Today I was trying to re-initiate my Natwest bank account before i move back to the UK. First off, boy am I glad I didn't close that account - it'd have been a nightmare to get a new one. I've been able to order a debit card and cheque book (yeah, with a "que") but not a paying-in book. The online banking wouldn't do it, and the guy on the phone told me I had to go to my branch to order one.
Anyone have any idea why they'd send all the info to get money out of my account, but none to put it in?
Banks nowadays are paranoid that everyone, including little Mrs. Miggins with her pie shop takings, is a terrorist-funder or laundering money for them so they've found the ultimate weapon to fight for freedom - simply piss off all your customers so they don't deposit any more naughty funds earmarked for Osama and friends.
Seriously, you'll probably get a few paying in slips in the cheque book they send you so all is not lost.
If you didn't close the account, don't you still have cheques, paying in books and debit/Visa cards from before? I still get all my stuff sent to me in USA from First Direct whenever they run out or expire. I leave most of the stuff in UK with my sister and just have her go to the bank if I can't do stuff over the Internet.
I had all my bank stuff sent to my sisters' house. All she ever got were statements about how empty it was, and how they were changing the account. She says she has never recieved a card or cheque book of any kind, and mine expired in 2003. The dude on the phone said my balance was zero, and that he'd send new everything to her address except the paying in book. I just don't get the sanctity of the paying in book.
There might be a few Natwest banks in NYC. Send all your cash to me (used bills) and I'll pay it in wink
If you were with First Direct - you can send cheques in the post with your account number and they fill out a paying in slip....i thought paying books had gone the way of the dinosaur.
Changing countries is a drag. I'm doing battle with Verizon at the moment - who want proof that I'm leaving the country before they'll waive my early contract termination fee...a one-way air ticket is not acceptable - go figure
So over the next few months I'll be talking to lots of call centre dudes and jumping through all those silly hoops . Then when we go back to the UK it will start all over again.
Bungle - why not just switch banks and get whatever bonus is on offer for defecting?
I don't recall having to do this in person when I switched to First Direct in the early 90's. That was prompted by Halifax Building Society really pissing me off over a direct debit. I think I got about £20 or something for switching.
Halifax probably had the last laugh as they went public not too long after and I got no shares, whereas the rest of my family did. Still I made out when Norwich Union did the same as my pension and mortgage were through them.
We too have sent cheques via the mail to our UK bank and just enclosed a letter with the details of our account (which we did also put on the back of the check) and asking them to deposit the cheques. That has never been a problem.
Cappelirossi, I bet if you refused to pay your bill with Verizon, and made sure you called up and they recorded your conversation and put a note on your account telling them why, they would get their finger out wink
Cappelirossi, I bet if you refused to pay your bill with Verizon, and made sure you called up and they recorded your conversation and put a note on your account telling them why, they would get their finger out :wink:
What odds can I get that they'd just put it in collection, as most companies do if you don't play by their made-up rules?
Cappelirossi, I bet if you refused to pay your bill with Verizon, and made sure you called up and they recorded your conversation and put a note on your account telling them why, they would get their finger out :wink:
What odds can I get that they'd just put it in collection, as most companies do if you don't play by their made-up rules?
The saga continues - the fax number they gave me to send proof is always too busy. I know this will end in tears... :cry:
Cappelirossi, I bet if you refused to pay your bill with Verizon, and made sure you called up and they recorded your conversation and put a note on your account telling them why, they would get their finger out :wink:
What odds can I get that they'd just put it in collection, as most companies do if you don't play by their made-up rules?
You'd have to call Fox5 to get it sorted then ;)
Bungle - why not just switch banks and get whatever bonus is on offer for defecting?
I was seriously considering that after some of the treatment from Natwest whilst I had gone back to college. I remember once recieving a letter from them informing they were closing my account due to problems with my credit. There were two main reasons why this made no sense - I had no credit card at all at the time, and included in the letter was a cheque including my balance which was several thousand pounds. When I wnet into my local branch no-one could tell me why the action was being taken. Even when I pointed out that closing the account of someone with plenty of money who rarely had been overdrawn was madness, they just blinked at me and said there was nothing they could do. Eventually the bank manager told me it was "a glitch." My account was inoperable for about a week. Unfortunately when I tried to open one somewhere else it kept showing up as a real problem and I was forced to remain with Natwest. Cheers Natwest, you screw up and I get tarred.
Not to hijack your thread, but the fun and games I go through each time I'm paid for my image usage in Europe/UK is a headache....
Andrew
Not to hijack your thread, but the fun and games I go through each time I'm paid for my image usage in Europe/UK is a headache....
Andrew
Why? What happens?
I had all my bank stuff sent to my sisters' house. All she ever got were statements about how empty it was, and how they were changing the account. She says she has never recieved a card or cheque book of any kind, and mine expired in 2003. The dude on the phone said my balance was zero, and that he'd send new everything to her address except the paying in book. I just don't get the sanctity of the paying in book.
It's probably too late now but if your currnet bank has a subsidiary in the UK or similar - this avoids some of the red tape.
I opened a HSBC acct in the US while still in the UK. Perhaps you can do the same with your bank from the US.
Not to hijack your thread, but the fun and games I go through each time I'm paid for my image usage in Europe/UK is a headache....
Andrew
Why? What happens?
It's the US Banks love of more information is supposed to be a good thing, and inevitably a digit or some other routing number is missed when folks in the UK fill out the wire transfer form....
I'm trying to figure out an easier way to get the monies across. For the last two weeks nearly $2K has been flying back and forth between Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual because something was missing on the form...
:)
It's probably too late now but if your currnet bank has a subsidiary in the UK or similar - this avoids some of the red tape. I opened a HSBC acct in the US while still in the UK. Perhaps you can do the same with your bank from the US.
Funny you should mention that - my bank-dude sent my stuff in for that today. Much nicer than trying it at the other end - especially as my wife will have an equivalent account too. Marvelous.
Natwest can stuff it.