Natwest and BR

counting4christmas

Has anyone got any experience of going BR with a Natwest a/c?

I did have a Natwest Current a/c but in preparation for BR I opened a Co op Cashminder and left all but £4 in my Natwest a/c

Yesterday I received a letter from Natwest saying that they had been informed that I was BR and they were happy to keep my a/c open but that had changed it to a step a/c (basic bank a/c) and my new card wad on it's way.

I thought that I would be shunned by Natwest so I'm chuffed!! I guess I'm not the complete financial leper that I thought I was

C4C

fermi

Maybe NatWest have changed their policy?

I wouldn't depend on it though. I've seen similar letters/promises before, only to find that a month or 2 down the line Natwest close the account.

Also, downgrade or not, as this account was open pre-bankruptcy, you still need the permission of the OR to keep using it. Have they given that?

The Co-op account is good, so I would keep using that for anything essential.

If this account remains open then great. But for now I would exercise some caution with it.

debtinfo

Natwest are a bit hit and miss, (which is actually better than most of the banks), which is why we ususally reccomend Co-op or barclays (as they are consistant wth their approach) but as fermi says as long as the OR is happy then thats good news for you

fermi

But as I also said, please be cautious.

Natwest have made a habit of this, then they change their mind with no notice and close the account.

Hopefully that won't happen, but please be aware....

counting4christmas

Thanks Fermi

The OR is aware of this a/c and was happy for me to keep it, I never expected to keep this a/c so Im not using it (more than happy with the co-op) was just surprised to get the letter but I'll not too excited about it now...

HOLIDAYMAD_2

I love the co op , and have had a cashminder account for 3 years, they are strict but managed well its a great account and does have brillant customer services, as well as being very customer friendly , ive used my card in the Far East, Middle East and all over europe, the states was a stange one didnt like it there.
Struggled to use it in train stations but that has changed recently so now able to use it, but not purchase tickets on the train, but apart from that ive used it everywhere.
One thing to remember some places dont accept it on line marks is one because it can be had by someone under 18 and they wont accept it online as someone could purchase alchol, i was only buying some shoes, but when i rang them they explained it was for that reason.

tigerfeet2006

That used to be the reason they wouldn't except it but that reason is dead in the water now as it is no longer an Electron card. It is just the fact that they haven't updated their data bases to acknowledge the fact that it is not an Electron card. They are at fault not Co-op.

Ineedaname

Also, considering if you buy online they will either deliver to your nearest store or your home address, they would not be able to hand over any alcohol to an under 18 anyway. So makes no difference if an under age does use their card to buy online.

M&S needs to be challenged on this next time a member is told the 'same old story'.

I can't afford their food prices and don't buy clothes online anyway so sorry, but it won't be me creating a ruckus on the phone to them.

HateBanks

I have Natwest current and 'step' account pre BR, I met with the manager at branch and was told they wouldnt have a problem with me keeping the 'step' as I hadnt any debt with them. I asked our OR if I could keep the account as it was easier to run for daily 'spends' than the 'cashminder', he said that was fine and he would write to NW telling them he had no interest in account.
Both accounts at this moment remain open. I am keeping all direct debits etc with co op, just in case ( I will never trust any bank again) and putting some money into NW Step for any card purchases. Only a month into BR but seems to be working so far. I am paying all my bills on time, and for maybe the first time ever on the 4th of the month (get paid on 28th) we still have money in our accounts!

HOLIDAYMAD_2

In need

totally agree, it was a cheap pair of shoes, couldnt understand the principal of it really. that was only 6 months ago.

I think though with the co op dropping the electron side to it , it should be more or less accepted everywhere.