NatWest shut down all of my Bank Accounts – What Can I do?

NatWest shut down all of my Bank Accounts – What Can I do?

14:13 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago 44

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I Have been with Nat West since I left School – over 50 years ago now. I have never let them down or had a problem with them. Out of the blue, with no notice or warning, yesterday they shut down all of my accounts. My Direct Debits have started bouncing already. All of my money is in those accounts.

The customer relations department seemed to be as stunned as I was – they say as everything is shut down they cannot access any information and all of their efforts to make enquiries internally have drawn blanks or hit brick walls.

Any suggestions? We are totally desperate. Does anyone know a specialist solicitor who may be able to assist? If someone had told me that this could happen I would have never believed them!

Thanks for reading this.

Colin


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Comments

Neil Patterson

14:18 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Hi Colin,

The first thing to do is contact Natwest and make sure this is an official complaint and ask for a copy of their complaints procedure.
Generally, the Bank procedure will be to attempt to resolve you complaint within two attempts and if this fails escalate your complaint to the Banking Ombudsman.
If you try to circumnavigate their complaints procedure the Ombudsman will refer you back to Natwest.

Beaver

14:45 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Did you bank online and use their ap on your mobile phone? Were there any emails, text messages, or messages via your mobile ap? And were the accounts based in the United Kingdom or offshore?

Ann Lewisohn

14:54 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

I am not surprised. They changed my details and took weeks and hours of me phoning them to resolve the issue by passing it on several times.
My sympathies to you.

David

14:58 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Just make sure you are not being scammed. Only call the numbers listed on the banks official website, not those listed in an email. Alternatively, go into a branch.

Simon Lever - Chartered Accountant helping clients get the best returns from their properties

15:03 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Unfortuately Nat West have "previous" on this:
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/saving/article-8326065/Bank-customers-insist-theyre-victims-Kafkaesque-injustice.html
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/saving-and-banking/natwest-robbed-me-account-closures-dog-one-of-britains-biggest-banks-uk-2-1064776
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/15990722/natwest-compensation-accounts-closed/
There is not much you can do except to complain very loudly and goto the Ombudsman ASAP.
I know it is shutting the stable door but everyone should have bank accounts with at least 2 banks "just in case".
Keep a record of every additional cost that shutting your account has cost you and make sure you include it in any claim. Also insist on interest on your funds when you do get someone to listen to you.
I am afraid that you are in for a hard slog just to get your money back.

JohnCaversham

15:22 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Yes NW have form, they did this to me last month, account was down for 7days, no rent payments taken, no mortgage payments could be made.. We had to pay all our commitments manually from an alternative account.. NW were very unhelpful, we logged almost 20 phone calls, it transpired they required Business Profile Information but has failed to advise us. You would fo well to check this aspect.. Customer services will send you round and around, be prepared for multiple calls.. Good luck!

reader

15:57 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Yep so Natwest. It happened to a business colleague of mine with a multi million turnover business, suddenly frozen. He had known his bankers for decades but they could not assist as quite wrongly the bank suspected a fraud. So he moved to another bank.with an enormous overdraft to cover him in the transition.

I use more than one bank to mitigate my potential damage.

N E Landlord

17:29 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

As NatWest offer the use of the Accounting Software FreeAgent with their business accounts could this be lost too if the account was closed unexpectedly?

I was thinking of using this but maybe it would be safer to pay for accounting software not connected with NatWest?

If you lost your business account and your accounts all at once it could take a massive amount of work to try and rectify.

yl2006

17:32 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Echoing @SimonLever's comments, banks are required to suspend accounts that raise flags and aren't allowed to discuss the reasons with their customers. Blame AML and terrorism legislation.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/why-banks-are-freezing-accounts-and-what-to-do-if-it-happens-to-you-aPXrh7F1YCx1

It's a bummer and has caught out my business partner. We now have different accounts for our different businesses.

Dylan Morris

20:32 PM, 8th August 2022, About 2 years ago

There must be something you’ve done or the bank (or Government) suspect you of having done, for them to close your accounts. Have you posted any pro Russia comments on social media perhaps ? Or not had the experimental untested injections ?

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