NatWest (merged)

swimityswim

Success!!

Sent my first letter just over 8 weeks ago, and since I couldnt afford the mcol payment, I just kept sending them letters reminding them about my claim and stating that I would file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman if they didnt respomd within 8 weeks. The only communication I got from them within those 8 weeks was a reply to an email I sent them confirming that they were looking into it. Then, on 8th June just a few days before the 8 weeks were up I received a letter stating a offer would follow shortly, and amazingly it did!

I had an offer letter through for an amount, which was £400 short of what I was claiming. I panicking at first, thinking they were being cheeky, and really didnt know what to do as I didnt want to have to take them to court. Once Id calmed down a bit, I realised that the offer related the the sum of money I was claiming 8 weeks ago, and since I wasnt using the account out of protest for those 8 weeks, I was still incurring overlimit charges, bounced cheque charges etc...so basically they'd looked at my first claim letter and based the offer on that, and not my subsequent correspondence which updated them with my charges and the amount I was claiming.

So I plucked up the courage to phone them, really just check my theory, and spoke to a lovely woman who said it was quite common for the department who deal with the refunds and offers to look at the figure on your first letter and offer you that. She said to tick the acceptance box, and write on the form that you accept the refund as long as it will include all subsequent charges since the claim began, and then attach a list of those subsequent charges. She said they would refund the lot no problem! Im so delighted! Sent the form back off on Sat so just got to wait for it to arrive in my account.....£4300!!!

GarethR

Try this number mate but check your original letter making sure you havent made a typo

0845 3030456

poi-boi

Thanks Gareth, that was really helpful. I was expecting menus, queues and dodgy hold music so I nearly fell off my chair when an actual person answered the phone!

Apparently they send the statements in sections as the system changed over at some point, so still on track so far.

jen3220

jen3220 wrote: »

Well, I first looked at this a year ago. Natwest had taken £5640 of bank charges from me in the space of 5 years. Sent a couple of letters. Got the usual "you were aware of our terms and conditions" letters back and gave up due to a lack of funds to go to small claims court. Mainly due to the fact that Natwest had been taking most of my money for a long time!

I started again in March of this year. Finally did the court paperwork online and paid my £250, so with interest etc the claim is now for £6.5k. They offered me £4k a week after I filed the claim, although the letter was dated 2 weeks prior to that. I decided to turn it down as they had been messing me around for so long.

Tomorrow is the day I can click the JUDGEMENT button on mcol. Well, I will probably stay up tonight and do it at 12.01! I'm not entirely sure about these things so I am trying not to be too excited in case there is still some way they can file a last minute defence, but I'm hoping not. So fingers crossed.

I have been lurking around this site for a long time and just want to say thanks to everyone that has posted here. It has been a great help and I really appreciate it!

Okay, I take it back, they acknowledged the paperwork today! So now I have to wait another 2 weeks for them to file a defence. I am so annoyed. I didn't realise they could still do it today! So on to the next stage...

frugalpam

jen3220 wrote: »

Okay, I take it back, they acknowledged the paperwork today! So now I have to wait another 2 weeks for them to file a defence. I am so annoyed. I didn't realise they could still do it today! So on to the next stage...

This is pretty typical of Natwest, I'm afraid. Was really hoping you'd be able to hit that judgement button! Be prepared for Natwest to file a defence, and receive paperwork from their solicitors, Cobbetts. There are some good threads you can read to help with that, or post here.
Just for info (I posted this on the 'they're defending my claim' thread) - I checked my household insurance policy and found I could get free legal advice. I rang and spoke with a solicitor and told her what I'd done so far - she said I'd done well (I told her I got all my advice from moneysavingexpert.com !) I asked whether I could legal aid if I had to appear in my local court - she said they would give that serious consideration and is sending me some forms to update her on the claim to date. I wish I'd checked what I'm covered for before now, but then again, this site has enabled me to get this far AND do things correctly :T

Good luck, keep us posted,
Pam

jen3220

Thanks Pam, I will let you know what happens! I had read of them doing it before so was trying not to get my hopes up! I will certainly look into the legal aid thing, the whole idea of court scares me to death!

frugalpam

jen3220 wrote: »

Thanks Pam, I will let you know what happens! I had read of them doing it before so was trying not to get my hopes up! I will certainly look into the legal aid thing, the whole idea of court scares me to death!

Its worth looking into - even if I can't get some legal aid in the form of a solicitor to go to court, she said that they will give me telephone/email advice on how to prepare for court, the points I need to make to the judge, wording to avoid etc etc. Its made me feel a lot better. But even if your policy doesn't cover that, there are a lot of very knowledgeable people on this site who would advise you

Pam

angelmama_2

Having tried really hard not to incur bank charges, i was mortified to be sent a letter from Natwest last Friday saying i was being charged £28 for going overdrawn. Having received a letter from 3 telling me my direct debit had bounced and would be represented, it was no great shock - other than i was expecting a charge for bouncing not going overdrawn.

Imagine my disbelief then, when i rang Natwest to be told that i had in fact been charged £38 for a bounced DD!!! Why was i not sent a letter for this charge then? This charge is taken instantly & automatically!!! I had been taken overdrawn by about £3.50 by their fee - She very kindly (hint of sarcasm required) waived the £28 overdraft penalty and halved the original £38 to only £19.50 - still a lot though.

When i asked about the level of charges and how they were not entirely relative to the "crime" she said that they were penalties - not costs incurred by the bank as they are supposed to be - but fines for being naughty!! Surprised she admitted this though.

Am pleased that only being charged £19.50 instead of £66 but will still pursue to get full amount back - only problem is - now that i have accepted the reduced penalty over the phone does that mean i have "settled"?? Am i still entitled to ask for the full amount back?

smudgemanc26

timewilltell wrote: »

hi chrissiesmoney, well i phoned them today as they had asked me to, to see if they had received my acceptance frm back, and surprisingly (not) they have not yet received it, she said they update there records on a weekly basis so i may get the money before there system is updated (i can't work that one out) i explained i posted it a week ago and she said that i should receive the money up to 14 days when they have received the letter, so i am still waiting..........

Well done timewilltell im so glad you came home to your offer letter it seemed like our cases were going on forever. I wonder if Jo received hers?

Congratulations :j :beer:

timewilltell_2

hi smudgemanc26, i was over the moon, but they appear to be playing up again, phoned them today as told to do to see if they had received my letter, and they are still saying no, she even told me to phone back at the end of the month..... so here i go again. can't understand how some people get there money quickly and others it takes forever...