Natwest step account closing

chambta

You failed to make clear what your point was. If you want to know something, and I can answer, I will.

Twister84

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I'm a bit confused by this thread - I have had a Natwest STEP account since 2007 and haven't had any email or letter (or online message when logging into my account) about the STEP account being withdrawn... Not sure if that's good or not... Might try ringing them tomorrow.

I believe not everyone has been contacted - at least not that at the moment anyway.


Advantage Private to Black conversion letters are also due soon.

RuthnJasper

Twister84 wrote: »

I believe not everyone has been contacted - at least not that at the moment anyway.


Advantage Private to Black conversion letters are also due soon.

Thanks Twister. Will wait to hear, in that case. Anticipation is half the thrill, I suppose.

pmduk

Plumptious, I'm pretty certain that chambta's comments were aimed at the info you were given by the callcentre worker rather than your post.

auto-man

Twister84 wrote: »

That's what we've been told by Retail Banking team who look after the credit scoring side of things, and unfortunately, it is correct.

New connections (and customers with 0 PAL IIRC) will approve without problems because they don't have a PAL screen.

With the new CAO, if you don't pre-assess, you won't get it, and so you will only be offered the Basic & Select Silver without facilities. (This also includes customers with business links where the PAL can't be seen)

Hi

what is all these pre-assess and PAL abbreviations? Can you please help explain the termanology to a layman.

thank :cool:

NicolaHx

Hi, this is my first post, so please go easy on me!,
I was advised by CAB 2 years ago o apply for the Step account as my credit rating is poor (failed marriage/home repossessed/student overdraft/loss of job whilst pregnant etc). I was so releived at being accepted, and really happy with the account. Then I got 'the' email. I phoned up to be told that I would be unlikely to be accepted for a select account, but could open the select silver there and then. Of course this si designed to force the most vulnerable customers to change to a fee paying account or !!!!!! off! I applied for the Select account anyway-and was declined. So, now I'm k*******d. The basic account is useless to me as a 5 mile trek with the baby whenever I need to withdraw my money is impractical to say the least! I really don't want to change banks, especially as I've recently helped my 17 year old to open an account with Natwest and liked having all the same phone numbers etc. Also, the thought of having to phone everyone I have DD's with from my mobile /reset Paypal etc etc with a clingy toddler screeching in my ear is going to be an expensive PITA. But I don't see any option. I'm not even sure another bank will touch me with a barge pole anyhow. Has anyone else had any luck with another bank?
Thanx in advance

auto-man

NicolaHx wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post, so please go easy on me!,
I was advised by CAB 2 years ago o apply for the Step account as my credit rating is poor (failed marriage/home repossessed/student overdraft/loss of job whilst pregnant etc). I was so releived at being accepted, and really happy with the account. Then I got 'the' email. I phoned up to be told that I would be unlikely to be accepted for a select account, but could open the select silver there and then. Of course this si designed to force the most vulnerable customers to change to a fee paying account or !!!!!! off! I applied for the Select account anyway-and was declined. So, now I'm k*******d. The basic account is useless to me as a 5 mile trek with the baby whenever I need to withdraw my money is impractical to say the least! I really don't want to change banks, especially as I've recently helped my 17 year old to open an account with Natwest and liked having all the same phone numbers etc. Also, the thought of having to phone everyone I have DD's with from my mobile /reset Paypal etc etc with a clingy toddler screeching in my ear is going to be an expensive PITA. But I don't see any option. I'm not even sure another bank will touch me with a barge pole anyhow. Has anyone else had any luck with another bank?
Thanx in advance

co-op is better than RBS by a mile apparently

jalexa

NicolaHx wrote: »

...The basic account is useless to me as a 5 mile trek with the baby whenever I need to withdraw my money is impractical to say the least!

Are you saying there is a another bank's ATM more conveniently situated? Presumably the one you use now.

In that case the solution is easy, keep your Natwest Step/Basic account for your banking but open a basic account with the bank with the most convenient ATM. Keep the card topped-up as required by online Faster Payment from your Natwest account.

I think the writing is on the wall for Basic account Link access, however if I had to choose a basic account I'd still choose Natwest/RBS as they have a large number of UK ATMs, and ATMs at Tesco and large stations. Don't forget "cashback" and cash over the counter at Post Offices.

Loss of Link is not as big a deal as yet another report of Step account holders being steered towards a fee paying Select Silver.

spingoblin

NicolaHx wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post, so please go easy on me!,
I was advised by CAB 2 years ago o apply for the Step account as my credit rating is poor (failed marriage/home repossessed/student overdraft/loss of job whilst pregnant etc). I was so releived at being accepted, and really happy with the account. Then I got 'the' email. I phoned up to be told that I would be unlikely to be accepted for a select account, but could open the select silver there and then. Of course this si designed to force the most vulnerable customers to change to a fee paying account or !!!!!! off! I applied for the Select account anyway-and was declined. So, now I'm k*******d. The basic account is useless to me as a 5 mile trek with the baby whenever I need to withdraw my money is impractical to say the least! I really don't want to change banks, especially as I've recently helped my 17 year old to open an account with Natwest and liked having all the same phone numbers etc. Also, the thought of having to phone everyone I have DD's with from my mobile /reset Paypal etc etc with a clingy toddler screeching in my ear is going to be an expensive PITA. But I don't see any option. I'm not even sure another bank will touch me with a barge pole anyhow. Has anyone else had any luck with another bank?
Thanx in advance

assuming you bank online with natwest and you appear to be happy with them overall apart from the coming 'step to basic' account transition i think a better bet for you would be to apply for the natwest 'first reserve' savings account, it will only take a few minutes to apply online and as you are already a natwest online banker a lot of your details will be pre-filled in the online application form - no credit check will be required, this account comes with a debit card that you can use in any atm and you can transfer funds instantly online between your 'basic' and 'first reserve' accounts as and when required.

jen245

NicolaHx wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post, so please go easy on me!,
I was advised by CAB 2 years ago o apply for the Step account as my credit rating is poor (failed marriage/home repossessed/student overdraft/loss of job whilst pregnant etc). I was so releived at being accepted, and really happy with the account. Then I got 'the' email. I phoned up to be told that I would be unlikely to be accepted for a select account, but could open the select silver there and then. Of course this si designed to force the most vulnerable customers to change to a fee paying account or !!!!!! off! I applied for the Select account anyway-and was declined. So, now I'm k*******d. The basic account is useless to me as a 5 mile trek with the baby whenever I need to withdraw my money is impractical to say the least! I really don't want to change banks, especially as I've recently helped my 17 year old to open an account with Natwest and liked having all the same phone numbers etc. Also, the thought of having to phone everyone I have DD's with from my mobile /reset Paypal etc etc with a clingy toddler screeching in my ear is going to be an expensive PITA. But I don't see any option. I'm not even sure another bank will touch me with a barge pole anyhow. Has anyone else had any luck with another bank?
Thanx in advance

Open a First Reserve savings account. It comes with the same Visa Debit card as the old Step account, which can be used in any ATM, so you can use this account for your spends, and the Basic account for your bills etc.

http://www.natwest.com/personal/savings/g1/instant-access/first-reserve.ashx#tabs=section1