Natwest Debt Collection

CovOne

Hi all at MSE, firstly i apologise if this is in the wrong area and/or it is a re-occurring question.

Background:

My partner opened a Natwest Student Account with an interest free O/D for 3 years with a £1000 overdraft facility in Sept 2008 when starting university. She basically took it to the limit buying things for uni and a few bits and bobs along the way. She has been paying back £20 a month for the last 8 months to keep it ticking over. She is planning on paying it all back.

She received a letter today saying to ring Natwest, it was the from the Debt Collection department.


She rang them up just now and was basically bullied, the man on the end of the phone threatened with instant blacklisting and debt collection agencies if she did not pay £200 back a straight away. After stating she couldn't do this he threatened again that £150 payed now or he will blacklist her.

He told her to borrow money from family which is totally out of line in my opinion. He also suggested a Natwest credit card to pay of the full amount. He also went on to reading out what she had brought and said items brought from Zavvi and New Look were not student spending.

I then went on the phone as my girlfriend in tears payed £100 off the debt because she is genuinely worried. I asked the man his name and some sort of employer details he refused outright saying i was being rude. She then asked and got a name and the phone was put down on his side.

Am i right in thinking that all calls of this nature will be recorded and secondly what is the best course of action to take.

Thanks for taking time to read.

Deep_In_Debt

Calls are unlikely to be recorded - there would be evidence of their underhand tactics and bullying otherwise.

Don't speak to them on the phone again. If they call, refuse to go through their security questions and say you will only deal in writing and hang up.

Send them a letter (Recorded Delivery) saying you will deal in writing only.

Check out the OFT debt collection guidelines for future reference as you'll find that they have probably acted incorrectly.

It's not necessarily a bad thing if the debt is sold on to a DCA as they buy the debts for pennies in the £, and tend to freeze interest and charges and generally accept lower payments. Again, with DCA's keep everything in writing and do not call them. It could end up with a bad mark on her credit file though.

Did you pay on your debit card? If so, I suggest that you perhaps report it as lost and a request a new one as once they have your card details they may help themselves. It has been known to happen and not just with Nat West.

She should stick to her guns as they may expect this extra amount every month.