Nationwide (merged)

nais

Just filed with moneyclaim for £3631 inc interest, fingers crossed! Was the last step for me as they have refused all the way to refund so now i'll just have to play the waiting game. very frustrating

traceycruse

We have banked with Nationwide for years and have been throughly happy with them and understanding when I have been charged outragous charges, but like most people, we think they are allowed to do this. My partner who is self employed suffered an back injury and we relied on my small wages coming in they buried us. Out went the sympathetic ear and in came the heavy hand. I went in one day to collect my wages from another account held at the Nationwide,only to be told that they had been frozen and I wasn't allowed access to it. When I asked how to feed my children for the month they replied it wasn't their problem! I am one of these sad people that keep all my statements so 2 years later I saw Martin on GMTV,and since I had already moved my account to another bank, I dug out 6 years worth of statements and have the satisfaction to try to get all 6,500 back just the thought is spurring me on. At the moment we are at the 'take them to court' stage, I have sent all the template letters and have had their very nice 'thankyou but no thankyou' reply, and the 'we will fight you' but I don't care, just the thought of them thinking I'm not going to roll over and except this as I've always done is so satisfying. It has cost me 120.00 but my partners back is better and we are on the up now and just having the knowledge that they can't do this is rewarding enough. Win or lose giving them grief for a change is good. They made so much profit last year and I want some of mine back!! will keep you informed of what will happen next

jojopo000

Hi

I sent off letter one requesting the last 6 years bank statements to be sent to me and have recieved this back.




Thanks you for your letter of 4 March, 2007, about charges incurred on your FlexAccount.

We appreciate the time you have taken to get in touch with us about this issue, and are grateful for the opportunity to explain the rationale behind our charging policy. We are aware there has been a lot of speculation about fees and charges in the media and that the Office of Fair Trading has issued a directive regarding credit cards.

As you know if we allow items to be paid and it means you exceed your agreed overdraft or we have to return an item unpaid on your account then we will make a charge in accordance with the terms and conditions. Details of our tariffs are contained within our 'FlexAccount Interest Rates and Charges' leaflet, freely available in branches and provided when opening an account and agreed to by yourself when you sign in acceptance of these term when signing the application forms.

Nationwide believes it is open and transparent about charges and member are ore-notified prior to charges being debited via their monthly statments. If, at any time, we make changes to the tariff, account holders are always informed. We hope that you will feel that you can abide by the terms and conditions of the account but if you cannot, then regrettably it may be appropriate for you to consider alternative banking arrangements.

I hope that this has helped to clarify our position and you will appreciate why I am unable to refund any charges on your account. If you have any further queries don't hesitate to call me or one of my collegues. My contact number is XXXX XXXXXX.

I must make you aware The Nationwide Group usees the Financiual Serives Authorty rules when dealing with customers concerns. I've enclosed a leaflet that explainds our Internal Complaints Procedure should you not be happy with my reply.


Yours sincerely





Blah blah blah


What to do if i'm still unhappy?

The Nationwide Group uses the Financial Services Authority rulse when dealing with customers concerns. Under their guidlines, you may consider the following course of action if you are not satified with my response.

1. Our Member Service Department can review you concerns. I will be glad to refer it for you. If you decide to go ahead with this option, please contact me.

2. If you are still not satified , you may then approach the Financial Ombudsman for an impartial, indepdent assessment of the situation.

If you don't come back to us within the next 56 days, I will close our file.



So what do I do now, they have not sent any bank statements as requested from them and are already using what I see as threatening words like closing account etc and I havent even hit first base yet.



ANy advice would be VERY gratefully recieved.


Thanks



Jojopo

smileyhappy

Its just a ploy to see if you will back down. Write again reiterating your first request and highlight that they are required by law to give the info.

jojopo000

Thanks for that. They wont close the account just because I am chasing the charges will they and also is there another letter I can send to say what you have said?

Thanks so much for all your Help


Jojopo

LaineyH

Hi

I think it's just Nationwide losing the plot!!

Had the same letter referring to my flex account when in fact it was a response to a letter about my closed Credit Card account with them this morning.

You could try phoning the Data Protection Team on 01604 855060 or 01604 854844 see if they have your original letter to action, I assume you sent it recorded delivery? If you have proof of delivery then the 40 day original timescale still stands and you could send a further letter pointing out their error (enclosing the original letter) and stating the deadline they should be working to.

good luck

jojopo000

Hi and thanks for reply.

I didnt send it recorded delivery but as they have replied as such it indicates that they have recived the original letter.

jojopo

LaineyH

jojopo000 wrote: »

Thanks for that. They wont close the account just because I am chasing the charges will they and also is there another letter I can send to say what you have said?

Thanks so much for all your Help


Jojopo

Nationwide are one that have closed accounts although recently in the news they have said they will stop this!!, best thing to do is get a parachute account opened just in case.

jojopo000

I am currently waiting for Halifax to open one for me but due to a backlog I have to wait for next week to find out if successfull or not.

Just need to know what to do in the meantime.....



This was the original letter I sent them




Dear Sir or Madam,

Re. Account number: xx xx xx xxxxxxxx

I am writing to request a fully comprehensive list of all the default charges for direct debit, unauthorized overdrafts and standing orders I have paid over the last six years.

If you are unable to provide this data, I will accept a copy of my statements going back six years; I understand that statements on their own are not covered by the Data Protection Act 1998, yet I’m not requesting the statements per se, but the charges, which I’m entitled to by law.

I look forward to your response within 40 days, as Nationwide is obliged to reply under the Data Protection Act. If not I shall seek remedy from the Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully,




XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I cant see how they got it wrong?



Thanks Jojopo

LaineyH

Because as with other banks Nationwide are not coping with the volume of requests, they have hired in temp staff to try and deal with this and mistakes are happening, my information has been given to other customers twice now!!

If you contact the Data Protection Team and establish they are going to deal with your original letter then that is fine you could sit and wait.

But I would either phone them or write again to make sure your original request letter hasn't just be filed as dealt with.