Natwest default help

tinymcfc

Hey people, first of all thanks for clicking on the link and I hope you can help.

Basically I went OD £1.18 a few years ago, once realise (after 4 hours or so) I proceeded to call their call centre to deposit £1.18 as I wanted to close the account. I received a letter a few days later advising me that I was to be charged £28 for an unauthorised OD fee. I phoned Natwest immediately thinking it was an error as I wasnt even OD half a day, they told me it wasnt a mistake and the charges will stand. I was furious and refused to pay.

Long story short the balance is now £439.00, I received a letter from a collection company whose name escapes me right now, and called them immediately. I explained the situation and offered £50 as a settlement figure, the girl came back and told me it wasnt accepted but they would do £125.00, I reluctantly agreed and told the girl I wanted it in writing, with assurances in the letter that the rest of the debt would be wrote off, no other parties would chase me for the remainder and that a default wouldnt be registed against my credit file (which she assured me if they payment was on time it wouldnt be).

I didnt hear anything from them, so I called back and they told be its now with an external DCA, whose name they couldnt tell me, and whom I havent heard anything from. I checked my CF this morning and theres a nice big fat default. It's taken me years to sort my finances out, all my defaults have gone and my credit score was back in the 800's which I was really chuffed about. My girlfriend and I have been saving for a mortgage and I just feel that I can now kiss that good bye.

Is there anyting I can do RE the default? I am so appalled that they can do this when the entire amount is charges levied to the account. I just feel really helpless right now.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to any advice.

Tiny

Southernsofty_2

Hi Tiny.
First thing I`d do is offer a settlement. Call the bank up and tell them you are willing to settle to have default removed. It will prob cost you the full £439, but I guess from your text that you prob know if they take the bait it`ll be the best £439 you`ll ever spend.

Otherwise it will have to be the F.O.S and Information Commisioners office. If you were defaulted whilst account was being disputed it constitutes a breach of Lending code 35.2 It will mean a year in the financial wilderness I`m afraid with no guarantee of sucess. Wouldn`t recommend legal action as Mcuffick vs RBS seems to have closed door.

Also add a notice of correction, this will NOT help you get credit as most lenders won`t care, however it will stop existing creditors from doing a soft sweep of your file which could result in them hiking your rates

Best of luck

tinymcfc

Thanks for the reply. Is there a good number I can use to contact them, or a particular department I need to go through to? Thanks again, and all help/comments more than welcome.

Southernsofty_2

Hi Tiny

Just call the usual customer services number on your statment and they`ll put you through to department you`ll need. You`ll need to chomp on some humble pie I`m afraid, galling I know as it seems they`ve turned you over once already, but I`m afraid it`s a case of might is right and we are fleas attacking elephants.

I`ll keep my fingers crossed