Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

[Amarranth]

Ok, a relatively simple question - Natwest have taken a maintenence charge from my account of £20.00 and this has caused me to go overdrawn, which means I will now be charged again. Surely they can see there's nothing there?!

The reason I went overdrawn in the first place was due to a transaction made on the 3rd October which didn't come out from the account until the 7th October. I thought (stupidly) that it would have already come out and used the account for other transactions. Can I claim this as a banking error or will they just blame the company the transaction was made with?

The thing is, I made another transaction, with the same company, on the 6th October and it came out on the 7th October, so what was the issue with the previous one?

I usually recieve an email from Natwest advising me that my "Latest bank statement and pre advice of interest charges are now available to view online" I did not recieve any email last month advising me that there were charges to view.

I now have nothing in my account this month, so when they take their charge on 19th Nov, it'll take me overdrawn again, and more charges next month.

I have been refused for an overdraft of any amount - I tried to put an overdraft of £50 as a buffer to make sure I don't go overdrawn, but it has been rejected 3 times. I only ever go overdrawn by no more than £2.00 but they seem to think a £20 charge is suitable for this.

I called Natwest and asked them if they would consider waiving the charge as it was their previous charge that made me go overdrawn, they said no, unless it was a banking error.

Any advice?

[The Debt Star]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Computer says no, mate. That's what the banks are like now. Some wazzuk taps in at the overdraft application form on screen and it flashes up "Decline" and gets left at that.

[Caspar]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

I had this with the co-op a couple of weeks ago, but when I phoned they refunded without any problems. May be time to change bank?

[The Debt Star]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

I had this with the co-op a couple of weeks ago, but when I phoned they refunded without any problems. May be time to change bank?

Yep, defo might get the charge back but as for the overdraft...will need to switch banks from the sounds of it. But, in my experience, all the banks are the same. What was the collective for a bunch of bankers again?

[Caspar]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Think the collective noun rhymes with it doesn't it? Well, not rhymes with it, rhymes with banker.

[WendyB]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

The maintenance charge will be taken, no doubt. You won't get it refunded as it isn't a banking error, they will say you should be aware of what is available and make provision for the money ie card payments etc to be there when it is called for, and not use the money for other transactions. The only thing you could do would be to ask to move the statement date which will have the effect of changing the date when the charges are taken, (Natwest charging date is 21 days after the statement date) but this will be too late for this month possibly. Move it so that the charges come out when there is definitely going to be money in the account (mine is the day after payday) You'll probably find that the one they let through later, they will charge you a paid referral fee too, I think this is £15 at present. I do think the new charges are not going to apply if you go over by less then £10 but that's not coming into effect until 1st Feb I think. They have a whole raft of changes coming in with regards to charges, there is a thread on here somewhere.

[Caspar]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

The maintenance charge will be taken, no doubt. You won't get it refunded as it isn't a banking error,

Wendy, they are certainly within their rights not to refund this charge, no doubt about that, but I got a similar charge refunded from the co-op in the last couple of weeks. I know many banks will say no, but there's never any harm in asking, if necessary more than once. It might waste a few minutes, but in my case it got £19 refunded.

[WendyB]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Always worth a try but will probably be in vain. I have banked with Natwest for years and think it would be nothing short of a miracle, especially as they have already told the OP that they won't waive the charges unless it's a banking error, which it isn't.

[The Debt Star]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Wendy, they are certainly within their rights not to refund this charge, no doubt about that, but I got a similar charge refunded from the co-op in the last couple of weeks. I know many banks will say no, but there's never any harm in asking, if necessary more than once. It might waste a few minutes, but in my case it got £19 refunded.

yes, that's what i meant. It is worth asking and have had similar charges refunded in the past

[WendyB]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

So have I, to be fair, but not recently and certainly not since the HOL sold us down the river....

[Amarranth]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Thanks for your replies guys, it seems i'm stuck with it really aren't I?!

I'm wondering if i can actually ask them not to take the money out until there's actually money in there?

Worth a try eh!

[leclerc]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Thanks for your replies guys, it seems i'm stuck with it really aren't I?!

I'm wondering if i can actually ask them not to take the money out until there's actually money in there?

Worth a try eh!

You might want to ask to change the statement period, ie count 21 days after the date and then it goes out. It might help to stop the charges cycle if you are within one.

To clarify the refund of charges bit. It is highly unlikely if a charge has been refunded in the past that a new one would be unless there is either bank error or you are in severe hardship and can successfully argue that to a branch manager and not some cashier/customer advisor(the latter is only going to want to sell you something).

[adbaz]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

Have you tried suggesting that you are so troubled by this that you are considering changing banks even though you have been with them for years?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Natwest Maintenence Charges taking me overdrawn :S

What was the collective for a bunch of bankers again?

A wunch of bankers.