F*****ing Natwest T****er Bank

[Digger]

Right then. So on Saturday Mr Digger is off for a nice holiday in Florida.

He thinks "I know, we should probably tell the bank that he's going away, so they don't do anything silly like stop his card."

How wrong could he be.

So he rings Natwest, and they tell him if he uses his card abroad it will be stopped. Even if he tells them almost to the nearest shop where he's going to be spending his money, and the exact dates when it will be happening.

Sorry, I forgot the first call where I spoke to a lovely person in Enfield, who can't tell me the extension to get back to speak to them, or their surname for security reasons. I'm told if I ring back that I probably won't even get through to Enfield.

So, I then ask why if I have told them in advance why my card would be stopped? They tell me there's a computer which stops things like that from happening, and they can't tell it not to stop my card. OK, so how about it stops my card and flags up to the fraud team, which is what happens anyway, and we leave a little message on their desks to say that it's ok, Digger's on holiday and that spending money in shops is quite normal. Part of the problem is that we only get to find out that it's stopped when I get to the checkout with a trolley full of products.

I'm also a little concerned about making an international call to tell them I'm on holiday, when I'm supposed to be relaxing. The cost if nothing else offends me.

What about if I am in the middle of nowhere in a dodgy area and I've had to pull over for petrol in the dark, and I can't leave until I've paid. I can't pay until Natwest calls me or I call them. How long does this take? 10 minutes apparently. Bollocks. Nothing with Natwest takes 10 minutes.

They tell me there's nothing they can do. They can't control their computer. They can't keep a customer happy.

Apparently no-one in all of Natwest can prevent my card getting stopped.

Amusingly, neither Lloyds TSB or Nationwide have had a problem doing this for us. They obviously want their customers to relax knowing that they can get on with their holiday, and yes, if strange activity pops up they should let us know. Buying 20 widescreen TVs, or a new car, give us a call. But not for buying a stick of gum in a petrol station.

I just don't want to end up johnny foreigner in a shop somewhere unable to spend any money.

The bank has no mechanism to prevent this from happening.

I really really want to leave the bank. Someone please show me how easy it will be to change my bank. I currently am in credit, have about 2 direct debits, and want to leave Natwest forever, and laugh at people who are stupid enough to put up with their Go-Dive level of customer service.

Wankers.

Digs.

[Depth-junkie]

been with natwest for over 20yrs, never had a problem.

The only time i could not use a card abroad was when i rang em as i could not find my card on holiday and thought i had lost it. They told me that there had been no usage on the card but advised it be stoped it as a precaution (which we did). i found it 2 days later at the back of the safe deposit box under the rubber mat

Oh well, had a new card waiting for me when i got back home.


ATB
Gareth

[Powelly125]

What bollox! They must be able to do something?? Don't all debit cards say in their little book can be used a 'x' hundred thousand cash machines etc worldwide!

I don't recall seeing this after it - If you ever dare travel outside the EU, try and use one of these cash machines, we will chew it up, stop the transaction and make your holiday hell! Whoop Whoop!

Must admit though, ive used my debitcard all over europe, even in the Dominican Republic and never had it blocked.

Btw i'm with RBS who are part of the same group!

Hope you get on ok when you're out there Digs!

Powelly

[Simon Lamb]

as far as I remember, if you go next door to Lloyds with your last 3 pay slips, a copy of your statements and an explanation of what t#ssers your current bank are, they should welcome you with flowers and a steak dinner.

Give it a go.

That said, my dad has the same problem EVERY TIME he visits me here, and he's with lloyds. We can guarentee he'll be on the phone to them on day 2 of the trip. Every trip.



S

[Digger]

Originally Posted by Powelly125

What bollox! They must be able to do something?? Don't all debit cards say in their little book can be used a 'x' hundred thousand cash machines etc worldwide!

I don't recall seeing this after it - If you ever dare travel outside the EU, try and use one of these cash machines, we will chew it up, stop the transaction and make your holiday hell! Whoop Whoop!

Must admit though, ive used my debitcard all over europe, even in the Dominican Republic and never had it blocked.

Btw i'm with RBS who are part of the same group!

Hope you get on ok when you're out there Digs!

Powelly

Ha ha ha ha ha. RBS are in the same group, they won't let you pay cash in over the counter at Natwest to an RBS account though. Why? Because they're wankers!

Oh, and just at the end of the call, after hours of fighting with them, they decide to tell me that it won't happen with my Credit Card. What? Oh, because it's a different company, and they are reasonable people. I give up. I hate having credit card debt, don't want to pay the interest and fees, but they won't let me use my debit card.

What cunts. Sorry for the language, but the business deserves to fail. And I'm going to do what I can to help that along.

I'm almost tempted to hand my card to a street kid over there and tell him to go enjoy himself, and if it slips the net he can spend for days. They told me it would be stopped, so no-one could fraudulently use my card. I thought my card was safe and mysteriously didn't bother answering the phone.

Digs.

[Powelly125]

Originally Posted by Digger

Ha ha ha ha ha. RBS are in the same group, they won't let you pay cash in over the counter at Natwest to an RBS account though. Why? Because they're wankers!

Oh, and just at the end of the call, after hours of fighting with them, they decide to tell me that it won't happen with my Credit Card. What? Oh, because it's a different company, and they are reasonable people. I give up. I hate having credit card debt, don't want to pay the interest and fees, but they won't let me use my debit card.

What cunts. Sorry for the language, but the business deserves to fail. And I'm going to do what I can to help that along.

I'm almost tempted to hand my card to a street kid over there and tell him to go enjoy himself, and if it slips the net he can spend for days. They told me it would be stopped, so no-one could fraudulently use my card. I thought my card was safe and mysteriously didn't bother answering the phone.

Digs.

lol, fortunately, I have never had any problems with RBS to date, have been the best bank I have been with. I thought HSBC n Lloyds where sh1te!

I'm sure if I was having problems like you are then I would be taking my balance to the next bank that wants to try and keep me happy....

I'm a nice easy customer though.... all my banking online, very seldom visit branches to pay cheques in and a nice healthy balance supplimented by a healthy salary paid in every month!

[gpj]

I use both Nationwide and Natwest (as a backup) current accounts while abroad, Nationwide don't charge fees for cash or purchases and you get a good exchange rate, Natwest charge every time you use it, and that can add up over 2 weeks away just to get to your money, weather its Euros, Dollars or Pounds, it's another ripoff!!!
rant over!

[Juz]

Mate, it must be something to do with the type of account you have as there was no problem with me using my card in Florida last year.

Juz

[JasonP]

Get yourself a Nationwide card. Not only do they have no problem with me using it anywhere in the world, they don't charge for cash withdrawals and they don't screw you for 2.75% on the exchange rate like most of the rest of the tossers.

Jason

[chas49]

Originally Posted by Digger

I hate having credit card debt, don't want to pay the interest and fees, but they won't let me use my debit card.

Why not use the credit card and pay it off in full at the next statement date - no interest. (Although you will suffer the foreign exchange charges and loading - but you'll get those on the debit card as well)

Originally Posted by gpj

Nationwide don't charge fees for cash or purchases and you get a good exchange rate

Probably not enough time to open a Flexaccount before you go though?

To be fair, presumably they weren't saying your account would be blocked as soon as you used it abroad? Were they??