Natwest

[PocketLady]

Honestly I think they are all the same.  I'm with Nationwide and Natwest and I have to say that I think Natwest have treated me better than Nationwide have, and they are a building society.  I came home to a lovely letter from Nationwide at the weekend.  They decided they wanted to cancel my entire overdraft because I went over my overdraft limit for three days.  Why did I go over my overdraft limit?  Because of the disgusting £70 worth of bank charges they charged me that pushed me over.  Obviously I incurred another £20 charge for going over it...

I've been banking with Nationwide since I was 5 years old, and I think it's disgusting how they treat customers sometimes, but unfortunely I think that's banks for you.  I managed to kind of sort out my problem, but I'm still so annoyed about it.  They are all being extremely harsh in recent months due to the credit crunch, but honestly I don't think there is anything such as a "nice" bank.  If Nationwide do anything else maybe I'll move to HSBC.  At least they don't charge you when they push you over your limit, but I still think they are all big bullies at the end of the day.

[snoopy1239]

I'm more annoyed about the intent really.

They have my number yet didn't bother calling me. They never mentioned it when I was reimbursed the £38 either. They know I have money in my other Natwest accounts, but they just want me to go on a cycle of monthly charges.

Is that a good way to treat people, never mind customers?

[GREGHOGG]

The fact is that these banks only make these outragous charges cos they can get away with it in the majority of cases and make more millions. Most people dont kick up a fuss and just ignore them. They make a fortune out of people that cannot afford it.

I agree with the principle of charging a fair amount if it is the customers fault, but the amount is not usually fair (£38 is just silly) , it is not always the customers fault and they dont always notify people in advance that they will be charging X amount on a certain day.
 
With regards to making a complaint, if anyone needs any advice on this, im a complaint handler for a large insurance company so im happy to assist where i can.

[lazaroonie]

I'm more annoyed about the intent really.

They have my number yet didn't bother calling me. They never mentioned it when I was reimbursed the £38 either. They know I have money in my other Natwest accounts, but they just want me to go on a cycle of monthly charges.

Is that a good way to treat people, never mind customers?

you can blame the scots for that one - Natwest, now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, have adopted their charging model as well - what happens is that its like a double punishment for going overdrawn - first you get hit with the charge for the item that took you overdrawn, then on a set date later in the month they will charge you £28 for everytime you did this in the last month, up to a maximum of £84. If you look at the summary page that comes along with the statement, it will be stated on there that they are going to charge you this.

But you should get it back if you complain. Of course that isnt the point....

[Bongo]

A girl I used to go out with banked with RBOS, and so did her dad who had quite a bit of money.

Guess what happened when she managed to get charged for something?

[snoopy1239]

I'm more annoyed about the intent really.

They have my number yet didn't bother calling me. They never mentioned it when I was reimbursed the £38 either. They know I have money in my other Natwest accounts, but they just want me to go on a cycle of monthly charges.

Is that a good way to treat people, never mind customers?

you can blame the scots for that one - Natwest, now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, have adopted their charging model as well - what happens is that its like a double punishment for going overdrawn - first you get hit with the charge for the item that took you overdrawn, then on a set date later in the month they will charge you £28 for everytime you did this in the last month, up to a maximum of £84. If you look at the summary page that comes along with the statement, it will be stated on there that they are going to charge you this.

But you should get it back if you complain. Of course that isnt the point....

What if you've been reinbursed the £38 a few days after the charge. Should you still expect to be charged £28 for going overdrawn? That sounds silly to me. Seems illogical to charge you for something you were reimbursed on.

[lazaroonie]

I'm more annoyed about the intent really.

They have my number yet didn't bother calling me. They never mentioned it when I was reimbursed the £38 either. They know I have money in my other Natwest accounts, but they just want me to go on a cycle of monthly charges.

Is that a good way to treat people, never mind customers?

you can blame the scots for that one - Natwest, now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, have adopted their charging model as well - what happens is that its like a double punishment for going overdrawn - first you get hit with the charge for the item that took you overdrawn, then on a set date later in the month they will charge you £28 for everytime you did this in the last month, up to a maximum of £84. If you look at the summary page that comes along with the statement, it will be stated on there that they are going to charge you this.

But you should get it back if you complain. Of course that isnt the point....

What if you've been reinbursed the £38 a few days after the charge. Should you still expect to be charged £28 for going overdrawn? That sounds silly to me. Seems illogical to charge you for something you were reimbursed on.

aye, but logic doesnt come into it - from a systems perspective, by incurring the 38 charge, there will be a counter on your account goes to "1". then, when the billing cycle happens every month, it will take that "1" and multiply it by 28, therefore invoking the charge. the fact that someone has re=imbursed you the 38 quid is neither here nor there to the system. I would be that when you got the 38 quid refunded they said they were doing it as a "goodwill gesture", which means they are giving you it back, but still think you are in the wrong.

[sovietsong]

HSBC FTW

[snoopy1239]

I'm more annoyed about the intent really.

They have my number yet didn't bother calling me. They never mentioned it when I was reimbursed the £38 either. They know I have money in my other Natwest accounts, but they just want me to go on a cycle of monthly charges.

Is that a good way to treat people, never mind customers?

you can blame the scots for that one - Natwest, now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, have adopted their charging model as well - what happens is that its like a double punishment for going overdrawn - first you get hit with the charge for the item that took you overdrawn, then on a set date later in the month they will charge you £28 for everytime you did this in the last month, up to a maximum of £84. If you look at the summary page that comes along with the statement, it will be stated on there that they are going to charge you this.

But you should get it back if you complain. Of course that isnt the point....

What if you've been reinbursed the £38 a few days after the charge. Should you still expect to be charged £28 for going overdrawn? That sounds silly to me. Seems illogical to charge you for something you were reimbursed on.

aye, but logic doesnt come into it - from a systems perspective, by incurring the 38 charge, there will be a counter on your account goes to "1". then, when the billing cycle happens every month, it will take that "1" and multiply it by 28, therefore invoking the charge. the fact that someone has re=imbursed you the 38 quid is neither here nor there to the system. I would be that when you got the 38 quid refunded they said they were doing it as a "goodwill gesture", which means they are giving you it back, but still think you are in the wrong.

Yes, thought as much, I just find it hard to believe that I now owe £56, which is more than what I was reimbursed in the first place. As I said, it just feels a bit hush hush "let's keep it zipped and hope he doesn't notice for a few months so we can keep charging him". The whole idea of charging someone and then charging them for the charge seems immoral to me. I told them that I can accept the first £28 charge, but on principle, not the second one for next month, which is why I'll be closing all of my Natwest accounts.

[neeko]

I still refuse to bank with HSBC since they bouced a cheque on me 14 years ago, charged me a fee and then refused to refund it.

However I bought shares in them as I thought I may as well profit from these money grabbing b*****ds.

[snoopy1239]

I went into Natwest today to contest my two £28 charges, politely and calmly. The guy spent about one minute with me, didn't even listen to what I had to say or take me into a side room. "If you want to complain, you can write to this address," was all he said. I answered that I didn't want to do that, I wanted to sort it out here. "There's nothing we can do," he replied. I then stated that I was going to close my account then, and he he looked up at me stoically, shrugged, and said, "Yep, fine."

I gave up then and went next door to HSBC to make an appointment.

I won't be taking the issue further, I don't see the point. For £56, it's probably not worth the effort, but on principle of being knowingly placed in the vicious charged-for-being-charged circle, without any forewarning, help or advice, not to mention having to deal with aggressive, abrupt customer service reps, I am going to open up an account at HSBC as soon as I can and close all my Natwest accounts. I've been at Natwest my entire life, and all they can say is "Yep, fine". I don't see why I should give them my custom if that is their attitude.

[gatso]

deutschebank ftw imo. I pay then a small amount monthly to run my accounts and in return get fantastic service. one of my accounts that I've not been using went o/d due to the monthly fee so they phoned me, explained the situation and asked whether I wanted to move some funds across or close the a/c. I said I'd come in in about 2 weeks to sort it if that was ok- 'of course sir, no problem, I'll just put a note on your records'.

no fuss, no charges made, just good old fashioned common sense and customer service

[snoopy1239]

deutschebank ftw imo. I pay then a small amount monthly to run my accounts and in return get fantastic service. one of my accounts that I've not been using went o/d due to the monthly fee so they phoned me, explained the situation and asked whether I wanted to move some funds across or close the a/c. I said I'd come in in about 2 weeks to sort it if that was ok- 'of course sir, no problem, I'll just put a note on your records'.

no fuss, no charges made, just good old fashioned common sense and customer service

Good Lord, it almost sounds like you're the customer.

[Woodsey]

The problem you have with any bank is if you aren't borrowing money from them or going overdrawn occassionally so they can give you these charges from time to time, they aren't making any money from you. So you are pretty much worthless to them and they really couldn't care if you bank with them or not, why should they do you a favour and let you bank with them for nothing? Harsh but true for all of us.

[snoopy1239]

The fun never ends. I've just been charged again, totally inexplicably. Fuckers.

Here's the history:

There is 0 in my account. I pick up the wrong cheque book.

31 Jul 2008 - £38 paid out

I ring them up to beg and hope, as a long time customer with no previous charges, they let me off my mistake.

They agree to pay the £38 back in. No mention of any future fines.

I transfer £250 into this account. A few days later, my cheque is paid, leaving me with 0 again.

29 Aug 2008 - £28 paid out

I ring up, they say this for going into the red. I argue, to no effect, and transfer £28 into the account to put me out of the red and back up to 0. They make no mention of any future fines.

I put £200 into my account to cater for any future fines.

30 Sep 2008 - £28 paid out

I ring up, they say this is for going into the red from my previous charge. I argue the toss again, but ultimately to no avail. They make no mention of any future charges.

This surely must be an end to the charges now as I have put £200 into the account to stop that charge taking me into the red...

31 Oct 2008 - £28 paid out

I try to ring up, but find out I'm outside 'business hours'