Refused Basic Bank Account

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I'm intending to go in there tomorrow when it's open, but it feels quite insulting that he has to get me to sort it out with him - he's a fully grown, lovely man who now feels a bit stupid (in his own words) because he couldn't manage to open a basic bank account without my help.

By the way, my finances are perfectly fine, thanks - I have bank accounts, credit cards with zero balances, telephone, etc, etc - and I come to this site because I wish to keep my family in the position of relative comfort we are in now. I am not by any stretch of the imagination rich (far from it) but it just seems so unfair to him that such a stupid reason could be used to decline his application and he is put in the position of having to rely on me.

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

logie28

i would think its more of a case of " computer says no!!!!!!!!"


did the form have an Astrix for essential info,,, on the phone number section??

It could be as straight forward as this.

A lot of banks nowadays insist on a contact number in case of fraud and the like..

would it be able to provide a phone number of a family member , who the bank can contact on behalf of your husband??

If they are not willing to accept his application, go to another bank and explain the full circumstances ,

Also worth checking with the bank if this refusal could harm his future credit scores!!

Paparika

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

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!

Because in this day and age we are not supposed to jump to conclusions until we are told, maybe the girl didn't write on the form the reason for not having a phone. sometimes you have to ask them to write this down. If she had assumed and got it wrong then there would be a major reason to complain me thinks

debtmuncher

is it not possible that hte lady didnt finish off the form properly? on some forms it states that if you dont have a phone no enter "o" or whatever the form requests so because she didnt finish off the box that could be why they have stopped processing the form.

if its absolutely necessary for a no just bung the number down but it doesnt mean he has to answer the phone

debtmuncher

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I'm intending to go in there tomorrow when it's open, but it feels quite insulting that he has to get me to sort it out with him - he's a fully grown, lovely man who now feels a bit stupid (in his own words) because he couldn't manage to open a basic bank account without my help.

By the way, my finances are perfectly fine, thanks - I have bank accounts, credit cards with zero balances, telephone, etc, etc - and I come to this site because I wish to keep my family in the position of relative comfort we are in now. I am not by any stretch of the imagination rich (far from it) but it just seems so unfair to him that such a stupid reason could be used to decline his application and he is put in the position of having to rely on me.

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

its probable that they wont even speak to you as you arent the account holder. i cant see why he cant go in himself and sort it out:rolleyes: you will be surprised how sympathetic the lady assistants can be going from my mans experiences! (who is actually profoundly deaf himself).

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

His confidence has taken a knock from this and he's asked me to help him. He is now convinced that he's stupid, that they don't want him and he's going to be made a fool of in the branch. He hasn't quite come to terms with the fact that he's losing his hearing yet, and this is something that seems to be bringing it home to him. Of course I'll help, and I'm going with him to do this, but I don't see why they should put him through all of this just because it hasn't occurred to them that not everyone has a telephone.

[And - breathe - ]

I now want to return to my usual guise of mild mannered janitor.

debtmuncher

thats good...i am sure you will both get it sorted out no bother at all. hubby opened up abbeys last sat and that was dead easy so maybe he would prefer to forget about that one nad go somewhere else?

rangermcfadden

One workaround is to set up a free phone number with Sipgate then simply don't turn on the answerphone. Then express your strong preference for written correspondence.

jscalow

I work for Lloyds Tsb and given the information provided I would have no qualms in offering your husband an account, I would only offer a basic account if there was any adverse credit burea data on his credit file. The phone number wouldn't be a problem as long as I was told that due to hearing dificulty doesn't require one.

sdooley

Cat695 wrote: »

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)

If they said he can't have an account because he was deaf that would be direct discrimination. If they said he can't have an account because he doesn't have a telephone, knowing he is hard of hearing, that would be indirect discrimination. Both are prohibited under the disability discrimination act (unfortunately Cat discrimination against former soldiers is not prohibited).

I am a great believer in !!!!-up rather than conspiracy though so maybe if you go into the branch with him and assertively (but not aggresively) point out the problem they will open the account. Or ask if there is a different account - it may actually be easier to open a 'proper' bank account than a basic one.