Natwest - Another Way?

Fenris

Not sure if this is the right place, please move if it's not.

Right, well, I'm in the proccess of getting my charges back from Barclays and have opened an account with Natwest. The manager told me that the account I opened with Natwest would be the same as I'm getting with Barclays. Or,not!

She opened an Advantage Gold account as it's free for 3 months. I don't really want it, as there's nothing I'm ever likely to use on it, but she said I may as well try it for the free period. OK, fine. It's usually £12.00 a month, which is £2.00 more than my Barclays Addittions account; and I actually use the Green Flag Assistance from time to time!

Right, so that's the basics.

What I'm concerned about is this: I get an overdraft with Barclays, which Natwest won't provide until I've used the account for 3 months. So, that's not actually matching my Barclays account. Also, I got my debit card the other day, which turns out to be a Switch/Solo card! Well, I had one of those about 8 years ago and couldn't use it anywhere, so unless it's changed, what's the point in that? I've got a proper Visa card with Barclays. Again, not matching my current Barclays account.

The final insult to injury is that she almost guaranteed me a 0% for 9 months Credit Card, which of course, I didn't qualify for. I now feel slightly deflated about the whole experience.

I know my circumstances aren't the best right now (I'm not working) but she saw my last 3 months statements from my Barclays account and I've not been near the overdraft for well over a year! If they can see that I've been running my account, in credit, for that long, how come they're only willing to provide a basic account, with a basic debit card but charge me (when the 3 month trial ends) for the privalege?

Are all banks like this? Reel you in with promises of this and that, only for you to find out it's all a lie?

The trouble is, if Barclays turn funny, they'll close my account and I'll be lumbered with Natwest. Should I try another bank? I feel I'll get the same responses. I used to be with TSB, before they merged with Lloyds. Before I was with TSB, I was with Lloyds! Perhaps I should go back to them?

Anyone had this experience, or have any advice?

Cheers!

Hereward

£12 a month for a current account is quite step, especially if you are only likely to use the breakdown insurance (you could join the AA, or similar, for about the same amount as the cost as the account). I would go back to the bank and ask for it do be downgraded immediately to their Current Plus account (no fee). I would also ask for a Maestro Service card rather than the Cash Card. If they are unwilling to meet these requirements I would definitely go find a different bank.

pagan705

I've just open one of these accounts too ...but I got an overdraft straight away but it could be that I already have another account with them.

Fenris

Thanks both.

Hereward: I agree with you about the price; you don't get the Green Flag cover with Natwest though, it's on my Barclays account. So there really is very little I'd use on the Netwest front. Even the 20% CD/DVD discount doesn't amount to anything as Play/CD-Wow etc are cheaper! I'll certainly go and ask for a Maestro card. I was a little unsure if it was just that they only gave Maestro's to people with wedges of cash!

pagan705: Could be that yes. Or that you're working perhaps? I just find it annoying that they say they'll match the account, but when it comes down to it, they don't.

I'll go and complain next week and see what happens!

C_Ronaldo

fenris

what did you mean by

"Also, I got my debit card the other day, which turns out to be a Switch/Solo card! Well, I had one of those about 8 years ago and couldn't use it anywhere, so unless it's changed, what's the point in that"

you can use switch in loads of places and switch and maestro are the same thing now, oh and switch is a different card to solo

Fenris

Well, I did say "8 years ago" and "unless it's changed". Obviously it has then. The point is, I'd still like a proper debit card, one you can use everywhere. I just like to know that, when I go into a store and produce a piece of plastic, I'm not going to get, "Sorry, we don't accept that here." Which is what happend 8 years ago in HMV! Seriously embarrising!

As for Switch being a different card from Solo, shows how long ago I last saw one! Lol! I thought they were the same. Must be Solo then.

C_Ronaldo

switch are the same as in they are both debits but imo switch maestro is on a better playing field than solo(more places may accept solo but as i dont have 1 i dont notice these things), i have switch maestro myself and i use it everyhere from hmv to aldi to my local tyre merchant to the petrol station

Fenris

That's the point I was trying to make; can't do all those things with what they gave me!

C_Ronaldo

ive not come across a shop that has refused me because i have a switch maestro card,

jonesMUFCforever

Part quote from Fenris

I know my circumstances aren't the best right now (I'm not working) but she saw my last 3 months statements from my Barclays account and I've not been near the overdraft for well over a year! If they can see that I've been running my account, in credit, for that long, how come they're only willing to provide a basic account, with a basic debit card but charge me (when the 3 month trial ends) for the privalege?


The fact that you are not working would be my guess is the reason you have ended up with a basic account.Without the correct source of 'turnover' ie salary rather than benefits their system has reduced your credit score.
You have also started the process to reclaim your charges from Barclays which suggests that you have overspent in the past and this might be reflected in your credit score.

Fenris

OK, sorry to dredge this up from the bowels of the forum, but I have a slight problem!

After posting here I went back to Natwest and cancelled the account; no point in having something you're not going to use right? It turned out that the woman who'd originally done all the paperwork didn't have a clue what she was on about! The account add on's (Advantage, I think it was) wasn't actually free for three months; it was a kind of pay-it-for-three-months-and-if-you-keep-it-you-get-that-three-months-refunded. Right. So, they charged me for one months worth, which I refused to pay because I didn't want it in the first place! PLUS I'd been told it was free, when it wasn't; i.e, I'd been mis-sold a product I didn't even want! So, they closed the account there and then, took back the Solo card and the chequebook and that was that.

...Only it wasn't, because a month later I got another statement from them telling me I was overdrawn on my account! What?! But I've never used it! And it's closed! But it hadn't been closed, it was still open and I was being charged for this Advantage thing I never wanted! So, I went back and complained to the branch manager and she ASSURED me that the account would be closed and I would hear no more from them. And I didn't... Until yesterday!

I moved in October last year and hadn't heard anything from Natwest since around July/August 06. Now, out of the blue, I received a letter from them yesterday saying I was "indebted" (their wording!) to them to the amount of... Wait for it!.. £419.77! WHAT????? So, they're charging me for an account that I closed over a year ago? For a service I never wanted?

So, before I write to them and give them what-for I was wondering if this had happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do?

I can see this dragging out because, as it was over a year ago, I don't have any paperwork from the bank stating that the account had been closed! I just forgot about it and went on with my life! Now I need it, I'm stuffed!

What I'm most worried about is that they'll kill my already not-so-good credit rating with this and I'll never be able to apply for another financial product... Ever!

Any advice?