Natwest Account problem

impoverishedtraveller

Hi everyone, first post on the forum. Here's my story!

I have an account with the Natwest and have an agreed overdraft of £1500

I went travelling about 15 months ago and made reasonably sure that my account was below the overdraft limit before I left. Unfortunately, something had been taken from the account whilst I was away meaning that it went overdrawn (as of yet I do not know what this was). It seems like as the months have rolled on, i have been charged fees and interest which has currently left the account overdrawn by £2100 (roughly £600 over the overdraft limit).

I came back to find a letter from a debt collection agency in regards to this. I immediately contacted them and they have agreed to place this on hold while I try to get this sorted out.

I first went to my local branch, but they could only give me the number for their collections team. Everyone has been so unhelpful so far as no-one can see what has caused my account to become overdrawn.

As you can imagine, I'm not in a position to pay it off all at once, but i do think its a little bit unfair that they can't even tell me why this has happend!

Does anyone have any advice at all?

Thanks

Kavanne

I won't ask what you did with your statements whilst you were away. If you do online banking you can view your statements up to 6 years old straight away. That'll show you what it is. If you don't have online banking, you can sign up.

If not, ask collections to send you statements for, say, the last 2 years (to make sure you go back far enough) or at least tell you what transaction caused this.

NatWest charge interest on overdrafts (except Student) so whilst you were away that would have been being charged each month, potentially taking you over. Or you might have had an annual direct debit set up you forgot about or a Standing order or Continuous Payment authority.

chambta

I'm sure even if the account had not exceeded its limit, leaving it £1000+ overdrawn for 15 months could well have meant more progressively forthright letters anyway.