Natwest seem to be charging me for a bank account I can't access, didn't know I had and do not want

Grabs39

missile said:

Andyhollingtom said:

d63 said:

is the account number not on the card?

No, apparently RBS group haven't put them on in a while. No idea why, it would make so much more sense

Really? When did that happen?

I’ve had a NatWest account for 17 years and it’s never had an account number on it.

jimjames

missile said:

Andyhollingtom said:

d63 said:

is the account number not on the card?

No, apparently RBS group haven't put them on in a while. No idea why, it would make so much more sense

Really? When did that happen?

I've noticed this for some time, probably at least 3 years since I had my account. Very annoying when you want to setup a DD or transfer

kaMelo

My first Cashcard issued by NatWest did have the account no. on it but we're talking mid 1980's here. I can't remember when they decided not to include the account no. on the cards but it has been some time. 
OP, I somehow  missed the part where you haven't received account details without which you obviously cannot register for online banking.
Was your application to open an account immediate (which would give you account details at the end of the application) or did it require further verification or checks, have you received anything else such as emails, text messages?  It does seem strange that you've received nothing.  If you don't/can't go into a branch then I can only suggest telephoning them again, be prepared for a long wait and ask for the account details to be sent to you. 

colsten

I have held a Natwest account since 1983. I can't recall that the account number was ever printed on the debit card, or on the cheque guarantee card which preceded it.

As to OP's issue: the OP is not entirely blameless, as they have signed up for an account that has a monthly charge. So whilst there is perhaps cause for a complaint for never having received the account number, in the end it's the responsibility of the OP that they didn't take action earlier.

adamp87

Are you not getting statements either in the post or online either? 

You could pop the card in an atm and print off a mini statement at NatWest that might have the acc no on

Zanderman

I'm sorry OP but you DO have a NatWest account.  And you must have known you had it.  You applied for one, got the debit card etc. Therefore you have an account and you must have been aware you did.
You asked for a switch another account into it.  That failed to happen.  But that's got nothing to do with the NatWest account's existence.  It doesn't vanish if a switch into it doesn't happen. 
I very much doubt NatWest failed to send the details about the account - though it is, of course, possible that letters about it have got lost in the post.  But that would be Royal Mail's fault, not NatWest's.   
You obviously need to get the details - but you should, really, have done this months ago as you should have known you had an account.  
As for the info not being on the debit card that's normal for NatWest or RBS.

Tokmon

Andyhollingtom said:

Back in about October Natwest were offering £125 for people who switched to them (I think I found about it via this site). So i tried to do it and almost as soon as registering I received a text saying that the switch had failed. I decided not to persist and go on with my life. I never received any details relating to the account but I did receive a card and pin I never activated nor intended to use. I know at this point I should probably have looked more into closing the account but I didn't see any reason to do, maybe one day I would actually want it.
Today, I received a text from them saying "Since your last alert, your account ending *** has remained over its agreed limit. Pay in clear funds today, 13 JAN to prevent fees being charged." Evidently, this account must have a charge and somehow I've gone into the overdraft I can only assume? While this in itself is frustrating, I would have been more than willing to pay a small charge and quickly sort it out. But looking back through the few emails they have sent, they have never sent me my account number. It is also not on either of the two letters (1 for the card, 1 for the PIN) I recieved. They've never sent me an account statement or any other physical letters. They have invited me to register for online banking but this requires an account number. As such I cannot access my account in any way. I tried phoning them and was left on hold for over an hour so I contacted them via twitter and got told the only option was to go into a branch to close the account. Obviously being in lockdown, I don't really want to go into a branch but guess I have no choice.
I don't like the fact that I'm supposed to pay charges on an account I've never been given the opportunity to access but presumably they will be charging me every month but I have absolutely no way of knowing? I do not want the account and I have never used it (nor been able to).

So your thread title says: 
"Natwest seem to be charging me for a bank account I can't access, didn't know I had and do not want"

But yet you did you know you had it because you received the debit card and the pin and you did want it because you actively chose to keep the account instead of closing it just in case you would use it. 

Fighter1986

Zanderman said:

I'm sorry OP but you DO have a NatWest account.  And you must have known you had it.  You applied for one, got the debit card etc. Therefore you have an account and you must have been aware you did.
You asked for a switch another account into it.  That failed to happen.  But that's got nothing to do with the NatWest account's existence.  It doesn't vanish if a switch into it doesn't happen. 
I very much doubt NatWest failed to send the details about the account - though it is, of course, possible that letters about it have got lost in the post.  But that would be Royal Mail's fault, not NatWest's.   
You obviously need to get the details - but you should, really, have done this months ago as you should have known you had an account.  
As for the info not being on the debit card that's normal for NatWest or RBS.

Agree 100%.

You opened an account and then chose not to use it, that's completely different from not knowing you had an account.

If you applied online, you're given your account number and sort code as part of the process online and you're also invited to set up online banking after the application. 

You had the opportunity to call Natwest when your card arrived and ask them to close the account; or at least call them and ask them how to close the account.

Cutting up a card doesn't close an account, it never has, and it never will. You know that. 

As it stands now, pick up the phone, explain to Natwest that you'd like to close the account, ask what your balance is, apologise for your oversight, ask if they'll offer any goodwill with respect further charges, and accept what they say in response.

I'm the last person to jump to Natwest's defence but I'm afraid that in this instance, from what you've written, it seems entirely your oversight. 

glennevis

I took advantage of this offer in October 2019. Looks like the OP didn't read the terms and conditions when opening the account and failed to jump through all the hoops.

The final step after applying and switching, as detailed in the emails Natwest/RBS send, requires you to register for online banking. If you complete that step, your online account has a secure message for you which is a pdf of your letter containing full account details including sort code and account number.

Don't know whether the links in the original emails to register for online banking would still be valid after all this time.

Retiredwelshman

The OP states he has received a card and Pin.
Surely the PIN advice  will have the sort code and account number on it.