Refused Bank account

markos67

My daughter and her partner wanted to open a joint no credit check account with Nat West, they applied online and were given instructions i.e. go to a Nat West Bank with ID etc.
I have just received the email below from my daughter.
“Applied online for bog standard no credit check account. Told me to take ID to branch. Did that, they posted it to me and not Nat West head office. Rang Nat West, said application closed, go into a branch. Went to the bank on and spoke with the manager. He took our details off the online application. He said it was recommended we take a current account plus. Told him we wouldn’t pass credit checks and he said that we already had! We left there with a letter saying our application was successful and sort code and account numbers. We received a letter yesterday (Tuesday) saying our application has been declined. Rang and asked why. Said they can't disclose that. Explained the whole meeting with the manager scenario and that we never wanted an all singing all dancing account but he told us we had passed the checks and the account was open. She said they weren’t full checks and they do further ones after them. **** (her partner) applied for one just for him and said he only wanted the step account to have his wages paid into and nothing else. The fella said ok but he got a letter to his mums house saying he had been declined for current account plus and he didn’t even ask for it. They have made our credit ratings worse by doing this and to top it off I have cancelled all direct debits and give the new nat west details in and ****'s wages are meant to go in tomorrow so god knows where they will end up”.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Kavanne

You could complain and you MIGHT get the credit checks removed but I wouldn't hold your breath

izools

Natwest run a credit check for the Step account also, so there aren't really grounds for getting them removed. The Step account is credit checked to make sure you a) don't have a record of fraud and b) aren't legally restricted from holding an account (Bankrupt etc).

I would recommend the Barclays Cash Card Account (which isn't even credit checked) or the Co-Operative Cash minder (which is open even for undischarged bankrupts as long as there isn't history of fraud).

olly300

The internal "ratings" won't be removed and as stated you are credit checked for all other Natwest accounts. So your best bet is to:

1. Reset everything back up again i.e. put the DD back to the old accounts.

2. Keep a record of the cost it has caused you for bounced DD etc This record should include all documents where the company state they are going to charge you more money or cancel your account.

3. Sent a complaint in writing into the Natwest branch by recorded delivery stating briefly the problems and that you will want them to reimburse the cost of the bounced DDs etc. plus compensation for your time. State at the end of the letter that if they don't deal with your complaints satisfactory you will complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. DO NOT COMPLAIN in person or on the telephone for a number of reasons including that they will deny things, or if you get into a heated discussion will state you have been abusive. MAKE SURE the letter is given the title "Formal Complaint"

4. If after 8 weeks of complaining to the branch in writing if they decide not to answer you complaints in full i.e. why they refused to give you the account you asked for, then you need to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service.

chambta

The Step Account can also be closed once open so there's no guarantee that wouldn't have happened also.

You may be able to get them to agree to open a Step Account but I really wouldn't hold your breath.

That's if indeed you even want to now.