NatWest told my energy company I had died!

daffodil

OMG ty ty ty I really needed that:A OP- my full apologies to anyone whose loved ones have passed over - I hope you can take it in the spirit in which its meant.

walnut77

Natwest told my energy supplier I was dead! - Update
Hello, I wanted to ask your advice again, you were so helpful last time.
This is what has happened: I have received a letter from Natwest, a rather confrontational letter trying to belittle the complaint etc... They have paid £150 into my account without making an offer and actually did it before the letter arrived. It was quite a nice surprise but the shine has worn off now this letter has appeared. Should I just smile and accept it gratefully or should I tell them I don't like the tone of their letter and that I think what they did was libellous and that I want £?.
What do you think?
Many thanks

innovate

You have done well getting £150. If the letter isn't as apologetic as you had hoped for, vote with your feet and move your account(s) away from Natwest. However, you aren't protected from human error at other banks, either.

Plxply

walnut77 wrote: »

They have paid £150 into my account without making an offer and actually did it before the letter arrived. It was quite a nice surprise but the shine has worn off now this letter has appeared. Should I just smile and accept it gratefully or should I tell them I don't like the tone of their letter and that I think what they did was libellous and that I want £?.
What do you think?
Many thanks

You've got "£" haven't you? I wouldn't want to sound harsh, but I'm surprised you got £150. I would recommend you accept the settlement and move on, I doubt this has cost you anywhere near £150 in costs.

bengal-stripe

walnut77 wrote: »

I have received a letter from Natwest, a rather confrontational letter trying to belittle the complaint etc...

Well, we haven't seen your letter of complaint, but it was just a clerical error and a complaint was probably rather premature. A letter advising the fact that you are very much alive, would have been enough. Had the bank failed to correct their error, then you might have a cause for complaint.

walnut77 wrote: »

Should I just smile and accept it gratefully.....

Yes, for 150 quid everyone can declare me dead (temporarily).

walnut77 wrote: »

.......that I think what they did was libellous......

Come off it, now you are grossly exaggerating.

walnut77

Thanks guys, I thought you would agree that I should smile and accept it gracefully.
I should just add that the legal advice I was given elsewhere was that it was definitely libel and that I should take it as far as possible!

missile

You don't tell us what the letter said, only a (wal)nut would expect us to comment on it?

Hazzanet

walnut77 wrote: »

I think what they did was libellous..
What do you think?

You can't libel the dead

dunstonh

I should just add that the legal advice I was given elsewhere was that it was definitely libel and that I should take it as far as possible!

Sounds like the sort of rubbish they give out on the consumer action group website.

There have actually been some cases historically where the wrong reasons were given where the banks lost in court but these were based on lack of funds and the cases go back to the days when your financial standing was considered to be one of morals. Someone bouncing a cheque would be socially unacceptable. Nowadays, not so. In this case, it was a clerical error saying death and you are clearly not. So, it would be hard to argue how you had been libelled. I doubt a court would even consider it. Especially as you would have to declare the bank put it right and gave £150.

To be honest £150 is damned fine result here. £50 would have been good for something like this. So, you have done well out of it.

kloana

Saying that somebody died when they didn't is not libel!

You're just pushing your luck and you know it

Grab your £150, run, and go and treat yourself!

While I'm here, trying to prove to energy companies that someone is dead can be a pain in the backside, so pat yourself on your back for having them accept your 'death'!

A relative of mine passed about a year ago. British Gas, Scottish Power, TV Licensing, Virgin Media and Santander Bank had a hard time believing it, despite being provided with death certificates time and time again. Cue lots of complaints, lots of little bits of (small) compensation, plus the writing-off of a number of bills out of 'goodwill', some of which had been incurred when the person was alive.

Guessing who was going to offer what became a bit of a game (Santander and their precise £74.00 compo being somewhat bizarre), but it was genuinely a sad state of affairs.