Not only did they charge me ridiculous amounts for going £2 odd over my limit they also decided to pay a £320 standing ordfer that I had already cancelled!

Thus taking me over my limit again! (Because I had moved my pay into my new bank account).

I seriously can't wait to get rid of those incompetent cocks.

They tried to tell me that the Standing Order hadn't been cancelled but it clearly says cancelled next to the standing order online!

I found natwest can be a bit iffy, if you go into a smaller local branch they seem to be more understanding

Go in with a printout of the standing order and explain it should not have been paid (did you cancel it within 3 working days of the payment? As it could still be paid out)

As for the £2.... it was your fault you went over but you can small claims court it easily as an unreasonable charge.

If the OFT wins the test case in the Lords you'll get it all back regardless.

That's a big if mind.

I must confess that I've found Natwest more amenable than the various other banks I've been involved with (Lloyds and HSBC in particular)

HSBC aren't any better. I went £20 over my limit for two days last week and they've charged me £50. I wonder if it's any coincidence that I transferred my credit card balance from them only a few days previously?

I was just about to start a thread about NatWest, but I hope you don't mind if I hijack your thread.

I opened an account with them online two months ago. I completed and returned everything straight away, yet I still do not have a chequebook, customer number, debit card or PIN. I wrote a strong letter to their Customer Services Manager over two weeks ago, but they've not had the courtesy to even respond yet.

Had I realised they are part of the RBS group, I would certainly not have opened an account with them. I nearly lost my house when I tried to open an RBS current account a while ago because RBS forgot to transfer my mortgage direct debit over correctly. I still have a black mark on my credit file, even though I have never missed a payment!

Peter.

I haven't used Natwest since I left uni nine years ago.
They had a branch on campus which was handy at the time. However the opening times in my parents village weren't.
Four hours a day, four days a week. Needless to say I closed my account.

I've been with Natwest for a couple of years now, no problems at all. Based on my experiences, I'd have no problems recommending them to others.

The one I avoid like the plague is Barclays - I had an account with them a few years ago and they were useless, so I wasn't too keen to discover that one of the new companies I work for has a business account with them. True to form, they're still sodding useless - they haven't even gotten as far as setting up online banking for us in the (almost) year we've had it open and they seem to have a real problem setting up direct debit mandates. Now we're nearly out of our first year free banking, I'm going to look around for a new bank - there's no way I'm going to give them any of our money!
(Also their interest rates are pathetic - 0.05% on a savings account? )

O RLY? I can't see the OFT losing.

most banks are cut throat [LIFTED]

i was back in the uk and one day forgot my bankcard in town, but i had a overdraft of 50 quid with lloyds tsb, not a problem thought i as i had my id on me, i go into the bank draw out 50 quid so i can use it for the day and though ill just replace it when i get back to sweden by a transfer.

anyhow they cancelled my overdraft a week later and also charged me for a unauthorised over draft even though i had one when i drew the money out

idiots

You should be able to get that removed if you never actually missed the payment. If the payment was later then you can add a notice of correction to your credit record to explain what happened. Anyone searching your credit record will then have to read it.

The only bank I hate is the Halifax. Robbing bastards. Wouldn't touch them with a barge poll.

How many times are we gonna do this. They're all assholes. It's just that sometimes people particularly lucky or unlucky with certain inviduals, branches and/or automated processes.

Sorry to hear that though Oli.

It all turned out well.

They have reversed the standing order and waived the charge. They recognised that it should have been cancelled and all is back to normal (well it will be tomorrow when the charge is removed).

If you don't mind me asking, how did you sort it out? Branch, letter or telephone?

Peter.