Nationwide (merged)

roger56

They tend to push you to start proceedings - use Money Claim Online but do your research first - see Martins article

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1141050760,24632,

gem4

Son has flex account which he had a standing order set up on for his rent. He had a letter last month saying that there wasnt enough money in the account to pay the standing order so they refused it.....and were charging £30. This, when added to the account made him overdrawn, so they charged him £25 for being overdrawn.
Because he has recently become unemployed his job seeker allowance gets paid into the bank account so the overdrawn amount reduces it straight away. He has no other income.

We wrote to them to ask for the charges to be repaid and explained that each charge is a huge chunk of his benefit and he couldnt put any money in from anywhere else so consequently his benefit was getting less and less every month.

They have refused to pay it back stating the standard 'open and transparent terms and conditions' in their contract.
We have just written a second letter asking them to reconsider as they are forcing him into considerable debt by continuing to add charges when it was they who made him overdrawn to start with.

Surely there must be something somewhere which should prevent them being able to take state benefits simply because they have to be paid into an account?

lmeehan67

Gem 4 - have a read at this thread, it might help you or give you some pointers.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=327082

mazzy1026

Afternoon all - my first post :T

I have read this forum inside and out and my eye's are getting bigger than my head (I need a beer).

However it seems that there is still an area of uncertainty regarding all this (to me anyway - I may have missed something):

It seems that Nationwide close all accounts. (from what I've read on this and the CAG website). It seems that two weeks after the payout, they give 30 days notice of account closure. They do close any accounts linked to the account in question eg E-savings account linked to a flex account.

I am thinking of claiming against Nationwide, however, I have a loan with them as well as one other account (which is joint with my partner - use this to pay mortgage/bills etc).

I'm not bothered if they close the account I am claiming with (opened an A&L successfully) but it would make my life really difficult if they decided to close our joint account, or even worse, ask for all the loan back

Can anyone give advice or share an experience with specific regards to this?

Many thanks to all here - extremely valuable forum.

Best wishes
Maz

Pam_King

Hi there, I am having the same problems as yourself with Nationwide. I estimate the charges over the last 6 or so years have run into thousands. How did you contact them. They have closed the 2 accounts I had with them. Did you have to request back statements and pay for them? Please reply as I am now in the right frame of mind to take them to the cleaners!

furndire

Nationwide (in my daughters case at least), only closed the account that she claimed against.
Yes you can claim from accounts that are closed. You need to send the Data Protection letter, and enclose £10 and ask for all the information that they have on you.
Everything you need is here
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1141050760,24632
Please read through why you can claim back your money, and when you understand that, it will prevent you from panicing when they say they are not going to play ball, or only want to pay you back a percentage of what they have taken.
It is an easy process, but, make sure you do it right. Ask if you are stuck, but once you understand what you are doing, then its easy sailing.
Don't be too quick to jump in, as you thought the money had gone, and an extra couple of weeks isn't going to make any difference. If you have to file at court, you even add 8% interest on.

mazzy1026

Thanks Guys :T

I sent the first letter actually from another site (before I discovered ML's article) and that was ignored. The second letter was sent just under a week ago and so far has been ignored also - they both went to my local branch.

I am now in the process of going through the switching service with A&L so when that's finished I will take their ignorant backsides to court

Cheers
Maz :dance:

furndire

Mazzy you have to allow them 40 days to reply.

furndire

gem4 wrote:

Surely there must be something somewhere which should prevent them being able to take state benefits simply because they have to be paid into an account?

There is, you have to write and tell them not to. There is a thread about that on http://consumeractiongroup.co.uk, sorry I have not had time to find it, but if you log in there you will be able to find it. You will need to register, but the site is one endorsed by ML.

livelyred

Please can any one tell me if i will be able to open another account.My Bank is Nationwide as by the sound of it they close your account down.Do you think i need to open an account right away ? I have only just sent the letter off to get my 6 years off statements bck.Thanks Michelle