are you sure it is a direct debit rather than a recurring debit card payment?

If you've cancelled the direct debit and the payment still leaves your account, then your bank must give you a refund. This doesn't apply to recurring debit card payments.

CLAPTON

make a formal complaint under the DD guarentee. say you have NOT authorised these DD deductions and demand an immediate refund of the money and any fees or interest.
add that, if they are unwilling to comply then they should send a final response letter so you can then complain to the ombudsman sevice.

debie150403

No its definatley a direct debit i had set up. The payee is claiming the money each money by applying a new reference number for the direct debit. The bank have returned each payment all be it begrudgingly, but they have said they will not keep on doing this. Im never setting up a direct debit again in my life!!!!

Clapton, who do i make a formal complaint to?? Ive been into my bank repeatdley, and nothing seems to happen! Do you know how i would go about complianing to the ombudsman service?

dc110

Do you know how i would go about complianing to the ombudsman service?

You will need to exhaust the banks complaints policy first - they have 8 weeks to resolve to your satisafaction or you can then approach ombudsman - bank should give you details once 8 weeks is up

YorkshireBoy

More background in the OP's other thread here...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1780159

td_007

debie150403 wrote: »

Ive been into my bank repeatdley, and nothing seems to happen! Do you know how i would go about complianing to the ombudsman service?

Make a written complaint to your bank - that way you will have a record and you will documentation to prove that the bank was able/unable to resolve the issue.

Comyface

Also, check your direct debits online every day. As soon as you see one has been set up, cancel it. They're usually set up a few days in advance of the request for money, so they shouldn't be able to get any money from your account if you've cancelled it.