Natwest step account closing

Twister84

chambta wrote: »

If this is 'on demand' does in not just undermine the whole decision that's been made?

I'm sure there's more to it than what I posted.

jalexa wrote: »

I guess if it was "on demand". I *hope* it is based on the customer's address, "needs" and distance from a Group ATM.

Incidently :T this was a "suggestion" I made in my very first post about the Natwest/RBS "change", before "sharp-practice" upgrade to "basic" Select Silver came to the fore.

I hope there is a sympathetic policy because I remain of the view that Natwest/RBS is hard to beat for most aspects of its service, including access to Group ATMs and the online service:). Excluding people with a "need" for Link access and reported "sharp practice" upgrades excepted:(.

It's not sharp practice - in the T&Cs when you first open your account, you accept that should they ever decide to change your account, they will give X days notice before they do so.


And that is what they have done.

jalexa

Twister84 wrote: »

It's not sharp practice - in the T&Cs when you first open your account, you accept that should they ever decide to change your account, they will give X days notice before they do so.

And that is what they have done.

But but you have completely distorted my comment which was "before "sharp-practice" upgrade to "basic" Select Silver came to the fore".

And to answer chambta, there is evidence in posts in this and other threads reporting bank staff steering account holders to a "basic" fee paying Select Silver not described in product literature, when a "fee free" Select would have satisfied, a "basic" fee free Select even.

As always thanks for the opportunity to make my Natwest/RBS "sharp-practice" point again:).

chambta

jalexa wrote: »

But but you have completely distorted my comment which was "before "sharp-practice" upgrade to "basic" Select Silver came to the fore".

And to answer chambta, there is evidence in posts in this and other threads reporting bank staff steering account holders to a "basic" fee paying Select Silver not described in product literature, when a "fee free" Select would have satisfied, a "basic" fee free Select even.

As always thanks for the opportunity to make my Natwest/RBS "sharp-practice" point again:).

There's not a 'basic' Select Account at all. Just a Select account.

At least get your story straight.

jalexa

chambta wrote: »

There's not a 'basic' Select Account at all. Just a Select account.

At least get your story straight.

Thanks for the opportunity to make my Natwest/RBS "sharp-practice" point again:)

Neither (was) there any product literature regarding a "basic" Select Silver last time I looked in branch (or checked online). Only a Select Silver with a full function offline Visa Debit card. Page 6 or 7 (from memory) of the current account product literature refers.

My story is "straight", yours is a "crooked" selective quotation of my "when a "fee free" Select would have satisfied..."

That does exist I take it?

chambta

Your post clearly suggested you thought there were two versions of the Select Account. There aren't.

jalexa

chambta wrote: »

Your post clearly suggested you thought there were two versions of the Select Account. There aren't.

What I said was "when a "fee free" Select would have satisfied, a "basic" fee free Select even"

Gramatically that is about what would have "satisfied" (the current Step account customer), not product availability.

For the umteenth time (if it is with you I have debated this previously) I have never argued what account type or variant does or does not exist. I argue from a close examination of the customer facing product information, that is literature and online. The Natwest (and very similar RBS) Current Account brochures dated (from memory) July 2011, and currently available in all branches I recently checked, do not (publicly) support your (inside information) argument that there is a "basic" variant of Select Silver. That follows clearly from an examination of the Visa Debit card functionality described on (from memory) pages 6 & 7 of the Current Account product brochures.

That is why (and thank you for the opportunity:)) I continue to make my "sharp-practice" comment about existing Step account customers being steered towards a "fee-paying" account.

chambta

jalexa wrote: »

What I said was "when a "fee free" Select would have satisfied, a "basic" fee free Select even"

Gramatically that is about what would have "satisfied" (the current Step account customer), not product availability.

For the umteenth time (if it is with you I have debated this previously) I have never argued what account type or variant does or does not exist. I argue from a close examination of the customer facing product information, that is literature and online. The Natwest (and very similar RBS) Current Account brochures dated (from memory) July 2011, and currently available in all branches I recently checked, do not (publicly) support your (inside information) argument that there is a "basic" variant of Select Silver. That follows clearly from an examination of the Visa Debit card functionality described on (from memory) pages 6 & 7 of the Current Account product brochures.

That is why (and thank you for the opportunity:)) I continue to make my "sharp-practice" comment about existing Step account customers being steered towards a "fee-paying" account.

It's not 'inside information' or even an 'argument' that a credit restricted Select Silver account exists. It does. Apply for an account online or in branch and it will be an option available every single time (unless you're refused an account outright).

Step/Key Accounts can also upgrade to this without changing account details. Ultimately the customers I've seen in branch have gone one of several ways-

-Realised they're not too impacted by the ATM changes and left things as they were

-Been happy to process an application for full a account and taken either Select, Select Silver or Royalties Gold.

-Been declined for the above and converted their basic account to Select Silver if the benefits are appropriate.

-If not able to upgrade or suitable to pay for Select Silver opened a basic savings account with full ATM access cash card.

Hank_Marvin

Are Natwest not bothered about the customers who have a step account leaving and joining another bank because they feel pushed out by NW. Wonder what the percentage is of their Current account customer base are Step accounts!

I thought myself there were 2 select accounts. 1:/ select [fee free] and 2:/ select silver[£8] so thats not the case now is it??

chambta

Hank_Marvin wrote: »

Are Natwest not bothered about the customers who have a step account leaving and joining another bank because they feel pushed out by NW. Wonder what the percentage is of their Current account customer base are Step accounts!

I thought myself there were 2 select accounts. 1:/ select [fee free] and 2:/ select silver[£8] so thats not the case now is it??

The bank knows it will lose a small percentage of their present Key/Step account holders. Personally I don't think it will number too many and given the reason they're doing it is that these customers generally aren't profitable will they really be bothered?

Generally I'd suggest that basic account holders are massively outnumbered by those holding full accounts in most branches.

Robbie64

Hi

Sorry to go off topic here with this request.

Can someone who has a NatWest Step account and is registered for the online banking service do me a favour and see if you can log onto your account without any problems?

My mum has been unable to access the account all day though it was working perfectly fine two days ago when she last accessed it. It lets her enter her Customer Number, then the PIN and Password screen loads fine and allows her to enter these details then when she enters these details she's getting a screen which says:

Online Banking
We're sorry but the service is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.

If you continue to experience this situation please contact the online banking helpdesk for further assistance.
For a list of helpdesk numbers, please see our page of contact numbers


I don't know if it's related to the changes to the account or it's just purely coincidental. My mother is in her 70s and isn't in the best of health. She isn't able to phone the online banking contact number and the helpline won't speak to anyone else (I tried to phone them today but they were quite offhand, I do realise that there are security implications but the DWP are pushing pensioners onto payments into bank accounts even when they aren't always able because of health or other reasons manage the account themselves) so she can't find out what is going on. It's worrying her that something may be amiss but she's had this account for two years and this is the first time this problem has occurred. She was able to access the telephone banking and withdraw cash today so its obviously some online banking problem.

Thanks.