Questions Of Cash

Q Last year NatWest suggested it would be more convenient if my bank account was moved nearer my home. A social security payment which should have been credited to me in November was not processed because NatWest was "unable to locate" my new account and returned the payment. NatWest then found the account and credited the sum. After the DSS submitted the payment twice more, one payment was credited to my account. The DSS is demanding repayment of £352.20, but I was not aware of it and I've spent the money. JS, Bristol.

NatWest agrees the problem arose because of its mistake. After our representations for you it has agreed to write off all the money.

Q You wrote of the lack of trust between investment managers and their clients ("The greatest loss in the split capital scandal is trust", 28 June). In 1997, I invested £25,000 each in a Prudential and an Allied Dunbar bond: the first is now worth £35,000, the second £21,000. Allied Dunbar told me it "cannot control the value of my plan". I cannot imagine a more extraordinary statement. ID, London.

Allied Dunbar accepts its correspondence to you did not address your complaint. It says its bond is unit-linked and these have been worse-affected by stock market falls than have with-profits bonds such as Prudential's which may be subject to market value adjustment.

It also says you chose a high-risk investment with 100 per cent in equities, a quarter of those in the East Asia markets.