Turned down for a Bank account

Open_Wallet_Surgery

kate100 wrote:

I looking for help and advice on where to go now :money:

You have what is called in the credit trade as "thin file status", its the way credit agencies rate people, and of course perversly if you've never had anything on credit, they will know little about you....

You said that you tried to open a joint current account, without wishing to be nosey I assume that you and your partner with a joint income of that ammount already have existing accounts with other financial instituitions ? Such as your mortgage or savings accounts
Why not give these banks / building socities a try ?, as an existing customer you might get a better current account deal with them.
I have a friend who works for Nationwide and they are told to try and sell customers "the whole package", eg. a customer who has a saving account might get the hard sell to open a current account etc

Another point ?

And again without wishing to be too nosey, did the Barclays ask you for previous addresses.
If so it might be worth checking that somebody else on your previous address (parents, lodger, brother or sister) didnt get a CCJ against their name, as this not only affects them, but also puts a black mark against the address
In this case you would need to write to both Experian and Exquifax what is called a letter of dissassociation to get the link removed from your file

*phew*

Dont think I've ever typed that much in a post before, hope it helps

jonesMUFCforever

Kilty wrote:

Well, you could use a Visa debit card. (Delta/Electron etc)

Same protection as with Visa credit cards.



EDIT - article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/4082599.stm

Well that article seems to have been written by a 5year old! Starts talking about credit cards then a paragragh about debit cards and then goes back to credit cards again!
There is no protection under the Consumer Credit Act if you do not use a CREDIT CARD.
You may well be lucky that in some circumstances they agree to refund you but no statutory right exists and 'VISA' the company - cannot override our consumer laws.

Kilty_2

Actually, you will find that it is in the conditions that Visa enforce on merchants for processing their cards, that if fraudulent use occurs the card issuer can issue a chargeback.

Also, as a Bank of Scotland customer, they have an "Online Fraud Guarantee" which states I will never lose out if I am the victim of fraud

So I'm perfectly happy to use my Visa debit card for purchases.

jonesMUFCforever

How will it help you if the company you have bought off goes bust before delivering the goods ?

Kilty_2

The bank that provided their merchant services will be responsible for footing the bill for the chargeback.

jonesMUFCforever

I would also like to point out to Kilty that customers deal with banks to set up card transactions and that you cannot aproach 'VISA' (the company) direct.
How can Visa set conditions when they are not in the loop?

jonesMUFCforever

Kilty wrote:

The bank that provided their merchant services will be responsible for footing the bill for the chargeback.

For credit cards yes for debit cards they don't have too.
I agree that some posters on here have had success in getting their money back but it is at the bank's discretion and not mandatory.

Kilty_2

You are saying that Visa is not part of the loop when in fact they are the link between the issuing bank and the merchant bank.

Therefore they can lay down conditions and if they are not adhered to, withdraw services from the issuing banks.

kate100

Open_Wallet_Surgery wrote:

You have what is called in the credit trade as "thin file status", its the way credit agencies rate people, and of course perversly if you've never had anything on credit, they will know little about you....

You said that you tried to open a joint current account, without wishing to be nosey I assume that you and your partner with a joint income of that ammount already have existing accounts with other financial instituitions ? Such as your mortgage or savings accounts
Why not give these banks / building socities a try ?, as an existing customer you might get a better current account deal with them.
I have a friend who works for Nationwide and they are told to try and sell customers "the whole package", eg. a customer who has a saving account might get the hard sell to open a current account etc

Another point ?

And again without wishing to be too nosey, did the Barclays ask you for previous addresses.
If so it might be worth checking that somebody else on your previous address (parents, lodger, brother or sister) didnt get a CCJ against their name, as this not only affects them, but also puts a black mark against the address
In this case you would need to write to both Experian and Exquifax what is called a letter of dissassociation to get the link removed from your file

*phew*

Dont think I've ever typed that much in a post before, hope it helps

Thanks for the post, my partner has always been with barclays the best part of his 26 years and has 2 accounts with them, i don't bank with them, but do have an ISA and a barclaycard so was on their system.

Yes they did ask for previous addresses, and as we are in rented accomodation, i don't know how to go about removing the link from my file. I think i need to write to experion and give them proof that we are living here now.

more suggestions welcome

BexTech

kate100 wrote:

Yes they did ask for previous addresses, and as we are in rented accomodation, i don't know how to go about removing the link from my file. I think i need to write to experion and give them proof that we are living here now.

more suggestions welcome

You need to contact the two main credit reference agencies and pay the statutory £2 for them to send you a copy of what they hold on you, have a look at the details then write to them or fill out an online form requesting the details be deleted or amended

http://www.uk.experian.com/consumer/index.html

https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/consumer/uk/sitepage.ehtml?forward=gb_elearning_credit14

Though I'm sure this website states you could take the 30 day free trial and see your report straight away and then cancel, so it costs you nothing.