Can Natwest take cash from my RBS account to cover debt?

Miranda7

Hello all

I'm in the process of setting up a Debt Management Plan and was advised to set up a basic bank account. I tried a couple of banks and finally RBS offered what I needed, but the process took me the whole blinking day.

But National Debtline has said they're linked to Natwest, where I have a £700 overdraft and that could be risky. Is it? Could/would Natwest take money I need to live on out of my new RBS account when they know I'm on a DMP?

I thought I'd got somewhere after so much effort to try and set this up. I can't stand the thought of trying to open yet another account!

Thanks for any advice in advance...

Tixy

Hi

Yes they possibly could. You need a bank totally unconnected to any of your creditors to be certain your money cannot be offset to pay your debts.

If Co-op are not one of your creditors then its basic bank account is often recommended on here and is usually fairly straight forward to open a basic account with them.

AGB863

we find that Nationwide are also very helpful

Powered_By_Pies

I'll give my vote for Lloyds - account set up within a week, never had any issues with them and the one time a DD went out of my account without the full amount being in the account (31p short), a quick phonecall to their free number helpline saw the 10 quid charge waived without any 'Who's your mother's sister's hairdresser's hamster's favourite band' type of security question.

Puzzcat

They would probably offset so I would advise like the others to choose a basic account elsewhere. I can recommend nationwide, co-op is also popular or Barclays.

Miranda7

The thing is that RBS are giving me an account which isn't the basic account - I live in a village so it would be exceedingly difficult to operate without access to cash machines and a cheque book for school stuff. I can live without the overdraft, but being restricted to just RBS machines would be VERY tricky. Do any of the ones you've recommended allow withdrawals from all cash machines and a cheque book?

sourcrates

Miranda7 wrote: »

The thing is that RBS are giving me an account which isn't the basic account - I live in a village so it would be exceedingly difficult to operate without access to cash machines and a cheque book for school stuff. I can live without the overdraft, but being restricted to just RBS machines would be VERY tricky. Do any of the ones you've recommended allow withdrawals from all cash machines and a cheque book?

With coop you can use any cash machine, but you don't get a cheque book, does anyone still use cheques anyway ? why is a cheque book important to you , may I ask, as a debt card does the same job much simpler ?
and as for your original question, yes RBS will take money from your account, if you owe it else were to a bank in the same group, they are ruthless Bas***ds when they want to be.

Miranda7

Thanks Sourcrates - that's what I needed to know. I need a cheque book as the village school doesn't take debit cards and sometimes it's necessary to give them a cheque rather than cash - esp when it costs £1.85 to get a tenner out!
OK, that's my task now then - get a different account. Bah, humbug.