getting an internet account if you have long term illness!

shambolics

Hi all. I have just been refused an account by smile , the co-ops internet banking system. Not the first time I have been refused an account on the internet. It has happened many, many times. I can only imagine it is because when I put down status it only gives the option of unemployed or employed. I am disabled and unable to work anything like full time. I make music and have a low income BUT I own my 4 bedroom house outright, no mortgage , no debts. seems that is not good enough. I expect the other banks not to give a damn about people in my situation (or any other for that matter) but thought the Co-op had ethical policies. It is very difficult for me to get out and fill forms, go to and forth to the bank etc. so what do I do? I recall some site that gives contact e-mails of people higher up in these organisations, thought I might try to inform higher up so Smile are waware they are freezing out people who are long term ill/ disabled. Anyone know of such a site? I need somewhere to bank my income.

Unity

shambolics wrote: »

Hi all. I have just been refused an account by smile , the co-ops internet banking system. Not the first time I have been refused an account on the internet. It has happened many, many times. I can only imagine it is because when I put down status it only gives the option of unemployed or employed. I am disabled and unable to work anything like full time. I make music and have a low income BUT I own my 4 bedroom house outright, no mortgage , no debts. seems that is not good enough. I expect the other banks not to give a damn about people in my situation (or any other for that matter) but thought the Co-op had ethical policies. It is very difficult for me to get out and fill forms, go to and forth to the bank etc. so what do I do? I recall some site that gives contact e-mails of people higher up in these organisations, thought I might try to inform higher up so Smile are waware they are freezing out people who are long term ill/ disabled. Anyone know of such a site? I need somewhere to bank my income.

I just wanted to say I'm very sorry that you have found this and that I might be in much the same position myself, if I were to try to do this.

Should this be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act? Certainly the wording of the choice of options seems to exclude disabled people - whether by convenience or design?

Good luck!

zzzLazyDaisy

Have you moved within the past 3 years, and have you checked your credit rating?

The only reason I ask is that I am disabled and have been unable to work for the past five years. My only income is IB and DLA. I have an account with the coop, which admittedly I took out before I got sick, but I also have a credit card with them which I got only a year ago.

Also since being out of work I have opened a current account with Lloyds TSB, another one with an internet bank, and savings accounts with two high street building societies, all with no problems.

So I do wonder if there is some other reason, unrelated to your disability, which is causing the problem?

EDIT - you can operate a lloyds tsb account via the internet, so if you could get out to a local branch and set the account up in person, that might do the trick?

shambolics

Thanks, yes I am aware that if I can get out to the banks themselves then I can do it no problem in theory. I did at one time try to open a credit card account with Nationwide and had to go to their high street bank they asked to photocopy my passport and a utility bill, then some weeks later i had a letter to say they had lost them! I have an alliance and leicester account already but need to create a seperate account for certain income. I have two credit cards and have lived at the same house for 5 and a half years. Never done anything to give me a bad credit rating (never checked it though). I am also considering others, and there are many. in my position. when you are in poor health you have to do your business through the internet and internet banking seems like a Godsend - then they don't let you in

~Chameleon~

I've always found it better to use the option "retired" on any applications

dunstonh

Providers cannot discriminate in that way and they are not. The FSA have clear guidelines on this and you are not allowed to discriminate due to disability.

Your issue is that many internet/direct providers use electronic money laundering verification. If you dont tot up enough points on that, then they will reject the account as they dont do manual money laundering checks (too expensive for them). If you fail with one provider, then you will almost certainly fail with all providers that use that method of verification.

mime20

Hi,
since last year I'm in the same sort of position (ie fully solvent but in receipt of disability benefits). Last night though I opened an Egg savings account & as the only option that aplied to me was "other" chose that. They then wanted my employers name & address, so I rang up the helpline & the girl said to keep "other" as my occupation, put "incapacity since ..." for name of employer/busines, the month & year I stopped working for month & year my employment started & my home address for the work address. She also said she would pass on the feedback about not having apropriate options.
The account is now open (although it does say that they have 3 days to inform you if you have been declined).
Hope this helps

Katie-Kat-Kins

It is nothing to do with your disability it is that fact that you aren't employed so you would have the same problem if you were self employed, retired, or a student.

shambolics

KatP wrote: »

It is nothing to do with your disability it is that fact that you aren't employed so you would have the same problem if you were self employed, retired, or a student.

So are you saying if you don't have a formal job you are not entitled to an internet current account? If so I wish they would state that at the start and why bother keeping me waiting for two days with a decision?

I am not saying they refused me because I am disabled but because they don't have any allowance for input of such circumstances. As Isaid, I don't expect any favours from the main banks but I thought the co-op bank took pride in their ethics. Excluding people that are in such circumstances because they are disabled doesn't seem too ethical. I am asking they have some awareness of such circumstances ( as they will probably happen to more than 70% of us at some time) and facility for such an option on the form. Maybe I'm asking too much but I would love to inform the co-op at a level where I knew it would actually be heard and not just binned.

zzzLazyDaisy

Ah, actually, I always put 'retired' for my occupation. I'm 53 (which they can see from my application) but am retired due to ill-health.

I wonder if that makes a difference? Might be worth a try?

Unity

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Ah, actually, I always put 'retired' for my occupation. I'm 53 (which they can see from my application) but am retired due to ill-health.

I wonder if that makes a difference? Might be worth a try?

It's funny you should say that, It's something I always say on forms as well. I know it's daft that I feel embarrassed about this especially since my disabilities were caused by an industrial accident .