27/03/06 5.30pm I telephoned Natwest (number as previous posting) and mentioned my upset at the condition of the packaging used to send me my statements. I was transferred to customer services, and expressed my upset again. The envelope was obviously designed to hold a large number of A4 documents and their statements are half the size. No tape had been applied to securely hold the items in place. Movement of the statements had caused the envelope to tear as it had been thown about in transit. They had not been packaged to travel the journey in my opinion. I pointed out that if Royal Mail had torn the envelope they would have put a sticker on the package stating the fact that the package had been torn whilst in their posession as I'm sure they do. Therefore it must have happened at their end because "it wasn't me!" Chris Johnson would not accept responsibility for Natwest's incompetency in their abilities for secure mailing. I told him I'd only received statments from October 2002 and it appeared to me that the statements from March 2000 to October 2002 could be anywhere between Poulton-le-Fylde (my branch) and Kingston-upon-Thames, which I considered a big security issue. Chris seemed to think the missing statments may not have been sent in the package at all and would look into that matter and call me back within 48 hours. He mentioned that at around October 2002 Natwest were undergoing a transition period which he called "integration" and would probably have had to order the statements in 2 lots. I think he assumed I was ignorant and was trying to baffle me with science. If any of you out there spot my missing statements please let me know. He also gave me his number 0845 6000675 which I believe to be customer services. If I receive no response by 5.30pm 29/03/06 I shall call back.

Just been informed keeping my cash in a shoebox under the bed would have been more secure. I couldn't agree more.

Today I received bank statements in the post in a torn brown envelope (obviously unfit for the expected secure transportation of such documents) held together with an elastic band. Apart from become irate and jumping up and down on my bank manager's head, what, if anything does this forum suggest I do about it?

23/03/2006 £5 taken from my bank account. Looking forward to receiving my post. 27/03/06 Received statements in a torn envelope held together with an elastic band. So much for security. Will contact the bank shortly on this matter but unsure yet of what to say. Will post a question in the general forum on this matter. 27/03/06 5.30pm I telephoned Natwest (number as previous posting) and mentioned my upset at the condition of the packaging used to send me my statements. I was transferred to customer services, and expressed my upset again. The envelope was obviously designed to hold a large number of A4 documents and their statements are half the size. No tape had been applied to securely hold the items in place. Movement of the statements had caused the envelope to tear as it had been thown about in transit. They had not been packaged to travel the journey in my opinion. I pointed out that if Royal Mail had torn the envelope they would have put a sticker on the package stating the fact that the package had been torn whilst in their posession as I'm sure they do. Therefore it must have happened at their end because "it wasn't me!" Chris Johnson would not accept responsibility for Natwest's incompetency in their abilities for secure mailing. I told him I'd only received statments from October 2002 and it appeared to me that the statements from March 2000 to October 2002 could be anywhere between Poulton-le-Fylde (my branch) and Kingston-upon-Thames, which I considered a big security issue. Chris seemed to think the missing statments may not have been sent in the package at all and would look into that matter and call me back within 48 hours. He mentioned that at around October 2002 Natwest were undergoing a transition period which he called "integration" and would probably have had to order the statements in 2 lots. I think he assumed I was ignorant and was trying to baffle me with science. If any of you out there spot my missing statements please let me know. He also gave me his number 0845 6000675 which I believe to be customer services. If I receive no response by 5.30pm 29/03/06 I shall call back.

Day one - yesterday. I telephoned John at the Natwest call centre 0845 7888444. gave my account and sort code details, swam through passport control, and requested a list of my account transaction over the last six years. I was told no problem but there would be a charge of £5. I said fine and was told they would be with me within 6-10 working days. That will be 5 April 2006. Updates to follow.

Hello, my first post. I am the flat-mate. I believe you may require a couple of paragraphs for your FAQ's. I'm part-qualified as ACCA and have more years experience in accounting than I care to consider, but here goes. Everything has generally all been mentioned but to summarise: "If you have claimed as deductible expenses against self-employed income any bank charges which are subsequently refunded, those refunds must be declared on the tax return pertaining to the period in which the refund was made. This can be done by reducing the bank charges paid in the same period of the refund. If this results in a negative figure it can be entered as a negative cost or as other trading income received. This will have the unfortunate effect of increasing your taxable profits (or decreasing your trading losses); and although you may not wish to do this, you are in fact required to do so by law. If HM Revenue and Customs were to discover an omission of such a declaration, they will re-assess your tax liability and may impose fines, penalties and / or interest. Note that any receipts from the bank in excess of that which you had claimed as a tax deductible expense will be treated separately as a personal receipt. How this excess is treated will depend on your personal tax situation. It would be my recommendation that you seek the professional advice of a qualified accountant if you are in receipt of such refunds and are in any way unsure of how to treat them on your tax return." Good luck to you all.