Natwest changed my account without my agreement.... and charged.

Nanney

The Natwest changed my current account to an Advantage Gold account without my agreement... and charged me over £10 per month.
I realised this weekend, and yes I do now feel very stupid not to check my mail/statement thoroughly, that my advantage gold account has been costing me over £100 a year, for over 5 years.... the charges on my statement I was lead to believe were my overdraft charges. I permanently live in my overdraft so have never queried it. I have now had a letter to tell me its increasing to £12 per month. I rang them to tell them that I am not in this " advantage Gold club" and they said its been like this since 2002....
They said they changed the account name in 2002 and said I should have opted out of it after 3 months. I have only ever known a free trial with the option of joining if I was happy.... never opting out of something I am not happy with especially as I have never requested this change. They offered me a refund of 3 months..... does this not show that they are at fault. I do feel a little betrayed and naive but i wouldnt have thought that they could do this without my knowledge and consent. I am hoping for some advice but please dont tell me I am foolish , I already feel very much so. What are my options apart from closing my account and moving onto a bank I can trust, if there is such a bank.... thanks for your help in this....

barclaysguy

If you wanted you could put in a complaint, ask for any signature or phone call where you agreed to this upgraded account. Although you have to remember after most free trials you have to opt out, this is the same with any business.

Personally i would live and learn.

Kavanne

You say it's been that way since 2002... so there's absolutely NO WAY you did sign up for it then and just forgot?

You may as well try and claim back the charges, but them offering a refund doesn't mean they are accepting they are at fault, I think they're just trying to keep you happy.