I nearly lost my new home because of a NatWest banking error

I transferred money to my current account for exchange of contracts, but the bank refused access to the funds

Two weeks before completing on my new home, I notified my bank, NatWest, that funds would be transferred via my current account to my solicitor. It assured me there would be no problem and sent a congratulatory bottle of alcohol.

I duly transferred £260,000, whereupon NatWest refused access to my funds. First, it instructed me to use a public fax bureau to transmit sensitive details, then that I had to resubmit my biometrics in a branch.