Natwest Credit Card PPI and changing circumstances

katgirlie

Hi,

Please forgive me if this question has been asked a gazillion times - I did try a search but couldn't find a clear answer so please be kind.

The short version of my question is, can you only reclaim for those periods when circumstances meant that the PPI would not have been valid, and how much proof is required of these times? Or if the PPI commenced at a time when it would have qualified as mis-sold, can the entire amount paid be reclaimed? My grounds for assuming mis-selling is that I was a student and not working when the credit card and PPI were taken out. I believe this means that PPI was not valid and would not have paid out - please correct if I am mistaken.

Okay, the detail. Sorry this is a big long.
I have had a Natwest credit card since 2001 - either just before or just after I went to uni, not quite sure. I still have the card and still use it from time to time. I do remember them writing to me about PPI - cardguard or something I think they called it, and being a little naive, I assumed it was a fantastic thing that meant that if I was broke I wouldn't have to make repayments, or something along those lines! Haha bless me. I have never attempted to make a claim on the PPI.

At the time of taking out the card and PPI I was not working, and started uni in October 2001. During my time at uni, I worked on and off in various temp/casual jobs, some on zero-hour contracts, sometimes 2 or 3 jobs at a time. I'm sure there were times I worked more than 16 hours a week, but this would have varied enormously depending on uni commitments, social life, going home etc. In 2004 I graduated and worked full time for a couple of years, then I went back to uni in 2006 and retrained, not working at all for the first year or so then doing more casual and agency work for a couple of years. Since 2009 I have worked full time. Since I only pay the PPI once a year, I frequently forget it exists and have therefore, never cancelled it. I do receive a letter notifying me each year that they are going to take it from the credit card account, but I don't really think about it. Please don't berate my stupidity. The only reason it's come to mind now is that we are expecting a baby in January so any additional money would be very handy!

I no longer have records of the specific periods when I was in and out of work as a student, although I do know I have always been in full time employment in between and since. As the PPI commenced when I was not in work does that mean I can claim the full amount paid since 2001 (approx, I believe, £35/year) or only pro-rata for the months/years when I was not working - in which case I don't think I can provide this level of detail so it's probably not worth attempting a claim?

Thank you for reading and for any advice.

[Deleted User]

Any complaint for PPI relates to the selling of it, not any changing circumstance afterwards.

However, from what you have said, you didn't have PPI, but a card protection policy, which is very different. It provides assistance should you lose your cards.

[Deleted User]

katgirlie wrote: »

can you only reclaim for those periods when circumstances meant that the PPI would not have been valid

No, you can only complain about the sale of the insurance if the policy was unsuitable at the time. Change of circumstances at a later date are not relevant in a mis-selling complaint.

As for "proof"that the insurance was not suitable , you'd certainly have to provide this and as comprehensively as possible.

Cardguard is not PPI, it's an insurance for which you will have paid a nominal amount to cover in case of loss or theft of your cards.

I can't see any eventuality where this insurance would not have been "valid", but you can certainly still complain that it was mis-sold to you if you have valid reasons to do so.