NatWest closed my account.

scranusesscrunya

My partner is an NHS key worker and we recently discovered that we were expecting our first baby. After looking through our finances and looking through our options, I decided to apply for a joint account for us to share our outgoing bills. I rang NatWest first for advice, I was given the advice that I should apply for the joint account rather than add a new name to my existing account, and was advised to proceed online. As we are both NatWest customers with a history of clearing loan accounts in full (although I was into my overdraft at the time) and the advisor had given me this express advice to proceed with the joint account. I was expecting for us to be excepted and we could spend Valentine's weekend planning our future together. 

 

Instead, all my NatWest have unceremoniously terminated all my agreements with them, restricted access to my funds and will not tell me any reasons as to why. No one will engage with me in any way.   

To say this broke me is an understatement, I'm no financial Saint (one credit card, one car agreement, all manageable and paid each month), but I was planning on making this year the year I cleared most of my major debts, now this.

I'm so concerned this is going to impact our family massively and that the sharks will start to circle and make the situation even worse.

I can't get any support anywhere, no one will help me understand what it all means. I've emailed NatWest complaints, Ombudsman, MP and CEOs office no responses. 

How do I get a fair trial to defend or explain myself. Surely the banks cannot have this much power?

luvchocolate

Is this a pre BR account? When was your bankruptcy?

scranusesscrunya

I'm not bankrupt, but this was the closest thing I could find on the forum.
I pay my bills each month and have money left over. It was closed after I made an application for a joint loan. I have good credit and my accounts are paid each month.
I have absolutely no idea what is happening to me.

scranusesscrunya

That should be joint bank account not joint loan.

VXman

This sounds very odd if, as you say, you both have a good record with Nat West. Have you been into a Nat West branch to discuss it with them?

JCS1

There is a board for budgeting and bank accounts and you may get better replies on there; but I suspect the answer is it's up to each bank to decide what their policy is - they do not have to offer you an account if they decide not to

scranusesscrunya

It's not that they refused me an account,  they terminated all my existing services including my current account. 
They could have just said no, not cut me off at the knees like this. 
Should be researching pushchairs rather than CIFAS.

elsien

NatWest seem to have form for this, unfortunately. 
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/saving/article-8326065/amp/Bank-customers-insist-theyre-victims-Kafkaesque-injustice.html

penners324

NatWest must feel you've done something fraudulent.
1. Get a new bank account immediately, start transferring all DDs and salary payments to it
2. Check with CRAs and CIFAS

colsten

Something will have triggered a Natwest investigation on your account. Either one or more transactions on your account, or on your partner's. What happened to your partner's account, btw? Is it still open after the application?

Even if Natwest give you access to your account again, it sounds to me as if you'd rather not want to stick with them after this experience. Open accounts somewhere else. 

mab3000

Something has spooked NatWest here which has lead them to make the decision to end your banking relationship with them. It could be for any number of reasons why. One example could be inaccurate information on the joint account application. Unfortunately you are highly unlikely to get any answers as to why they don’t want you as a customer anymore. And like any business they don’t have to accept and keep you as a customer. The criteria for holding a bank account with them will be confidential to them. If they suspect anything they are not legally allowed to tell you. 

Best thing to do would be to check CIFAS like you have already mentioned and concentrate on getting a new account elsewhere.