i've been allowed to go overdrawn...

socksandpants

I have had an account with NatWest for over 6 years. My account is the basic step account which does not allow you to go overdrawn.

Last month I called phone banking to get an updated balance which stated that my balance was £300+. I called a compnay that I needed to pay that day and paid £300 on my debit card. This went through without a problem. A few days later my balance was showing at -£294 and I have been charged for making this payment. I have also recieved charges for being overdrawn.

At no point did I willingly go overdrawn and as my account is a step account there should have been the checks in place that if there was no funds available then the payment not made.

So I have a case for refunds?

natweststaffmember

socksandpants wrote: »

I have had an account with NatWest for over 6 years. My account is the basic step account which does not allow you to go overdrawn.

Last month I called phone banking to get an updated balance which stated that my balance was £300+. I called a compnay that I needed to pay that day and paid £300 on my debit card. This went through without a problem. A few days later my balance was showing at -£294 and I have been charged for making this payment. I have also recieved charges for being overdrawn.

At no point did I willingly go overdrawn and as my account is a step account there should have been the checks in place that if there was no funds available then the payment not made.

So I have a case for refunds?

If your balance was £300 where has to other amount gone then? Can you explain what else has happened cos the above does not make sense to me with regards to that. Furthermore, Step Accounts can only be charged if an item is returned unpaid ONLY and not maintenance charges, guaranteed card payments or referral fees.

BTW, no account can guarantee you cannot go overdrawn if there is a card attached to it.

leemrobinson

socksandpants wrote: »

I have had an account with NatWest for over 6 years. My account is the basic step account which does not allow you to go overdrawn.

Last month I called phone banking to get an updated balance which stated that my balance was £300+. I called a compnay that I needed to pay that day and paid £300 on my debit card. This went through without a problem. A few days later my balance was showing at -£294 and I have been charged for making this payment. I have also recieved charges for being overdrawn.

At no point did I willingly go overdrawn and as my account is a step account there should have been the checks in place that if there was no funds available then the payment not made.

So I have a case for refunds?

Just one simple question...Why is it always the banks' fault? This sounds to me like a simple case of spending money that you don't have and then moaning at paying for the service.

And just to clarify... I am no supporter of bank charges, I have claims in of my own!

dunstonh

At no point did I willingly go overdrawn

Yes you did. You failed to monitor your own spending and thought that just because your balance said £300, that you could spend it.

as my account is a step account there should have been the checks in place that if there was no funds available then the payment not made.

There was when the payment was made but not by the time it came through and cleared.

Perhaps you should hand your debit card back to Natwest as you are incapable of budgeting and taking responsibility for your spending.

magpiecottage

leemrobinson wrote: »

Just one simple question...Why is it always the banks' fault?

I fear because we expect children to behave as adults, forcing them to abandon childhood and join the treadmill that is known as the National Curriculum, and expect adults to behave as children, expecting somebody else to clear up after them.

socksandpants

I'm sorry but

"You failed to monitor your own spending and thought that just because your balance said £300, that you could spend it"

should there be a reason that I shouldn't believe the bank when they tell me my balance?

Quote:
as my account is a step account there should have been the checks in place that if there was no funds available then the payment not made.
There was when the payment was made but not by the time it came through and cleared.

Perhaps you are unaware of how the basic account works. If there any payments pending then they do not allow you to spend on it. In the past my balance has always been very clear about how much I have CLEARED. I did not use my account again after making this payment.

Maybe you should find out the basic facts about different accounts before you are so rude to an enquiry made.

simon_templar_2

I think what the mean is that when a person presents their card in a shop, they are saying to the retailer 'yes i have the money to buy this'. It is not upto the bank to check this.

Some retailers do not check you have enough money, if the transaction is small or they have a floor level. The bank will honour the payment to the retailer and if that takes an account into minus then they will charge the account holder.

socksandpants

simon_templar wrote: »

I think what the mean is that when a person presents their card in a shop, they are saying to the retailer 'yes i have the money to buy this'. It is not upto the bank to check this.

Some retailers do not check you have enough money, if the transaction is small or they have a floor level. The bank will honour the payment to the retailer and if that takes an account into minus then they will charge the account holder.

Again, I repeat that this is what this account/debit card does! This account was designed for this. If it wasn't then my 14 year old son would be allowed to go overdrawn! Any amount that is paid with a solo card is checked against CLEARED balance be it a payment for £1000 or £1

simon_templar_2

Under 18's cannot incur bank charges.

Kay_Peel

Socksandpants.

When the Bank told you that your balance was 300 pounds, they were unaware of any transactions in the pipeline. Five minutes after you put your phone down, your balance might have dropped to £6 for some reason. Only you can tell where that money went and when it went out of your account, by looking at your bank statement.

No refund - nice try!

PS Solo cards and debit cards are not the same thing. Why are you so sure that this debit card stops you from overdrawing?

jamesd

socksandpants wrote: »

should there be a reason that I shouldn't believe the bank when they tell me my balance?

Yes, there is. They don't know what transactions you have initiated that haven't yet reached their system.

On Friday I told a place to take money from my account. The place processed that on Monday, so that's when NatWest would have found out about it. The money isn't coming from my account until today. It's up to me to know that I had that money to come from my account and not spend the balance that NatWest showed over the weekend.

You screwed up. Simple as that. Not satisfying for you but that's part of learning how to manage accounts. You need to track what you're doing because the bank can only do it once it finds out about things. That means you are the only person who can do that job properly.

If this is the first time, NatWest may well be kind and refund the charges.