Co-opertative Student Banck Account setup experience.
Applied for a student account online with lo-op.
Got accepted and received UnWelcome Pack in the post..
UnWelcome pack informs me to telephone customer service to register for telephone banking.
But i don't want telephone banking..just want internet banking. But no, have to register for telephone banking first before even thinking about registering for online banking. Have to call a 0845 number, which is outside of my landline/mobile inclusive call allowance package.
Expect to waste half a lifetime being ping-ponged between Lo-op Pillar and Post departments in trying to setup student bank account. (see Laurel & Hardy - Furniture Payment at youtube)
If you manage to get through to someone at lo-op customer service, who can cope with setting-up your new student bank account; without first thinking is it in their job description/capability to assist you..expect your student account application form to be cloaked in total secrecy until you repeat the memorable word you gave on your application form.
Should you fail to give the correct memorable word to lo-op after three desperate attempts at it; whether through forgetfulness, oversight, it being a new experience for you, not having it tattooed/carved onto your body to remind yourself of it, or not having realised the insignificance of it on your online application form but utmost SIGNIFICANCE thereafter & forevermore,....don't expect any sympathy from them.
Instead expect the Spainish Inquistion over the phone followed by a journey across counties to reach one of their branches with passport/proof of address/signed avadavit in tow to prove your identity in person. They can't verify you over the phone from any of the information you gave them on your online student account application form (as it won't be on their system despite having been completed on their website): details such as your date of birth, uni, uni course, years at home address, email address, any existing bank, or income details. None of this information would appear in their unWelcome Pack sent to you, even if it had been misdelivered into the wrong hands But they cannot ask for any of this personal information to prove your identity to them, as an alternative to to forgetting your memorable word. Remembering you memorable word during the call to them (forth attempt at it) is no good either. You may as well just end life with lo-op here and now.
All this hassle to setup you student bank account and there isn't even half a penny in the account, and nor will there be now.
My advice is to avoid opening an account with these clowns, as they wasted too much of my time and effort being unhelpful towards getting my account up and running. They clearly didn't want this student's business now or in the future.
I now have spend more time and effort cancelling/closing the stillborn lo-op account, before opening a student bank account with another bank that wants my business and makes an attempt at decent customer service.
Yes, online bank security is good and i want it, but i never reached the goal to set-up internet banking with these ming-mongs. They just put impenetrable barriers in the way, to prevent account setup from happening. A simple setup process, which other banks manage to achieve WITHOUT human intervention, became is a day's mission at lo-op.
I also wasted three phone calls to them, totally one hour. Calling their 0845 number cost me £6.74 for an 60 minutes of frustration. The overdraft is not automatic in year 2 or 3...still have to request it over the phone/in person. Have to pay in £300 before they will consider sending you a debit card, give you the 1st years overdraft.
Tesco Direct £10 off £75
Free Pimm's & lemonade
3x Clematis plants £7.50
Frustrated with Lloyds TSB
I'm more concerned than worked up. She needs the Co-operative overdraft and didn't want to give them a reason to withdraw/limit it. As a new student it is not easy to know which things need action and which things to chill out about. That's why we come to these forums......
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