Unfair late payment fees from NatWest

Rava_2

Hi,

Could somebody please help me with the following issue.

I have some £15,000 debts and having difficulties paying it back. On top I get fines from my bank, NatWest, every time a direct debit bounces.
I have since two years with NatWest a “Step Account” which is less than a current account. I can’t get a current account because of my poor credit scoring.

I’m a carpenter and had some private problems and now work is yet not regular and for a few times the money arrived later than the direct debits were going out.

Every time for each DD I get taken off £38!!!
I’m finding it sooooo unfair!!!!!!!!
Sometimes like last week the money arrived just one day late and still £38 to pay.

What can I do?
Can I do anything against it?

I heard that a month ago there was an article in the newspaper where you would get a www on which a complain form was/is. Does anybody know anything about it?

Thank you very much for any help and comment.

Rava

spurs501_2

I'm new here (only 2nd post!) but I am also p***ed off with NatWest's £38 fee for unpaid dd's. OK, I know funds should be available when the dd is called, but as our friend has said, they charge £38 even when the dd is for a silly amount such as a tenner! Surely this is not ethical? Also, they have bounced dd's (and charged the famous £38) when they know my salary is due in a few days. Are NatWest particularly bad our are all banks as strict as this?

justruth

The fees are legal unenforcable. Go open another account with another bank (you will probably find that they will be basic bank accounts) then claim them back for the last 6 years!

justruth

Martin has a section on this or you can visit the CAG
http://www.consumeractiongroup.com/forums

roswell

In all fairness natwest havent done anything that wasnt in the terms and conditions or that any bank wouldnt, just the same its not a person that makes the decision to charge you it comes down to COMPUTER says NO funds send letter and charge.

earwig

it could be worse they paid my mum dd when her pension went in a day late but charged her 28.00 for not having enough funds to cover the dd and a 30.00 referel charge for paying it for her i went mad she is a 72 year old woman with health problems pointed out rather rudley that they would be steeling her pension to take the charges and said i would report them for doing so the end result she now has a free hundred pound overdraft so if it happens again it will just come out of her overdraft and both charges stoped but i wonder how many more people had to pay the charges through beening paid late for there pension

bukhaariuk

If you do not have money in your account to cover the direct debits, why blame the bank when you are charged ? Did you not read the terms and conditions of the account ?

If your income is irregular than do not have direct debits. My father pays all his bill (mortgage, utilities, council tax etc) all over the counter. That way he is in full control and no need to play the "blame game".

raq

Try and claim them back through the posts on this website

worth a try , just follow the steps

Rava_2

yes, you are right BUT somebody, very sure a human beeing ;o) told/programmed the computer todo so.
What iritades me is the fact that most poeple who get a step account they get it because they don't have enought fonds or problems with credit score or or or and those get charged £38 which are anyway short of money. This is what I'm finding unfair...
To bounce a dd does it realy make NatWest a cost of £38 or is it a cheap way to gain money?!?

CLAPTON

of course it doesnot cost them £38 and that why you can reclaim these charges. however, it will probably mean you will need to change bank accounts.
it would be better if you addressed the issues of why you have these problems. basically if you're self employed with a variable income and are sometimes paid late then you must build up a buffer..i.e. some savings so you can afford for bill to be paid a little late. it is simply the price of being self employed.

savvykaz

Definitely reclaim your charges!!!! I did mine and have received full settlement for over £2,000. The charges are unlawful because they far exceed the true cost incurred to the bank. Now, a lot of credit card companies have reduced the charge from nearly £30 to just £12, which is far more reasonable. If the Nat West were fair in their charging costs, they would not have repaid me or the dozens of other success stories on the "consumer action group" site;)