NatWest Switch disaster = no bank accounts

Band7

Sorry to say this but I would recommend you don't go all guns blazing but ask for cooperation by Natwest. There is a distinct possibility that the entire issue got triggered by you mistyping your name. I am not trying to find an excuse for the drama you ended up with, just an explanation. It is quite possible that Natwest determined that they are dealing with a fraudulent application, and once you are in the "fraud engine" of any bank, you don't get any sense out of them. Though obviously, they should also have cancelled the switch, not just your account. Good luck with your discussions with them. Take ID and proof of address with you.

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. Also think twice before you switch your main bank account. Much better to switch a donor/burner account if all you are after is a switch bonus.

rothesy

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Band7

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Edy_d

Band7 said:

Sorry to say this but I would recommend you don't go all guns blazing but ask for cooperation by Natwest. There is a distinct possibility that the entire issue got triggered by you mistyping your name. I am not trying to find an excuse for the drama you ended up with, just an explanation. It is quite possible that Natwest determined that they are dealing with a fraudulent application, and once you are in the "fraud engine" of any bank, you don't get any sense out of them. Though obviously, they should also have cancelled the switch, not just your account. Good luck with your discussions with them. Take ID and proof of address with you.

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. Also think twice before you switch your main bank account. Much better to switch a donor/burner account if all you are after is a switch bonus.

Yes I can definitely get that the surname misspelling could have caused the problem, 
but I called natwest straight away and informed them and specifically asked about issues this may cause but was told not to worry and I could go into branch, take my i.d etc and get my name ammended.tyey closed the account before I could do any of that.
Obviously I did go through the I.d process to get the NatWest account opened  to switch into using my driver's license which was all accepted, It was only on opening the app that I detected the misspelling.

I rang so many times, only to be told nothing could be done over the phone I had to use the online chat.. where I'd get to chat with an agent  they'd go through the same process tell me they would put me through to correct team then would just leave me until the chat timed out....

Surely with the amount of times I called etc if they were concerned about fraud they could have easily talked to to me.

Nationwide in one call did mention that if NatWest decide to cancel a switch there is a charge for them, so maybe this is why the help to sort became so illusive!

But thngs could have been worse if I believed what I was told by both NatWest and nationwide during this, nationwide said they were confident the switch wouldn't happen due to no switching  bank account which  potentially could have lead me into not moving the remaining balance of that account or writing down all of my direct debits etc.

And NatWest telling me the account would be fine and I could amend the surname misspelling almost lead me into depositing the £1250 required for the incentive...

Luckily I used my loaf, and could sense issues.

Virgin money maybe a good shout.

overspender22

Band7 said:

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Just to chime in on this - I agree with what you’re saying about the risk of what OP has experienced but if you were a ‘new customer’ with NatWest/RBS/Ulster and didn’t request the switch at the same time as applying for the account, you’d lose out on the incentive. I don’t know why they have made requesting the switch at time of account opening a necessary part of the T&Cs this time round, as they didn’t in the past and existing customers prior to 14th feb CAN switch in and get the £200. 

But I do see your point and I think NatWest should be paying compensation for allowing the switch to go through and leaving OP account-less. 

Zanderman

overspender22 said:

Band7 said:

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Just to chime in on this - I agree with what you’re saying about the risk of what OP has experienced but if you were a ‘new customer’ with NatWest/RBS/Ulster and didn’t request the switch at the same time as applying for the account, you’d lose out on the incentive. I don’t know why they have made requesting the switch at time of account opening a necessary part of the T&Cs this time round, as they didn’t in the past and existing customers prior to 14th feb CAN switch in and get the £200. 

But I do see your point and I think NatWest should be paying compensation for allowing the switch to go through and leaving OP account-less. 

That sounds like a problem but doesn't need to be.  If you have to apply for the switch at the same time as the account opening, you still choose date of the switch - so even if the switch is applied for at the time of account opening it can be set for many weeks ahead, giving plenty of time (in theory anyway - and as long as you're not applying too close to the offer deadlines) to be sure the account is working first.  And if it isn't you can cancel the switch, as long as the 7 day countdown hasn't begun. 

Band7

overspender22 said:

Band7 said:

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Just to chime in on this - I agree with what you’re saying about the risk of what OP has experienced but if you were a ‘new customer’ with NatWest/RBS/Ulster and didn’t request the switch at the same time as applying for the account, you’d lose out on the incentive.  

No you would not lose out on the incentive. Natwest/RBS have always given the same incentive to existing customers. As have most other banks

dealyboy

... There are two very different beasts here.

- switching a donor account ... go for it
- switching a main account ... open and set up the other account first

At the end of the day we have to rely on ourselves ... mitigate the risk.

k_man

Zanderman said:

overspender22 said:

Band7 said:

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Just to chime in on this - I agree with what you’re saying about the risk of what OP has experienced but if you were a ‘new customer’ with NatWest/RBS/Ulster and didn’t request the switch at the same time as applying for the account, you’d lose out on the incentive. I don’t know why they have made requesting the switch at time of account opening a necessary part of the T&Cs this time round, as they didn’t in the past and existing customers prior to 14th feb CAN switch in and get the £200. 

But I do see your point and I think NatWest should be paying compensation for allowing the switch to go through and leaving OP account-less. 

That sounds like a problem but doesn't need to be.  If you have to apply for the switch at the same time as the account opening, you still choose date of the switch - so even if the switch is applied for at the time of account opening it can be set for many weeks ahead, giving plenty of time (in theory anyway - and as long as you're not applying too close to the offer deadlines) to be sure the account is working first.  And if it isn't you can cancel the switch, as long as the 7 day countdown hasn't begun. 

Band7 said:

overspender22 said:

Band7 said:

rothesy said:

Band7 said:

A tip for future switches, at any bank: do not request a switch to commence before you do not have full online / app access to the new account, as well as your debit card, and if required, your card reader. 

No sorry, I have to disagree with this.

Do you have a specific reason for disagreeing? What is the advantage of risking the kind of issues the OP encountered?

Just to chime in on this - I agree with what you’re saying about the risk of what OP has experienced but if you were a ‘new customer’ with NatWest/RBS/Ulster and didn’t request the switch at the same time as applying for the account, you’d lose out on the incentive.  

No you would not lose out on the incentive. Natwest/RBS have always given the same incentive to existing customers. As have most other banks

The advice is good general advice, but not for this switch.
This switch deal was a little different to normal, and was only available to customers with existing accounts created before the offer, or new customers who initiated the switch as part of the application and there was no option for when you would like the switch to take place.

overspender22

I advise you to read the terms of the NatWest switch again. It requires existing customers to have been opened prior to 14th feb. And no opportunity to choose switch date :-)