Upgrading Bank Account with Natwest

[rayb]

Hi,

I have been banking with Natwest for the last 4 years and have a basic account with a Solo Debit Card. When I popped in to my Bank the other day they said I am due for a review, which I said no thanks to for the moment. Has anyone on here got an account with them and been successful in just upgrading to a normal Visa debit card whilst in an IVA??

Your thoughts would be appreciated as always

[facefacts]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. I have a Step account with a Solo card and it would be very helpful to have a normal Visa Debit Card as Solo is still not accepted in many places. Can't even order cheap advance train tickets on line! I have got a pre-paid credit card now with FairFX which has no charges if used sensibly, but it would be far more convenient to have a Visa Debit Card off my bank account and not have to think about transferring funds over to the pre-paid option every time the Solo card is a no-go area.

[Sarah]

Hi Guys

I ave tried to do this but the problem with Natwest is that when they upgrade you they do a check on you. And if you are in an IVA it comes up on their system that you are bankrupt so do not allow you to have the account. They may be able to give it to you if you prove that you are in an IVA and not Bankrupt but i wasnt that fussed about upgrading so i didnt persist.

I hope this helps

xx

[rayb]

Hi Sarah, thanks for this. I think I will arrange the review as I will tell them I have an IVA and go from there, you never know. After all they can see I am a good payer, my salary goes in there and this is the account that my IVA payment comes out of anyway [:D] as well as other bills

[markss]

Have you tried the yorkshire bank easycash acount? you get a meastro card which is like any other debit card I have an account and it has usual DD / SO ETC Howard

[molly16]

Hi , I opened my account with natwest when we started iva . i just have a basic account with theior cashcard . however i use it in shops to pay for stuuf or over the internet , and apart from the fact it is not a debit crad , can use it like one . its just their cashcard with the solo/maestro on !

[Kool_73]

Hi i also have a basic natwest step account with a solo debit card, whenever ive gone to the counter they have always asked me to upgrade because obviously they can see my salary going in each month but i have politely said no im happy with the basic account. With regards to the solo debit card i havent had any problems using it anywhere so i am happy.

[sc077yc]

Hi Guys!

Noticed this thread is around 10 months old however bank accounts do last a while of course so this may still be helpful!

Natwest have recently ditched the whole solo/switch card thing and gone down the Visa road!

I have a solo (or had should i say) up until a couple days ago as my new Visa Debit arrived from them (not electron! an actual embossed Debit card)

Heres what happened. I was in a trust deed (scottish version of an IVA) up until last year so they would never upgrade my account as im currently repairing my credit! I didn't really care about having an overdraft or cheque book, i just wanted a debit card with more flexibility as i use if for everything!
I also had a basic account with RBS which i hadnt used for 2 years. A new RBS Visa Debit came through my letterbox 2 weeks ago! It got me thinking - "where was the credit check for this?" turns out there isn't one! As RBS and Natwest are the same company i thought i'd make a phone call to Natwest - "I've snapped my card! I need a new one" 4 days later a new Visa Debit card arrives!! You dont even need to ask for Visa as they have discontinued the Maestro/solo this is what you will automatically get.

I've read through everything and had words with an advisor and heres the deal - You stay on your basic step account (the old solo one) but they give you a Visa Debit with it now and the upgrade to it is a Visa Debit servicecard 100, which is the one with the overdraft and so on. As i never did need the over draft or chequebook and olny wanted a better debit card I now have it! So the visa servicecard 100 is basically the equivalent to the natwest current account which normally gave you the maestro, which is what we've all tried to upgrade to by the sounds of it.

It IS NOT an Electron. The Switch (now Maestro) is the upgrade to solo and the Visa Debit is the Upgrade to Electron so god knows whats going on in the Visa world as I expected an Electron when I heard that RBS we're upgrading (recieved a letter one day even though i never use the account) as this is whats normally used for basic accounts by visa using banks.

So give this a go but make sure you say that you have snapped your card through the centre and can still use it! if you say you lost it they will cancel it and you will need to wait a few days before you can access your cash!

[Shining]

Hi sc077yc, welcome to the forum, I'm with the Natwest they offered me a review last week, I refused by saying I was happy with the level of service I was receiving at present and that was accepted.

My card expires next year so I think I'll wait and see what happens when they renew it, I'm always wary they're going to look too deep and close my account as I can honestly say I enjoy being with the Natwest.

[Pennyless]

sc077yc....thanks for your post. Useful info for some i would suspect.

[kabby3]

Good post!!

[kallis3]

I just have a cashcard. Ho hum!