Student bank account...

elfen

I won't even DARE going near Natstressed. I HATE the bank. I've stuck to Barclays. You can go in with a conditional letter. If it says a BA or something WITHOUT a sandwich year, it's a three year course, and they're not stupid enough to think it would be less (as most uni letters for offers say if you're going to come in at a later year). No gimmicks, instant overdraft and a lot of the stuff (such as an overdaft raise) can be agreed in branch without a credit check, although how you manage the account shows.

minerva_windsong

Strange to hear that on Halifax - I got harassed by them into getting a student account when I turned 18 (almost a whole year before I went to uni) as they refused to give me any interest on my Cashcard account, despite not having an 'I am doing my A-levels' option on the student account form.

It's nice to hear they appear to have sorted themselves out now though, although if I had my time again I'd go with NatWest because to me a £100+ railcard is worth more than a massive overdraft. But different strokes for different folks and all that.

Conscientia

As already stated most require proof that you are actually a student - the letter you receive from UCAS before confirming you'll take up your place should be suffice.

Natwest wouldn't allow me a single penny until my student loan got paid into the account... there were some problems with the paperwork involved with my student loan and I didn't get it paid into my account until a month after I had enrolled at University and began taking classes... despite documentation to prove I was a student (student card, official certificates from my University) they wouldn't budge...

I never got the railcard either... in all honesty, I'm largely underwhelmed by their service on the whole.

PS: It's not a good idea to be getting yourself into your overdraft BEFORE going to University

bc3000

Everyone I know is going with the NatWest Account, I guess if it's that bad I'll close it and get another one but to be honest I could really do with that railcard and also the free USB stick they give you if you apply online. I know they might not be the best but their freebies are the best, and I'm not going with them for the o/d or interest rate or whatever... I just think £26ish x 4 years at uni is a lot of money to be saving! (railcard)

I have no idea why they were so rude to you OP- I'd definitely complain if I was you.

Fire_Fox

SaucySecrets wrote: »

Hello,
I'm expecting my offer to turn unconditional next week, and I have my student finance information, so I went to open a student bank account ready for uni.

Went to Halifax, who rejected me instantly, telling me I could have any easy cash card instead. Was worried, and even though I know I shouldn't have, I applied with Lyolds. Don't think I was even credit checked this time...got to the bit where I told them I've only lived at my current address for 7 months, and her screen went black, then came up asking her to phone up. She said not to worry, she'd sort it out, but then very abruptly said I'd been refused and forced me out of her office. She hadn't even checked my address/ID.

I'd really appreciate having an overdraft to fall back on...my credit file looks fine, got 11 searches from Feb but they should go in August. No defaults, and my contract is paid fine every month.

Am I not likely to get an account? Any advice on who might accept me?

Why have you got eleven searches from February?? This is going to make you look desperate for cash. Have you checked both your credit reports (Experian and Equifax)? Do you have a lot of available credit at present? Are you registered to vote?

elfen

It's £65 for the 3 year railcard on it's own. You don't save THAT much

HopeAndDriftWood

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Why have you got eleven searches from February?? This is going to make you look desperate for cash. Have you checked both your credit reports (Experian and Equifax)? Do you have a lot of available credit at present? Are you registered to vote?

It looks like the credit report I bought was dodgy....Experian shows 4 searches in the last 6 months. One credit card, at £60, paid off every two months. I am registered to vote but my credit file only seems to show my old address. My HSBC account shows as satisfactory every month, although thats just a normal current account with no overdraft.

Was it the electoral register that got me declined?

MrsManda

SaucySecrets wrote: »

It looks like the credit report I bought was dodgy....Experian shows 4 searches in the last 6 months. One credit card, at £60, paid off every two months. I am registered to vote but my credit file only seems to show my old address. My HSBC account shows as satisfactory every month, although thats just a normal current account with no overdraft.
Was it the electoral register that got me declined?

As others have said, you are likely to have been declined regardless of any credit report because you are not currently confirmed as a student. You need a confirmation letter from your university or UCAS to state that you are a student before you will be allowed an account. Plus as lokolo says, the number of credit searches you've had won't do you any favours. Being on the electoral register does usually make banks happier.
Can you put off getting a student account for a few weeks so it looks less like you are desperate for the cash?

HopeAndDriftWood

MrsManda wrote: »

As others have said, you are likely to have been declined regardless of any credit report because you are not currently confirmed as a student. You need a confirmation letter from your university or UCAS to state that you are a student before you will be allowed an account. Plus as lokolo says, the number of credit searches you've had won't do you any favours. Being on the electoral register does usually make banks happier.
Can you put off getting a student account for a few weeks so it looks less like you are desperate for the cash?

Okay, I'll wait until I have an official unconditional offer letter and approach my bank again then.Thanks for your help!

Is 4 searches alot, then? One was for my phone contract, and bills for when I moved in January. One is an indentification check...

Thanks again

Fire_Fox

SaucySecrets wrote: »

It looks like the credit report I bought was dodgy....Experian shows 4 searches in the last 6 months. One credit card, at £60, paid off every two months. I am registered to vote but my credit file only seems to show my old address. My HSBC account shows as satisfactory every month, although thats just a normal current account with no overdraft.

Was it the electoral register that got me declined?

I would say it's probably the eleven searches that got you declined. Which credit report did you buy? You want Experian and Equifax, Call Credit if you want 100% of the picture (but not really needed). Experian and Equifax won't show exactly the same info as different financial institutions use different credit reference agencies.

Does HSBC have your current address? They should have updated your file with the right address. Ring up the council and get your voting roll number and supply it to Experian and Equifax. If the voting address and address supplied by the bank are slightly different they won't match the two without your help.