Refused Basic Bank Account

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Hi

My dearly beloved just tried to open a basic account with Nationwide. He provided his passport, birth certificate, tenancy agreement and even the Post Office Card Account Statement, in the Nationwide branch. They said everything was fine and he would get the details back so he could transfer over his benefit within a couple of weeks.

He got a letter back from their central applications department saying that, as he had not entered his phone number, they were declining the application and had destroyed the paperwork.

He doesn't have a phone because he's 42 and going deaf. He was in a quiet area in the branch and he was lipreading, so he was fine, but there's no point in trying to have a conversation with him over the phone (to be honest, some days there's no point trying to have a conversation with him FULLSTOP).

He has no previous credit problems (hasn't had a bank account to get problems) and can't believe that he is barred from a bank account because he can't hear them, he doesn't use typetalk as he communicates perfectly adequately through writing letters usually. Surely this also means there is now a credit file entry saying he's been declined for this account?

Can they do this? Is this not disability discrimination? My bank has said they'd quite happily add him onto my account, but I don't want a joint account with anyone - not even the Pope could convince me that a joint account is a good idea.

jonesMUFCforever

They would not decline an account for the simple reason of not putting a telephone numvber down.
There must be another reason - has he ever had any financial difficulties?

Lokolo

Is there anyway you can go in with him back into a branch to help him?

That way is any problems arise they can be sorted there and then.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

No, he's not had a bank account and the letter clearly states it's because he hasn't put down the phone number. He's going deaf, not illiterate. I am intending to go in with him and tell them what I think, but I posted because I would prefer to be well prepared and informed. After all, even their website makes a huge fuss about how they prepared to deal in branches with the deaf and hard of hearing.

Cat695

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

No, he's not had a bank account and the letter clearly states it's because he hasn't put down the phone number. He's going deaf, not illiterate. I am intending to go in with him and tell them what I think, but I posted because I would prefer to be well prepared and informed. After all, even their website makes a huge fuss about how they prepared to deal in branches with the deaf and hard of hearing.

Erm do they know he is deaf? And i still haven't seen where they have said that because he is deaf he can't have the account!

i think your just jumping to conclusions

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

The form was filled in at the branch with the assistance of the girl working there. He told her that there wasn't a telephone number. I would imagine that she noticed the sheer volume he tends to speak at, particularly as he would have been watching her speak. He provided the ID documents required at the branch. The letter says it was declined because he didn't provide a contact telephone number. The fact that he is going deaf is the reason he doesn't have a contact telephone number. To me, it's like saying someone in a wheelchair hasn't actually been told they can't come in, but there's five flights of stairs to get in the door. It's called the social model of disability.

Please, how can I be jumping to conclusions when that is the reason they have given in the letter - it's not as if he was applying for a telephone banking account!

Cat695

so you don't have a telephone at home?

i get told i can't have many things (bank accounts loans jesus even having post sent to me)because i haven't lived in this country all my life/ or i have moved to many times/i have no permanant address.....yet i'm in the British Army and its because of that, that i haven't lived in this country (i am brit/english)
So believe me unless they have actually said he cannot have a account because he is deaf you haven't got a leg to stand on (no pun intended)

Kavanne

Natwest won't demand a phone number

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Thank you Kavanne - that's something constructive. No, Cat695, he does not have a telephone because he cannot hear properly. I have a telephone, but we do not live together.

hethmar

That sounds very odd to me. I take it you have rung and asked why - it seems a ridiculous reason not to allow him to open an account. And its a bit weird to tell you they had destroyed the paperwork. Something doesnt add up here. If necessary get him to go to the CAB and ask them to ring for him.

gairlochgal

I think the disability discrimination act is a very interesting angle to explore. There's a helpline run by what used to be called the Disability Rights Commission - can't remember what they're called now they've merged into broader human rights commission but a bit of googling would get you there. Might be worth running it by them to see if they can give you a line to use in your stinky letter of complaint.

HTH