Advice sought - son can't get a debit card

montymontezuma

Hi All,

Advice sought with regard to a problem we've encountered with our son's current account supplier, Nationwide. We've banked & saved with them for years and found them to be very good; our daughter & son also saved with them for many years, my daughter was able to open a current account with them when she started a part-time job as a student with a debit card (after 6 months) & a cheque book (immediately).

My son, however, opened his current account last September when he started full time work, aged 18 (now 19). He was not given a cheque book and was told he would be eligible for a debit card after 6 months and was given a cash card immediately. Fair enough we thought, similar to our daughter, although he was working full time.

We hadn't heard anything about his debit card (daughter's was sent automatically) so husband and son went in to enquire on Sat 19.06.10. They ran a check, and said he couldn't have one for 'credit checking' reasons', wouldn't discuss it further and said a letter would be issued. They also said he couldn't apply again for another 6 months.

He's gutted, he has to pay for everything cash, any online transactions have to be done by us and he then reimburses us. All (and I mean all) of his friends have a debit card, even those that are students, and no-one can understand how he can be working full time and not have one.

We have lived at the same address for about 13 years, he is registered to vote & has voted, has no debts, has an e-savings account and a savings account with Nationwide, and has never been overdrawn. He transfers most of his wages apart from his rent and day to day expenses, into his savings account. He has no criminal record.

Can anybody throw any light on what he's doing wrong?

Many thanks.

noh

Nationwide have very strict criteria for issuing debit cards.
The best way forward, if he wants a debit card, would be to open an account with another bank.

Coopdivi

I've got a Halifax Easycash account which comes with an Electron debit card.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/easycash.asp

Annisele

I'd agree with the suggestion to try another bank.

If he still has problems, he might want to check that the three credit reference agencies have accurate information on him (instructions on doing that in this MSE article). If he's only 19 it's unlikely to be messed up, but it's worth checking that nobody has managed to confuse your son John Smith with the bankrupt John Smith down the road.

If he really wants a card from Nationwide, he could try sending them £10 and telling them he's making a subject access request under the Data Protection Act. That might give him more of an idea as to why Nationwide has declined him - but personally I think I'd just go elsewhere.

vaporate

what does criminal records have to do with it lol

Banks would be out of business otherwise lol

CRB'S are a joke anyway, labels the innocent.

Tubbss

Hi,

Co-Operative bank do a cashminder account - as long as he can proove ID / address etc he would be able to open an acc and get a debit card.

montymontezuma

vaporate wrote: »

what does criminal records have to do with it lol

Banks would be out of business otherwise lol

CRB'S are a joke anyway, labels the innocent.

Too true about banks lol! Criminal record probably not relevant but we've been trying to think what could be the problem.

montymontezuma

Annisele wrote: »

I'd agree with the suggestion to try another bank.

If he still has problems, he might want to check that the three credit reference agencies have accurate information on him ... If he's only 19 it's unlikely to be messed up, but it's worth checking that nobody has managed to confuse your son John Smith with the bankrupt John Smith down the road.

Thanks for the reply & sound advice - we don't think it's a name thing as the family name is really rare, but tend to agree with you and others, we'll just try elsewhere.

jennyo

Barclays do a basic bank account with a visa debit card, it doesn't run any checks for this.

vaporate

hmmm does sound strange for a bank without solid reason.

Anyhow, I bank with natwest, for 7 years, so I would say go with them as had no problems.

The games start when/if you get in debt with them, like any bank.

paulmcerlean

Really, just try another bank. There seems to be no reason for not issuing him a debit card.