Bit of advice please

PhilAngeles

Hello,

I am here looking for a bit of advice on my banking/credit position.

I have held a Natwest account for a few years, and the account was always in good stead (then again I was a teenager so there was little chance for it to go awry) but my wages were always paid into there, and regular purchases made online. I was also pretty good with their customer services ringing up to do surveys etc. as I genuinely thought Natwest was a very good service, until my local branches became pretty understaffed.

Due to this and better interest rates, about 12 months ago I moved everything to Barclays! Early on at Barclays I spoke to them about getting a small overdraft extension, and 3 days later ended up with a Barclaycard Initial instead - not entirely happy about it, but it's pulled me out of some tricky situations (work paying us a week late twice as someone at head office cannot count!!). I've only recently held a balance on it as I made one large purchase as in the long run it saved me money - but I've never missed a payment.

Now I've grown bored of Barclays constantly trying to sell me something and a quite frankly, very unprofessional experience of their service.

I'm looking to go back to Natwest, and upgrading my old current account to a Select Silver account (I currently have Current Account Plus at Barclays). And potentially, now that I'm in a good job with a salary, closing my BC and applying for a Natwest Credit Card.

I have in the past six months, been rejected for one CC (stupid enquiry I regret now) and a phone contract that was subsequently cancelled as it was mis-sold.


Does anyone think this is a good/bad move? And could possibly afford me some further advice? I would really appreciate it.

Thank you for reading.

jo-bo

As natwest are part of rbs they will most likely try and sell products and services to you also. If it's service then opinions can be divided, their call centres are uk based but cross selling when you do call could be a problem for you.
Do you still have your old account open? If so then your best bet is to go back into your local branch and talk things over with an adviser. It's hard to say whether or not you'd get a credit card but you'd probably have no problem upgrading your account to a select silver as its a fee paying account and banks like you to take out these accounts.

CLAPTON

I can't understand why everyone doesn't have more than one bank a/c.

One of mine is barclays and they haven't tried to sell me anything for years

how you they try to sell you products?

Mumto3cheekymonkeys

I expect they only try to sell products to those who they think will default.

jo-bo

Mumto3cheekymonkeys wrote: »

I expect they only try to sell products to those who they think will default.

What a daft thing to say! Why would they want you to default? I know when i try to sell something im hoping that i dont get paid and i can waste time and money trying to get back what was agreed!!!

By the way It's not just credit products they try to sell but investment, insurance and savings.

PhilAngeles

jo-bo wrote: »

As natwest are part of rbs they will most likely try and sell products and services to you also. If it's service then opinions can be divided, their call centres are uk based but cross selling when you do call could be a problem for you.
Do you still have your old account open? If so then your best bet is to go back into your local branch and talk things over with an adviser. It's hard to say whether or not you'd get a credit card but you'd probably have no problem upgrading your account to a select silver as its a fee paying account and banks like you to take out these accounts.

I've generally had very good service from Natwest, just a lack of staff seemed like an issue, but I think a lot of people have felt that way and left as their branch seems a little quieter when I've been in there for work lately.

My old account is open, I'm sure I should just be able to upgrade it as well - I'm 90% sure they have one of those 'switching services' as well that can do everything for me? Would that apply for an account that's already open?

Credit Card wise, theirs does seem better, and I've held an account with them for a few years, and I would be transferring a balance over - surely this would stand me in good stead with them internally? I've got no defaults or missed payments or anything like that. Just want to get away with issues I'm having at Barclays/Barclaycard - I'm not a big fan of them anymore.

CLAPTON wrote: »

I can't understand why everyone doesn't have more than one bank a/c.

One of mine is barclays and they haven't tried to sell me anything for years

how you they try to sell you products?

Technically I do have 2 at the moment - but I don't have the money to justify two current accounts if I'm honest with you - and I prefer my banking to be in one place.

Barclays are trying to sell me something new every time I'm within 50 yards of the place, I went in to pay in some money last week and they tried to set up a meeting regarding a mortgage and saving for one in the future. I'm 19 - it was ridiculous.

jo-bo wrote: »

What a daft thing to say! Why would they want you to default? I know when i try to sell something im hoping that i dont get paid and i can waste time and money trying to get back what was agreed!!!

By the way It's not just credit products they try to sell but investment, insurance and savings.

Savings and potentially investments I'm interested in - Insurance comes packaged within the account and they don't tend to offer life insurance to people of my age - so I'm not too bothered and I tend to find it far less than Barclays.

PhilAngeles

I was rejected for Natwest's Credit Card this morning

I'm appealing it, anybody know how too?

It also seems to have put two searches on my credit report - that's not normal is it?

PhilAngeles

Found on my Credit Report;

1. A 'Very' Account, with a £600 limit. Opened in 2010 which I requested be closed immediately as I didn't realise it was a credit account as it was not clearly stated (I'd literally just turned 18 at the time also).

2. An Orange Mobile Account which I closed last month within the 14 day period as it was mis-sold to me, but it's still showing as an active account.


I will use these as a grounds for appeal as it would effect my 'available credit' criteria.

And will also have to explain that the reason my Natwest Account looks dormant, is because my wages were being paid elsewhere but are now coming back to Natwest via their switching service.