Now RBS is changing to Santander, can they take my Santander current account money?

bimbo84

I have my current account with Santander as well as a very small savings account.

I few years ago I was with RBS, they ended up charging me huge overdraft fees which I couldn't keep up with so I moved my main account to Santander and have been disputing these charges ever since. I've had various debt collection agencies contacting me about this but I'm pretty sure they just work for RBS and haven't bought the debt. So far RBS haven't even responded to my letters.

My main concern now that RBS is changing to Santander is that they will now own the debt and may be able to take it from the money I have in my new account. I find this pretty scary as if they did that I'd have no way of paying my rent, bills etc.

Should I move my account? If so which banks are connected to RBS/Santander and which aren't?

Thanks!

jen245

RBS as a whole, isnt changing to Santander. RBS have sold their English RBS branches and their Scottish Natwest branches to Santander.

bimbo84

My account was with an English branch, does that mean my debt transfers to Santander or stays with RBS?

On another note I've just had a debt collector buzz at my flat. The first time this has happened, found it pretty disconcerting. They haven't even replied to my letters disputing the amount they say I owe. Surely they can't start sending people round?

Does anyone have an email address for RBS collection dept? I've tried googling it but can't find anything. I think it's about time I started hassling them

epm-84

bimbo84 wrote: »

My account was with an English branch, does that mean my debt transfers to Santander or stays with RBS?

Unless the account holding branch was in Scotland it transfers.

Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Bank of Scotland (not Royal Bank of), Co-op Bank, HSBC, Nationwide and First Direct are the main banks which aren't part of RBS or Santander. Natwest are part of RBS.

JuicyJesus

It is conceivably possible that if your account is still with RBS, as and when it transfers to Satanduh (sorry, immature but I couldn't resist) it will then fall into Santander's collections procedures and then be subject to right of set-off and all sorts of other fun things. Theoretically. I am not a lawyer, nor do I work for Santander or RBS. It's just a possibility.

Realistically your best option is to make an arrangement to pay off the debt; if it hasn't wrecked your credit history already then it will do so soon. What grounds are you disputing the debt under? If it's just because of the charges, forget it. You can't just dispute a debt because it is comprised of charges, which may be why they have been ignoring your letters. By all means put in a complaint to RBS about the charges, but bear in mind any refund will be entirely due to goodwill - and "disputing" the debt will do you no good (neither, incidentally, will disputing the basis of the charges, which they publish freely.)

notts_phil

With regards to the debt collector. Send them the no visits letter. It's on CAG. If he calls just ignore him. They have no power.

bimbo84

epm-84 wrote: »

Unless the account holding branch was in Scotland it transfers.

Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Bank of Scotland (not Royal Bank of), Co-op Bank, HSBC, Nationwide and First Direct are the main banks which aren't part of RBS or Santander. Natwest are part of RBS.

Thanks for your help, I think I'm going to switch to Lloyds TSB

bimbo84

JuicyJesus wrote: »

It is conceivably possible that if your account is still with RBS, as and when it transfers to Satanduh (sorry, immature but I couldn't resist) it will then fall into Santander's collections procedures and then be subject to right of set-off and all sorts of other fun things. Theoretically. I am not a lawyer, nor do I work for Santander or RBS. It's just a possibility.

Realistically your best option is to make an arrangement to pay off the debt; if it hasn't wrecked your credit history already then it will do so soon. What grounds are you disputing the debt under? If it's just because of the charges, forget it. You can't just dispute a debt because it is comprised of charges, which may be why they have been ignoring your letters. By all means put in a complaint to RBS about the charges, but bear in mind any refund will be entirely due to goodwill - and "disputing" the debt will do you no good (neither, incidentally, will disputing the basis of the charges, which they publish freely.)

I'm not disputing the fact that I owe them money. It's just that I was never told that the interest rate was sudden going up by quite a large amount (paid £1.50 one month and £30 the next) it was this that caused the charges as it pushed me over my overdraft limit. I kept trying to pay money off but I couldn't keep up as I was on such a low income (and still am).

I've written to them to dicuss this and had no replies, I've also written to offer a settlement and had no reply to that either.

bimbo84

notts_phil wrote: »

With regards to the debt collector. Send them the no visits letter. It's on CAG. If he calls just ignore him. They have no power.

Thanks! I hadn't heard of that. Luckily I live in a block of flats so he can't just come and knock on the door anyway

missile

You need to sort out the dispute with RBS, the longer it goes on the more charges you will be incurring ...... unless they have closed your account?

bimbo84

They closed the account ages ago so I'm not incurring any more charges. My credit records a mess though. It's a shame because I'm up to date with my credit card, mobile bill, etc. The one thing wrecking it is this RBS mess.

If I can get them to agree to a full and final settlement will this help my credit score or will the months of defaults on that account still mean I can't get credit?