Natwest, a frustrating experience.

Mexico70

First post on here so hello to you all.

Just had a very miserable experience with Natwest and I'm looking for some advice from you bank account experts.

First a brief background. I have never had a bad debt or owed anyone money. I have worked full time for twenty plus years and have the documentation to prove it. I am on the voters role at my current address for four years seven months and my previous one for five years plus. My wages have always been paid into my partners account.

A few weeks ago I tried to open a current account with Natwest, no problem I thought. After applying on the phone I was told I could be offered an account, agreed which one and was told a pack would arrive in the mail. One week later, no pack. Two further phone calls and another week of waiting, the pack finally arrives :T

I fill in the form, take it to my local branch, they copy my driving licence, my utility bills and my wage slips and "send it off". Two weeks later, nowt, nothing, so I phone them again and get put through to the "accounts chase up team" who announce they have never heard of me and I would have to apply again :mad:

Now here's the thing, as I haven't had an account or any credit in the last ten years (no need for any) I have been told by the Natwest advisor that I am "off the grid" or some such garbage and to apply again. Will this actually stop me opening anything but one of these basic account things?

A month to open a non bank account, pretty poor performance all round.

onlypaddy

My wages have always been paid into my partners account

erm.....Why?

Now here's the thing, as I haven't had an account or any credit in the last ten years (no need for any) I have been told by the Natwest advisor that I am "off the grid" or some such garbage and to apply again. Will this actually stop me opening anything but one of these basic account things?

Pretty much....as most things drop off a credit report after 6 years, you have no history. does it have to be Natest? try somewhere else maybe?

Mexico70

onlypaddy wrote: »

erm.....Why?

No idea really, laziness on my part combined with lack of interest in things like that.

Doesnt have to be Natwest, they were the first to come up in the search engine. I assumed the whole thing would be pretty routine LOL

Looks like it's basic for me then.

Old_Wrinkly

Symptom of a greater malaise ... 'computer says no'. :wall:
It has replaced common sense and intelligence.

rb10

Your story seems like a pretty typical Natwest way of going about things - i.e. useless and incompetent.

I'd say, try another bank. If you can pay in £1000 per month and not go overdrawn for more than 5 days per month, then try Halifax - they'll pay you £5 per month just for having an account with them.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/reward-current-account.asp

chambta

If it must be Natwest insist on doing it face to face.

If things can go wrong they usually do when it comes to online applications.

Lack of credit history would, at worst, prevent you from getting credit facilities but nothing more.

97trophy

Go in and do it face-to-face.

I am with NatWest (as well as other banks) and I quite like them. English call centres makes a big difference.

xyz123

97trophy wrote: »

Go in and do it face-to-face.

I am with NatWest (as well as other banks) and I quite like them. English call centres makes a big difference.

i second that.

usedandabused

97trophy wrote: »

Go in and do it face-to-face.

I am with NatWest (as well as other banks) and I quite like them. English call centres makes a big difference.

I recently joined RBS on their Key account, bloody awesome service thus far, i assume natwest much of the same

natweststaffmember

Mexico70 wrote: »

First post on here so hello to you all.

Just had a very miserable experience with Natwest and I'm looking for some advice from you bank account experts.

First a brief background. I have never had a bad debt or owed anyone money. I have worked full time for twenty plus years and have the documentation to prove it. I am on the voters role at my current address for four years seven months and my previous one for five years plus. My wages have always been paid into my partners account.

A few weeks ago I tried to open a current account with Natwest, no problem I thought. After applying on the phone I was told I could be offered an account, agreed which one and was told a pack would arrive in the mail. One week later, no pack. Two further phone calls and another week of waiting, the pack finally arrives :T

I fill in the form, take it to my local branch, they copy my driving licence, my utility bills and my wage slips and "send it off". Two weeks later, nowt, nothing, so I phone them again and get put through to the "accounts chase up team" who announce they have never heard of me and I would have to apply again :mad:

Now here's the thing, as I haven't had an account or any credit in the last ten years (no need for any) I have been told by the Natwest advisor that I am "off the grid" or some such garbage and to apply again. Will this actually stop me opening anything but one of these basic account things?

A month to open a non bank account, pretty poor performance all round.

Did you keep copies of the documentation sent? On one of them should be an application number which is unique to you and therefore should come up. Applications did at the time I worked there drop off the system after one month.
I would have personally gone into the branch and done the application face to face but that is just me. No doubt you have reasons for not doing so.