Natwest Bank Charges

natweststaffmember

stclair wrote: »

You can still be charged on a step account for bounced DDs etc.

It's a half misread stclair, in the context of the OP what has happened is that they have exceeded their overdraft and have been charged. In the case of NatWest if they went £1.00 overdrawn on say a card payment, they wouldn't receive any of the charges in the original post.

For the original poster on the thread, charging period are from statement date to statement date, ie statement on 4th Jan so next statement on 3rd feb is the charging period. If you do go over the overdraft then the charge goes out 21 days after that date or 24th February. This has been the case since April last year on maintenance charges. Prior to that it was based on 4 weekly dates.

As others have said the maintenance charge is pre advised so if you have paper statements, it will be sent out with the monthly statement. Can you double check you still receive them? If not you can see them online. If you have not had any previous refund then I would certainly argue that at least one charge might be refunded as a gesture of goodwill or you can look at the hardship route, which, to be honest, is a slim possibility with regards to the bank refunding charges.

Furthermore, if you are on JSA are you looking at Local Housing allowance/Housing Benefit to help with living costs? Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to from the DWP?

stclair

natweststaffmember wrote: »

It's a half misread stclair, in the context of the OP what has happened is that they have exceeded their overdraft and have been charged. In the case of NatWest if they went £1.00 overdrawn on say a card payment, they wouldn't receive any of the charges in the original post.

For the original poster on the thread, charging period are from statement date to statement date, ie statement on 4th Jan so next statement on 3rd feb is the charging period. If you do go over the overdraft then the charge goes out 21 days after that date or 24th February. This has been the case since April last year on maintenance charges. Prior to that it was based on 4 weekly dates.

As others have said the maintenance charge is pre advised so if you have paper statements, it will be sent out with the monthly statement. Can you double check you still receive them? If not you can see them online. If you have not had any previous refund then I would certainly argue that at least one charge might be refunded as a gesture of goodwill or you can look at the hardship route, which, to be honest, is a slim possibility with regards to the bank refunding charges.

Furthermore, if you are on JSA are you looking at Local Housing allowance/Housing Benefit to help with living costs? Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to from the DWP?

It dont matter how much they went over even it was a penny they would still get charged bascially the OP needs to manage there finances alot better. Plus they do get notifications all charges in the post included in there bank statement whether it be a POS DD or what ever took overdrawn.

I did not miss read at the end of the day they went overdrawn and got charged thats there problem not the banks.

natweststaffmember

stclair wrote: »

It dont matter how much they went over even it was a penny they would still get charged bascially the OP needs to manage there finances alot better.
Your post was in relation to the Step account so think what I was responding to and tell me that you get charged for being in excess(maintenance charge)?
Whilst I understand what you are saying re managing their finances, surely you know the basics of NatWest complaint handling, ie explain the charges(6 step guide?? does that ring a bell to you?) not pontificate to the customer that they should manage their money better,
I did not miss read end of the day they went over drawn and got charged that there problem not the banks.

StClair, the context of my quote was about the STEP account. The rest of the information was just that. Many people on the boards are quite happy to simply say "manage your money better" without properly explaining the charging mechanism which surely would help them to work out WHY they have been charged and how to get into that cycle of charges. Surely the ultimate end is to have less people getting charges rather than to call them stupid which is what we are appearing to suggest to the OP. Try living on JSA btw, it ain't fun

I did say a half misread because you have interpreted what the other poster said about the Step account to be that there are no charges whatsoever when they clearly were relating to what the OP had been charged, ie maintenance charges not guaranteed card payment fees, not unpaid item fees and not referral fees.

stclair

Catflea said get a step account you wont get charges well you can expect card referal fees !!

How Catflea put it as if there was no charges at all ;-)

You can get all categories of charges on a current plus/ad gold.

The best way for them to learn the charging mechanism is by contacting the bank and reading the terms and conditions.

http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g3/reduced-overdraft-charges.ashx

I said a step account you can be charged for bounced DDs etc

So the bottom line is I did not mis read anything :-) Maybe you could help them with a reclaim under hardship.

stclair

natweststaffmember wrote: »

StClair, the context of my quote was about the STEP account. The rest of the information was just that. Many people on the boards are quite happy to simply say "manage your money better" without properly explaining the charging mechanism which surely would help them to work out WHY they have been charged and how to get into that cycle of charges. Surely the ultimate end is to have less people getting charges rather than to call them stupid which is what we are appearing to suggest to the OP. Try living on JSA btw, it ain't fun

I did say a half misread because you have interpreted what the other poster said about the Step account to be that there are no charges whatsoever when they clearly were relating to what the OP had been charged, ie maintenance charges not guaranteed card payment fees, not unpaid item fees and not referral fees.

Where have I said theres no charges on a step account?

stclair

mucktub86 wrote: »

Just checked my bank account and I noticed £20 of charges were deducted from my account on 29th December as I'd gone £3.33 over my overdraft limit. I rang the bank and queried it to then be told I had a further £20 to be deducted in charges.

I'm tearing my hair out as I'm unemployed and so I'm living (if you could call it that) on Jobseekers Allowance and £40 is almost one weeks money!!

The first time I admit was my own fault but the second time if the bank knew these charges were being deducted they should NOT have let me take any money out of my bank account.

The worst thing is that the chances are I will get sucked into this continuous cycle now of having bank charges every month through no fault of my own.

Any help/advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Lis

Whats took you over your overdraft limit?

Gorgeous_George

mucktub86 wrote: »

Just checked my bank account and I noticed £20 of charges were deducted from my account on 29th December as I'd gone £3.33 over my overdraft limit. I rang the bank and queried it to then be told I had a further £20 to be deducted in charges.

I'm tearing my hair out as I'm unemployed and so I'm living (if you could call it that) on Jobseekers Allowance and £40 is almost one weeks money!!

The first time I admit was my own fault but the second time if the bank knew these charges were being deducted they should NOT have let me take any money out of my bank account.

The worst thing is that the chances are I will get sucked into this continuous cycle now of having bank charges every month through no fault of my own.

Any help/advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Lis

Hi

Sorry to highlight the two sentences above but you need to take control here - and quick.

I think NatWest's actions are disgraceful. Ask to meet with a manager. Acknowledge the error but express your concern that you are not in a position to lose this money. Ask for the manager's advice. Do not be arrogant - just ask them to give you a break and in return you'll promise to bemore vareful in future.

If you get no joy, open an account somewhere else then clear the overdraft and close the account.

GG

natweststaffmember

stclair wrote: »

Catflea said get a step account you wont get charges well you can expect card referal fees !!
Are you sure you work for NatWest? If you post something that is factually incorrect then I will take you to task. The only charge applicable to the STEP account is UNPAID ITEMS which is where I was actually agreeing with you on.
How Catflea put it as if there was no charges at all ;-)

You can get all categories of charges on a current plus/ad gold.

The best way for them to learn the charging mechanism is by contacting the bank and reading the terms and conditions.

http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g3/reduced-overdraft-charges.ashx
And preferably when a member of NatWest staff is pointing you to a link they would point you to the correct once
http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g6/rates-charges.ashx

"Note that the Maintenance Charge, Guaranteed Card Payment Fee, Paid Referral Fee and Default Notice Fee do not apply to Step Accounts."




I said a step account you can be charged for bounced DDs etc
Which is why I didn't say that it was completely misread rather than a half misread since.
So the bottom line is I did not mis read anything :-) Maybe you could help them with a reclaim under hardship.

In hindsight you should have read some of my charges guides on the bank forums cos it is in very clear plain and simple language.

stclair

natweststaffmember wrote: »

In hindsight you should have read some of my charges guides on the bank forums cos it is in very clear plain and simple language.

Is the link just the same one but in a different place.

OH I think it is shock horror :j As it says the same thing in but in a different format.

Premier_2

mucktub86 wrote: »

You have no right to make an ASSUMPTION I have only gone over my overdraft twice in one month (and this is whilst I'm on jobseekers allowance, I have never gone over my overdraft whilst working, again I'd suggest reading a post properly before commenting). The previous charges have quoted dates where no transactions whatsoever have taken place on my account and were also while I was working.

Thank you to people who've replied with HELPFUL responses

Lis

No ASSUMPTIONs made

Just going by what you posted.

Here were 2 charges:

mucktub86 wrote: »

Just checked my bank account and I noticed £20 of charges were deducted from my account on 29th December as I'd gone £3.33 over my overdraft limit. I rang the bank and queried it to then be told I had a further £20 to be deducted in charges....

The first time I admit was my own fault but the second time if the bank knew these charges were being deducted ...

and then 2 MORE TIMES!

mucktub86 wrote: »

...I've now gone through my bank statements carefully and have no found two further charges from last year ...