Bl**dy Nat West

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've had a quite large, and growing amount, in a Nat West Reward current account - yes, silly me! It's an account which pays you a small amount back, for direct debits, but no interest, yet charges you a £2 monthly fee to use the account.

A while ago, I opened an account, which does pay interest, with another bank, but didn't support switch. I gradually moved the deposit across and the direct debits, leaving small sum in place, in case I had missed anything, or there were any hiccups (there was one).

On Monday, I read up via the NW App, and Cory, how to finally close the account - it said clear the account to £0.00, then click close - it still owed me £1 on the Reward thingummy. That done, it then said my account was closed.

Tuesday, I got a message from the NW app, suggesting my account was -£2.00, and if not paid it would go into overdraft -so I rang NW, and they said it had been the monthly fee, which had been pending, I would have to pay, and once paid, my account would close. How come their system, didn't know there was a pending payment, owed to the NW?

Wednesday, yesterday, I received notification from NW, via the app, to say I still owed the £1.50 because the £2.00 had immediately gone into overdraft, because I had closed the account. Instead of paying it, I fired off a formal complaint to NW - this after all they have earned from my account with them over the years, in interest.

 

[Wayners]

It's all automated.
No people involved.
When you do speak to someone in complaints they have no power to do anything.
It's frustrating

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

When you do speak to someone in complaints they have no power to do anything.
It's frustrating

I prefer the written word, to trying to explain to someone on the phone, especially when the issue involves a long. perhaps complex explanation. NW hide behind an AI system, even for complaints, all I wanted to do was email them, and complain about the way I'd been messed about closing the account. No such official email address to be found on any of their pages. I ended up seeking an email address for them, via unofficial channels.

My new bank, is much smaller, pays a decent rate of interest, has a phone number they answer, and a contact email address which works, and there is no monthly fee for having the account.

 

[aveatry]

I had an account that I no longer needed but instead of closing it completely I keep a few ££ in there and take that card on holiday with me or to the pub so if I loose it then its not my account with all the direct debits ECT and millions of £ in it

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I had an account that I no longer needed but instead of closing it completely I keep a few ££ in

Had I kept it open, near empty, or not, it would have gained no interest, no Rewards, and yet would cost me £2 per month to keep it open.

direct debits ECT and millions of £ in it

I keep my millions, in investment accounts.

 

[aveatry]

Had I kept it open, near empty, or not, it would have gained no interest, no Rewards, and yet would cost me £2 per month to keep it open.

Ah I missed that bit