Sit In At Natwest

[MIKE770]

Just read in a national paper, a customer of NATWEST did a sit in at a branch as they wanted their £700 Bank Charges returned, the branch called the Police but the Police would not do anything about protest therefore the Branch Staff were sent home 2 hours early and the person eventualy left the Bank and the Manager.:beagle::beagle::beagle::beagle::beagle::t inysmile_grin_t::tinysmile_grin_t::tinysmile_grin_ t: Bet it cost the idiots more than £700 on that day, we all hope-yeah-yeah-yeah.:beagle:

[natweststaffmember]

Re: Sit In At Natwest

Sit-in couple force bank to close early over charges row - The Star

[enaid]

Re: Sit In At Natwest

AN angry Sheffield builder staged a five-hour sit-in at a Sheffield bank - and forced it to close early - in protest at a string of charges which topped £700.
The police were called twice as John Fawdry, aged 31, and partner Shelly Haddock, 28, dramatically occupied the Crystal Peaks branch of Natwest on Wednesday.

But officers refused to arrest the couple who were demanding bank staff justify what they claimed were "outrageous" charges.

Shelly eventually left to collect their four children from school. But John stayed until bosses closed the branch two hours early and sent staff home - although they refused to sit down and discuss the problems.

Are you fed-up with bank charges? What do you think of John and Shelly's actions? Join the debate by adding your comment below.

John, of Alport Grove, Frecheville, said: "I wasn't leaving until someone talked to me. I wanted them to look me in the eye and say, 'you've got to pay these charges instead of feeding your kids', because that's how tight money is.

"The terms and conditions are black and white - but life isn't, as NatWest knows full well. If it wasn't for the taxpayer bailing it out it would have gone bust!"

Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns NatWest, is 70 per cent owned by the taxpayer after the ailing financial giant was shored up by the Government last year.

John said Shelly had set up a standing order on a business account by mistake. This generated £76 in charges a week - but the bank failed to contact them for three weeks, by which time they owed £228, they say.

Another time the bank agreed not to take £133 in charges, but insisted on removing the money and returning it the following day because of procedures, the couple claim. In the intervening hours three card payments went through, sending the account overdrawn - so the couple paid charges on charges.

ACTION

A NatWest spokesman said: "There was an unfortunate incident at the branch where a customer and their partner became abusive and aggressive towards our staff.

"The security and safety of our staff and other customers is of paramount importance to us so we were forced to call the police and close the branch to ensure this could be handled safely. The branch opened as usual on Thursday morning."

NatWest has taken out full page adverts in national newspapers.

Chief executive Brian Hartzer stated in an open letter: "I have made it my priority to understand why, in these challenging times, we can continue to support our customers and the UK economy."

And he announced a raft of cuts in charges. Action Desk will keep you informed of the couple's battle to get the bank to reconsider the charges. More next week.