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Nat West

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missile
missile Posts: 11,772 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
edited 13 February 2023 at 5:25PM in Budgeting & bank accounts
I am frustrated with Nat West>

On 08th February, I sold an item on market place for £5. Buyer asked me to post. I agreed for additional £3 p+p. He transferred £8 to my account.
He had misread the advert and I refunded his £8.
I have confirmation of payments in and out of my account. Which I sent to him.
He then claimed he did not receive refund and sent me abusive / threatening messages.

Today I receive notification from Nat West that my account has been blocked.
They referenced his £8 payment and asked for a response to a long list of questions within 3 days.
I telephoned NW, but they refused to discuss.

I have answered all their questions and attached details of the transactions.
I received this automated response> 
If you’re providing details relating to transaction(s) that we’ve advised have been reported , we’ll aim to provide an update on the outcome of our review  within approximately 5 working days, in accordance with our original email. We regret that no further information can be provided until the review is complete
** Please note that you will still be able to withdraw wages or benefits via branch with valid ID during this time. **

I have been a client for 50 years with several thousand pounds in my account. I find it unacceptable that they would block my account for a report from a third party for a trifling £8. It is really inconvenient to travel quite a distance to visit a branch to withdraw cash. I am unable to use my Debit Card and it is unclear whether they will continue to pay DD and SO?



"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Ride hard or stay home :iloveyou:
«134567

Comments

  • This is a fairly classic scam - buyer sends payment, then ask for you to send a refund. Separately, the buyer also claws back the original payment from their bank - leaving you out of pocket twice. Why they'd bother doing this for £8 is beyond me, but some people can't be reasoned with.

    All you can really do is provide NatWest with the info they need to investigate and wait. They won't be allowed to discuss the process due to AML rules. I'd also log a formal complaint and explain that this will cause you hardship if it is not resolved in a timely manner.


  • Does the use of PayPal stop this kind of thing happening, or at least keep it away from your main bank account. 
  • WillPS
    WillPS Posts: 5,149 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Newshound! Name Dropper
    Does the use of PayPal stop this kind of thing happening, or at least keep it away from your main bank account. 

    Yes, because the buyer's complaint is with PayPal rather than their bank.
  • missile
    missile Posts: 11,772 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I think this buyer is mentally deranged.

    I have several thousand pounds in my NW account which I cannot access. I shall register a formal complaint.

    Fortunately I have another current account which I can use.
    "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
    Ride hard or stay home :iloveyou:
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
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    edited 10 February 2023 at 6:19PM
     They won't be allowed to discuss the process due to AML rules.
    I don't see what this can have to do with AML.  Yes, it can be fraud, but not all fraud is Money Laundering.


  • missile
    missile Posts: 11,772 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 10 February 2023 at 6:33PM
    grumbler said:
     They won't be allowed to discuss the process due to AML rules.
    I don't see what this can have to do with AML.  Yes, it can be fraud, but not all fraud is Money Laundering.


    Any excuse does. Blame it on Health & Safety :-)

    If and when I do get back into my NW account, I am tempted to report the refund I made to his account as "fraud". Don't get mad get even :-)


    "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
    Ride hard or stay home :iloveyou:
  • RG2015
    RG2015 Posts: 6,054 Forumite
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    edited 10 February 2023 at 6:35PM
    I understand that marketplace is a platform facilitated by Facebook/Meta and presumably their Ts&Cs indemnify them against any financial claims. (ie they accept no responsibility for any disputes)

    Therefore this scenario has nothing to do with Meta and could have happened with any financial transaction dispute.

    Surely NatWest must have substantially more evidence than one party's word that any wrongdoing has occurred. Otherwise this action by NatWest could happen to anyone without any cause. Or alternatively, NatWest have grossly overreacted and could be liable for a substantial compensation claim.

    I am not doubting the original post in any way but it does appear as though I am missing something.
  • RG2015
    RG2015 Posts: 6,054 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 10 February 2023 at 9:09PM
    Thank you @eskbanker,

    I haven't come across this scenario before, but neither have I heard of someone who didn't receive a genuine refund having any joy with the getting the bank involved.

    Furthermore to get an account frozen within 2 days seems incredible.
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