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“Since opening a Natwest student account I ' ve had...”

written by on 18/07/2008

Since opening a Natwest student account I ' ve had nothing but problems. The staff don't know what they're talking about and then make me feel like a terrible customer when I go to make a payment on my credit card without the slip at the bottom, bearing in mind I ' m a student who doesn't carry bank statements round everyday and who doesn't drive so if I ' m passing a Nat West bank and I ' ve got my card I might just want to nip in and make a payment.
The problems started last july when I tried to apply for a student account online to get the fee webcam. I encountered some difficulties so phoned the helpline who told me to go into my local branch and complete the application there, where I would still be eligible for a webcam as I started the application online. So I did, and confirmed I would get the webcam, which, no 12 months on I still haven ' t received. So anyway the application went through and they sad I would receive my card within 10 days, 10 days passed, no card, so I rang the branch. "Oh your card is here Miss, waiting for you to pick up". Thanks for letting me know!! So I aid for a taxi to town, no card! "No no, your card is on its way to home address" So paid for a taxi back, waste of time and money! Eventually after 8 weeks of applying and waiting, the card arrived.
So now, perhaps this should have out me off, and yet I still went on to apply for a student credit card. Wish I hadnt now! Application was successful, card arrived. Fine. Never use the card for a very long time, was jus for emergencies. When I did eventually use the card and received my statement I noticed a direct debit had been set up on the account to take the minimum payment ot of my student account every month. Now as far as I am aware, you are suppose to be asked if you would like to set up a direct debit?! So, knowing that it was unlikely there would ever e sufficient enough funds to pay this direct debit I rang to cancel it and got an apology for the incorrect way in which it was set up. Fine? No. I then incurred a £38 charge because I obviously hadn ' t cancelled it in time to stop the next months direct debit, which I hadn't been warned about. However, being at uni and receiving so many letters I failed to notice this and continued to pay the minimum every month myself by going into a branch.
I have now finished uni for the year and decided to organise all my bank statements etc and discovered this £38. So I rang to find out what it was all about. They explained that when there wasn't enough funds to pay the direct debit, I am charged this ridiculous amount of money. And apparently it is compulsory to have a direct debit set up in the first 6 months of your student credit card. So, why wasn't I told this, and 2; why was I able to cancel it after 2 months?

I have never experienced so much problems with anything else in my life. And I ' m not the only one, everyone I know who banks with Natwest wishes they never had.

I just cant wait to be earning enough money to pay everything off and never have to deal with them again.

Whats more is, with all the problems and incorrect information I have been given, I've probably spent more than £38 on phone calls because when you have a problem, you have to pay to sort it out!