Struggling with Natwest

amyloofoo

Basically, I normally bank with Lloyds and have done since high school. I got a job with Natwest in 2010 and they insist that you have a Natwest account that they can pay your salary into, so I opened one with them. I only ever really used it for getting my salary and tended to just transfer it to Lloyds. Anyway, I was diagnosed with bipolar and became very unwell and anxious, so left Natwest in order to move closer to my family. As my salary was no longer being paid into the Natwest account I forgot all about it and wasn't really in a position to be managing money well anyway. It seems that some time in 2011 a debt of around £7 in charges or interest was added to the account and it stayed in debit, incurring fees and since I've changed my email account and don't get paper statements I never knew. I've received letter last week telling me I now owe them £560 which must be paid within 2 weeks or they will start legal proceedings! I am currently unemployed (on disability) and had a panic attack when I received this. Surely they should have tried harder to contact me before now!?!

taffy056

So they have put £550 of charges on the account, think there's grounds there to get that reduced down somewhat as it seems to be excessive. Plus as you are on benefits there is not much chance of you making just token payments in any case. I gather this is with a debt collector now so it's been sold on, they will not take it to court for such a sum IMO so please don't panic on this.

fatbelly

I helped a guy with a similar case where there was a small overdraft, which he had walked away from (mental health/learning disability issues). A couple of years later, Nat West were chasing him for about £700. They were surprisingly helpful and wrote the debt back to the original sum before charges, about £90. They then informed their collector (Moorcroft) of the 'new' balance, which he paid in full AFAIK.

So, polite letter to Nat West, let us know what they come back with.

amyloofoo

Currently drafting a letter to NW so will keep everyone updated, thanks for helping