“Ref: R-ART1853259982
I've had a personal bank account with natwest for over 12 years then 4 years ago switch my business account to make things easier.
OMG WORST MISTAKE.......NOW DUE TO COVID I have been informed that Mr Craig Piper and his so called account review have a covert and strategic way of slowly putting black business owners out of business by profiling them and disabling them by removing business accounts from the app.
They asked me for information thats is very far fetch within the time constraints then remove access to my own hard earned money. Leaving me unable to pay staff, creditors and make 2020 the worse year yet RUINING Christmas whilst they are on leave.
I regret leaving Barclays.
Please I implore you guys switch to a different bank.
I spoke to mine and other accountants who has never heard of this in their in 25 year history.
They lost over 1 billion due to fraud in covid but why attach legitimate business owners.”
“Stay away from them!!!
On December 9th I have received a letter saying that my account was closed. On that day I already did not have access to my online banking to make transfer arrangements for the money that is still sitting there. In other words I do not have access to my money!
I have called the team over the phone and went to a branch to get some help. On the phone they HANG UP ON ME! And in the branch all they say is for me to fill out a form to get my money transferred within 60 WORKING DAYS, which is by far not acceptable at all!
Since my account with Natwest is my main bank account, this is the only money I have, and Natwest REFUSES to release my money, which is a criminal delict.
But not only that: We are in the middle of a pandemic and Natwest forced me to go to their branch, putting me and an elderly person I live with, and who is having a condition, in risk.
Further, the elderly person I live with is my landlord. I will now not be able to pay my rest for the next 3 months, and the landlord will cancel my contract, accordingly.
Not to mention that it`s 10 days before ChrIstmas!
However, my case is by far not the only one. On Facebook and Trustpilot you can read about many Natwest customers whose account was closed WITHOUT ANY WARNING – HOLDING THEIR MONEY.
I will need to inform the government about this incident. Further, I will have to take court action against you and contact the Daily Mail as well as BBC and Money Box. I will make this case public in any way possible!”
“Absolutely useless bank.
Applied for a mortgage with perfect credit score, paid all my bills on time, paying rent for 10 years without missed payments, my house deposit was ready as well and got refused due to claiming covid 19 grant.”
“FRAUDULENT BANK! STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!
Awful service/ staff hang up on you and talk over you constantly, not considerate of your situation that you can not access you own money!
I tried to transfer money from my account, all of a sudden I was logged out of the app and the fraud team call me to confirm the transaction. I confirmed all was fine and it was myself, I then got told another team would call me back in 12/24 hrs.
After 48 hours of waiting with no call back, I decided to call the same number that called me, (the fraud team) so I could speak to someone and find out what was going on, I had to call back numerous times and being on hold for over 1hr & 10 mis the first time, then got hung up on and then called back and waiting 48 mins to get shouted at by some mouthy little girl who couldn’t even spell. I was told I would have to wait 24/ 48 hrs for a different team to call me.
Lucky I have a credit card.... NOT WITH NATWEST, but would have been left with no money to feed my little girl and pay my bills etc. MASSIVE INCONVENIENCE & VERY CRUEL OF THEM.
Here it is x3 days later and they have decided to text me advising that my account will be closing and that they no longer want to provide me with banking services.
Like what the hell?!
I was advised by Warren in their fraud team I could go into branch with my I.D. to withdraw my money from both my business and personal accounts, which I attempted today, a Saturday only to arrive at branch and branch advised me that they need authorisation to release my money... IT IS MY MONEY!!!
Apparently I have to go back on Monday as they didn’t have cashier desks open on a weekend... that is not my problem. What an absolute shambles of a bank, I really do not know what they are playing at and DO NOT recommend them to anyone, I will also be convincing my family members and friends to change banks to anything other than NatWest.
UPDATE....
Popped into branch today with my I.D. as advised on the Saturday to withdraw my money from my accounts due to NatWest closing them for no valid reason what so ever.
Rachael, branch manager in Bristol was very helpful and called the fraud team while I was there to try and rectify this and get me my money but unfortunately the fraud team advised me that regardless o previously being advised I could go into branch to withdraw my money with my I.D., that they wouldn’t release my money from my account for me and was told that I have to fill out a form to request a withdraw to another account and this could take up to 60 DAYS??!!
Absolutely ridiculous, they are thieving swines and messing me around, the fraud team are rude and not clear with what needs to happen to get my money back. They go back on their word, advising you to do one thing then changing their minds when it suits for what? To annoy customers and antagonise them. Still do not have any reason as to why my account has been closed either.
I am appalled at the way I have been treated and stand by my comment that I DO NOT recommend NatWest to anyone ever due to their complete disregard for customers and resolving situations. It’s almost as though they know they have power as a bank and like to bully and abuse people during a pandemic this has been dreadful to say the least.
I look forward to the day NatWest go through the hoop and cease to exist.”
“What a joke of a bank. Don't become a victim of fraud with these clowns. Their investigation consists of ensuring they don't have to recover your lost money, don't follow up with the police and see where to money went and info you, it's gone. That's it. As for after care, they tell you, that you'll receive a new card and details in the mail in 3-5 working days. Nearly 3 weeks later, nothing. I can't access my account. Pay anyone. Can't contact the bank by phone because my details no longer work. You get the run around on their website. Avoid this bank at all costs.”
“Switched from YBS 12 days ago - still cannot access on line or through the app. Reregistered a dozen times to generate an activation code to gain access. No code texts received other than ‘thank you for reregistering’ and ‘your account is up and running’ and ‘everything has been transferred across! Fine if I could access it but despite over 5 hours of on line chat and phone calls, I cannot find anyone with the authority to take responsibility and put it right. I wish I had done some research beforehand. Needless to say I shall close it assuming I can eventually get into it. Hopeless!”
“I have been a NatWest customer since about 1970 (although I keep the bulk of my savings with another bank). I have just tried to open a new account but was refused, as I do not have a mobile phone. I think it is pathetic and shows just how inflexible NatWest is. They forget that it is the taxpayer who owns them, since they were bailed out by the Government some years ago!”
“Closed my current bank account with no reason! Avoid NatWest at all costs! The worst bank, terrible. I hold other bank accounts with other various UK banks, I have never experienced this.
received a letter as my bank account is closed, contacted them and they are unable to explain or to tell me any specific reason as to why the account is closed! All they say it's 'according to our terms and conditions section s 12.2'' DISGRACEFUL!! waste of time, never again with NatWest”
“Closed my account without any notice kept my money !! no explanation !! still waiting next steps !! awful awful bank !!!! stay away run away call a cab !!! anything but go near nat pest !!!”
“I have made a customer call on 21 October 2020 at 18:53 and the agent named Robert has answered the call. He started to ask inappropriate queries. I found he seemed very rude and Natwest bank didn't train their customer agents such Robert how to offer a good customer service. I lodge a complaint however I feel this bank has failed to provide better service as other banks offer in the UK.”
“Over 12 months trying to change signatories on a Business Account. Deadlines not kept, further mandate instructions not actioned and the latest development is they want new mandate forms filled in as they can’t find those submitted 12 months ago using their online portal!
Local Branch very apologetic and have done all they can to try to resolve the issue, but their central complaints team just have no sense of urgency in resolving the issues.”
“My son’s student account with National Westminster was blocked in 19 November of 2019 without any valid reason given.
We were told by The Financial Ombudsman that it is in within NatWest guidelines ‘(Terms and conditions) to do so.
My son received this text message saying-
IMPORTANT
Following a review of your banking arrangements, we have made the decision that we can no longer offer you banking facilities. Accounts have been blocked & a letter sent to advise this decision & next steps. This decision is in line with the T&Cs of your account & we are unable to discuss the rationale for this.
There was no letter sent regarding the closure of his account.. He couldn’t log into his account nor use his bank card immediately after receiving that message. He had no money for food or any other means for me to get money to him. He was distraught, shocked stressed, disappointed, emotional distressed and defrauded. He could not sleep because of a level of worry. He was an emotional wrecked student.
His Natwest account was opened in 2001 as a savings account. In 2019 he requested for NatWest to turn it into a student account which they did.
In December 2019 National Westminster sent him a threatening letter regarding the £500 overdraft they gave him at the start. Now! where must he get that money from so soon knowing he was living off his overdraft away from home. His dad sent him £160 and they took it which left him without. This overdraft was to be paid back at the end of the 3 years by the agreement of the bank. The outstanding balance is around £140. This overdraft was not a loan so they should have set up payment plan with him.
By January they sent his name to debt collectors {Moorcroft}
By February there was a default on his credit file
NatWest is the worse and disgusting bank ever. Please do your research on this bank before you decide to open an account with them.
My son had been a victim of Kafkaesque”
“I've only given them one star because I can't give zero. They sent over £2000 ponds of my money to the wrong account, and have done nothing to attempt to get it back apart from blaming the other bank. I've proved that it's not the other banks fault at least once but there's still no attempt to address the issue-although I have found out through an online article that they have 'beefed up' their security systems so it can't happen to other people while simultaneously denying they did anything wrong!!”
“I have been waiting 3h+ and counting on their customer waiting line for fraud prevention (they blocked a payment I made without informing me and now i have to wait forever to tell them its ok to pay)
Their customer service is absolutely pathetic
I was transfered twice to different departments even though I clearly explained what the problem is.
I have been on the phone for 3h + to speak to someone and waiting.
Really pissing me off now”
“Their website and apps are not fit for purpose. Links don't work, emails don't arrive, text messages don't have links that work with certain browsers. Do yourself a favour and steer well clear. They don't provide a business relationship manager unless your turnover is £2 million so there's noone to help with anything.”
“After banking with NatWest for over 5 years, I've recently had my account closed down overnight without doing anything wrong or given any explanation, only that they consider that i have broken their terms and conditions which i haven't. All my funds have been withheld and are being withheld by the bank for up to 60 days. After carefully reading the bank's terms and conditions, i am 110% sure i have not broken any, definitely NOT committed any fraud (reason why bank can withhold funds for up to 60 days). After being told that my account was closed by going in branch and speaking with the account closure team a couple of times. I find out today that my account is still active and receives funds although i have no access to it or to any funds on it. I've asked for my bank statements up until the account closure so i know the exact amount i'm supposed to get back as all my salary and any kind of funds are stuck there, today after speaking with the Account closure team, i find out that i only have around 600£ out of 3183£ but why i ask, the answer being that its maybe related to the to the personal loan i have taken out and the credit card money i owe , mentioning that i have paid money in my credit card account and last time i've spoken to the closure team i have been instructed to arrange a standing order just a few days before the normal paying date on my new bank account(with another bank) to pay back the money i owe in instalments as i did until now. The bank has taken the liberty of paying off the loan and credit card apparently out of my funds without my consent and without me knowing. I cant believe this has happened and i don't see how this can be legal, it is my money and the decision to close down my account was not mine and i have not done anything wrong. I dont understand how an institution so big can commit such acts and take money from me without my consent. For anyone reading, please do not open an account with this SHADY BANK!!!!”
“I have a reward account which I use via the app and online banking. They are absolutely useless and I'm so stressed and embarrased because of them. Trying to make a reasonably large payment is just a nightmare. Their security system is not fit for purpose. It is almost impossible to make payments. I have been trying to pay an invoice for 3 days now. Currently on phone to them for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Changing banks asap will never ever use these jokers again.”
“NatWest Bank - Disgrace, shame on you, excuse for a bank. Taking my business elsewhere !
Treating new potential customers like rubbish ! My account application was denied.
I submitted ALL required documents, including id, proof of address, bank statement from another UK bank. My application went through and yesterday I even got a confirmation that my account is approved and card is on its way. Today however I got another follow emailsaying my application was declined giving no reasons but general quote of credit check. I didn't apply for a credit account or credit card but a debit account and debit card, so I don't see how any of that has an impact on opening an account.”
