no clue what to do with a NatWest debt I cant resolve!?

moomin1010

Good evening,

I have registered today and hope someone might be able to offer some advice to my predicament? I used to have a current account with NatWest and very stupidly I got so sick of bank charges I changed accounts and ignored the debt.

I am now paying the price for my stupidity and have finally worked my way through paying off old small debts on my file, all that remains is this 400 pounds on this account, and 80 in the other (which was a saving account I didn't realise could go in to the minus but over the last few years it has I guess?)

The last date of default showing on these 2 items as per my experian report is november 2011. I guess this was when the credit was passed to a 3rd party and natwest closed my accounts??

My problem is that I have contacted natwest to pay these 2 debts but they tell me I am not on their system anymore and couldnt even tell me who the debt is now with.

The accounts were registered to a very old address which I haven't lived at for a number of years and the collection company have never caught up with me where I live now.

All I want to do is pay these and get them updated on my file but im scratching my head as to what to do since natwest havent been able to advise.

Ive contacted natwest by phone on several occasions explaining this, the have been stumped on the phone so have taken my contact details but never call back??

If someone could offer any advice as to what to do in thiz situation I would be extremely grateful!

Many thanks for taking the time to read.

claire

happy_bunny_2

Checking your credit report with your new address will alert the owner, probably. They will likely write to you.

When was your credit file entry mast updated by Natwest?

They probably sold it, so it can't be seen by customer services.

Write to Natwest, complaining that you are trying to pay defaults they have reported on your credit file. State if they cannot prove the default us valid, then it should be removed.

You will probably find that the correct department will tell you who they sold it to as they normally write to you with a notice of assignment.

boo_star

Who did you contact within Natwest? Customer Services?

If so they probably won't have access to this information, try speaking to their Collections/Recoveries department, they have separate systems that can't be accessed by general CS.

The other option would be to get copies of your credit file from all 3 agencies and look for defaults roughly for the amount in question and contact them.

I would warn you though that with the contact Natwest approach, they can only tell you who they sold it to (at best.) If it has been sold on to another company since then you could end up paying the money to some unscrupulous DCA who doesn't actually "own" the debt anymore.

JunkUtopia

I don't have much advice but am in the same boat currently. Looking to pay off old bank charges and overdraft from Lloyds TSB so I contacted the DCA but they haven't had the debt since Lloyds and TSB split, and speaking to the debt division of both companies and neither has me on record.

I've just got on the electoral roll in my new area so as soon as this updates on my credit reports then I'm hoping someone will contact me about it, but as the person above says I will do all I can to make sure it's the right DCA before paying anything.

moomin1010

Hi boo star,

Yes I first contacted natwest customer services and they put me through to collections.

Thats does drum up another question I wonder about and thats what if I track down the 3rd party and pay the debt, at what stage would natwest actually update the debt as being settled? Does the 3rd party then communicate to nw and they would then update accordingly?

Thanks again

I hadnt thought of trying other credit ref agencies to see if I could pick up the contact elsewhere thats a good suggestion.

JKSandy

As above, checking your report with your new address will link your old address and whoever owns the debt will check your file sooner or later.

Does the default still show as Natwest? I think if the debt is sold on it shows the company of debt agency who bought it.

moomin1010

The debt is still with natwest on my file and the date is november 2011 so I thought it was strange whoever has taken on the debt hasn't had and mark on there!

IainHL

My take on this would be that since NatWest have reported the default, then it is up to them to ensure accurate reporting (especially if, as happy_bunny has intimated they are continuing to provide monthly updates concerning it to the CRAs). Therefore I would write to them asking them to remove the default since they cannot provide you with any information about the account. I feel that might find its way to someone who can give you the information you need.

Alternatively, as suggested by boo_star, write to their recoveries/collections people. When I was dealing with NatWest it was called CMS and was based in Telford, though I think it may have moved since then.

I've just checked my Experian report and it suggests the address to use would be:
Customer Assistance Team,
Birmingham Collections Centre,
Retail Banking Operations - Debt Management Operations,
Business Services
4th Floor,
7-10 Brindley Place,
Birmingham,
B1 2TZ
(and there's a mouthful of an address if I ever saw one!)

moomin1010

Does anyone have an idea when a debt is passed on, what happens to the mark registered on my credit file. Surely it can only sit on there once... ie if its passed to a 3rd party the natwest one is removed and the 3rd party one is updated?? Thats just a wild assumption though, I really have no idea?

moomin1010

Thank you for that information and address thats answered the next question I had!

Thank you for the advice and responses, at least now I have some things to try and see how I get on!

Much appreciated!

IainHL

moomin1010 wrote: »

Does anyone have an idea when a debt is passed on, what happens to the mark registered on my credit file. Surely it can only sit on there once... ie if its passed to a 3rd party the natwest one is removed and the 3rd party one is updated?? Thats just a wild assumption though, I really have no idea?

What (should) happen comes down to how the original creditor has passed it on.

If they have merely asked some other DCA to try and collect it from you on their behalf, then their original mark would remain.
If, however, they have sold the debt onto some company that buys them and then tries to collect on them, then indeed as you surmise their original mark should disappear and the new assignee would report the debt.

The exception to this is a recent development (I believe) whereby the original creditor marks their entry as "assigned to CAIS member" (or something like that), and the new assignee also has an entry for the debt.