RBS trying to fleece me.

tommo5050

Dear all,

In early 2007 I closed my account with the RBS after opening a different account. About 4 months after leaving them I got a letter from them asking for £160 in charges, I contacted the branch and advised them that I had hand delivered a letter to the branch advising them that I had closed my account. They said they hadn't received it, I argued that saying I had handed it to a member of staff who opened it and said they would sort it out. I also asked them to review the footage of their CCTV as it would show me in the branch. I never heard anything else from them until 3 months ago when a debt collection agency on behalf of the RBS contacted me telling me I owed £1,089 in arrears to my account and they would seek court action if I did not pay it. I rang them, I spoke to one of their staff for about half an hour, I agreed to send them a copy of the letter I handed in to the branch (which I did) and I hadn't heard anything from them until today, they now say I owe £1,250 and they are seeking court action. They are arguing I have no proof that I 1. Closed my account or 2. I even entered the branch on that day, they also advised me that they wold be seeking court action within the next 28 days if the balance is not paid in full. I again rang them at cost to myself and advised them that I do not owe the RBS any money, I have not borrowed anything from them and when I closed my account I was £11.24 in credit and would like that back. I've told the debt collection agency I will not pay any 'charges' on a closed account but they seem to think I will, anyone have any advice or experience with the same situation? All replies gratefully received.

natweststaffmember

tommo5050 wrote: »

Dear all,

In early 2007 I closed my account with the RBS after opening a different account.
still reading but was that with a different bank? Did you keep the original letter and/or did you note down the date and can you remember the description of the Member of Staff you handed the letter into plus the branch. It will become apparent later on.
About 4 months after leaving them I got a letter from them asking for £160 in charges, I contacted the branch and advised them that I had hand delivered a letter to the branch advising them that I had closed my account. They said they hadn't received it, I argued that saying I had handed it to a member of staff who opened it and said they would sort it out.
Bank Error number 2, failing to deal with a complaint properly.
I also asked them to review the footage of their CCTV as it would show me in the branch. I never heard anything else from them until 3 months ago when a debt collection agency on behalf of the RBS contacted me telling me I owed £1,089 in arrears to my account and they would seek court action if I did not pay it. I rang them, I spoke to one of their staff for about half an hour, I agreed to send them a copy of the letter I handed in to the branch (which I did) and I hadn't heard anything from them until today, they now say I owe £1,250 and they are seeking court action.
Have they actually issued a court summons?
They are arguing I have no proof that I 1. Closed my account or 2. I even entered the branch on that day, they also advised me that they wold be seeking court action within the next 28 days if the balance is not paid in full. I again rang them at cost to myself and advised them that I do not owe the RBS any money, I have not borrowed anything from them and when I closed my account I was £11.24 in credit and would like that back. I've told the debt collection agency I will not pay any 'charges' on a closed account but they seem to think I will, anyone have any advice or experience with the same situation? All replies gratefully received.

Marvellous, that £11.24 has just won you your case. Firstly write to the Debt Collection Agency UNLESS it is Triton which is RBS internal debt collectors.
Write to RBS Requesting copies of the statements back to the point in which the account was closed. Then write a formal complaint to RBS Bank outlining in a chronological order as to what has happened, who you have spoken to and when and then asking that you want the bank to refund to you £11.24 which is what the person in the bank said was in your account(did they say that it would be sent to you at all?).
Ask the bank for a FINAL RESPONSE and then take it to the Financial Ombudsman service. If you have the details of everything already then that is fine.

Write to the DCA and tell them that you queried it with the bank on a number of occasions providing proof to them and that the debt is in dispute while you deal with RBS directly. any court action WILL be defended vigorously.
It's Bank Error plain and simple.
Did you ever receive anything from the bank in writing about the account at any time after the closure of the account? Did you move house since Sept 2007?

tommo5050

Just to update you, I have spoken to the branch today and they have advised me that the account is still open. I have lodged a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman regarding them not closing the account as per my directions. They are going to look into the reasons why after one letter to the branch, one letter sent to the General Manager months later and one letter sent to the Debt Collection agency they have continued to keep the account open and continued with charges even after they have acknowledged that there has been no activity other than what they have done in the account since Feb 2007.
Buffoons.