Bank Account Switch Problem

cocojambo73

Hi,
Arrived home last night to a debt recovery letter from my old bank, RBS claiming I owed them over £300.
I switched to Nationwide in April 2013 who informed me that the process would include the closure of my old RBS a/c. I heard nothing from Nationwide to say that there was any issue such as informing me that the account had remained open, or from RBS either.
It appears there was an annually renewing travel insurance linked to my account which I wasn't aware of. This was applied to my old account and the charges continued for the next 3 years.
As I had moved back in Nov 2013 I had no idea there was any issues.
I contacted Nationwide who claim that RBS told them there were 'pending charges' on that account. I was not overdrawn at the time on this account at the time of the switch.
I have requested bank statements from RBS to get more information on what has been hitting this account since 2013, but I feel I have no alternative to pay the debt amount in the meantime.
I have been warned that this has credit score which is a concern going forward.
I plan to go out to Nationwide to make a formal written complaint once I have more account statement information.
What do you think? Is there anything else I could do, or should consider?
Thanks in Advance,
Col.

jonesMUFCforever

Why are you complaining about Nationwide?

RBS would have only closed the account if it was at a nil balance or if Nationwide had given you an overdraft so they could send money to RBS to close the account.

To close an account I would expect a closing statement - did you never query why you did not get one? Did you not re-direct your mail and not get a single statement or letter about this debt?

As for the annual travel insurance on the RBS account - do you have a copy of this policy - did you apply for it - did you use it?
If it was a continious payment authority then it would have been up to you to cancel or tell them your new bank details.

Sorry if I seem negative towards your plight but I can't see what Nationwide have done wrong for you to complain about.

grumbler

cocojambo73 wrote: »

Hi,
Arrived home last night to a debt recovery letter from my old bank, RBS claiming I owed them over £300.
I switched to Nationwide in April 2013 who informed me that the process would include the closure of my old RBS a/c.

Sure?
AFAIK, the new Current Account Switch Service with obligatory closure of the old account was launched in September 2013: 7-day bank switching era begins
Before this it was the customer's duty to close the old account if needed, and the new bank couldn't do this.
_____________________________________

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Why are you complaining about Nationwide?

RBS would have only closed the account if it was at a nil balance or if Nationwide had given you an overdraft so they could send money to RBS to close the account.

cocojambo73 wrote: »

... I was not overdrawn at the time on this account at the time of the switch....

...

Super_Whiskey

Pending charges doesn't equal not being overdrawn on the account at the time of the switch. Cocojambo could have been overdrawn 1-30th of the month, paid money in on the 31st to bring a/c in to credit and switched the account over before the charges were applied.

I'd be querying this with RBS as to why they haven't attempted to get in touch with you about these charges in 3 years.