Flaming Nationwide

up_the_creek_5

I am in a lot debt about £83k over 10 credit cards & 4 loans. As some of my debt is with my current bank, before i contact Payplan or CCCS i have decided to open a new a/c that is not connected with any of my creditors.

My list of creditors is as follows: Cahoot, Egg, BOS, Mint, Sainsbury's, Barclaycard, Citi, Monument, AMEX, AA visa, & HSBC (my current bank).

After studying the forum i concluded that Nationwide, Lloyds TSB,& The Co-op are not connected with any of the above. Also at the moment all my payments are up-to-date,i have never had any missed payments & have always adhered to all terms & conditions. Also i am not a bankrupt, have not been convicted of fraud, have not defaulted, & have no bad debts. However, this will obviously change soon & i thought i had better change a/c's while my record is still clean. I have also obtained copies of my credit file from Equifax & Experian (Call Credit have cashed my cheq but are taking their time sending my file). These confirm that although i have a lot of credit it is all up-to-date.

I therefore decided that i would apply for proper curent a/c with full debit card,cheq book, & on-line facilities (the latter is very important to me).

Since i have had a regular savings a/c with Nationwide for over 20 years i applied today for a Flexaccount. A couple of hours later i recd a call from a rather snotty woman saying i had been declined as i had failed the credit score. When i informed her that i had clearly stated on the application that i did not want an overdraft facility or credit card this was just dismissed. I than asked if i could apply for a basic a/c instead & was told i could not as i had already failed a credit check; already had a current a/c with another bank; & already had a savings a/c with Nationwide.

Has anybody else had problems with Nationwide re: basic bank a/c's. Also why would i be turned down with a clean record could i be on a fraud register or something.

I since have contacted The Co-op bank & they say that their basic a/c ( Cashminder) comes with a cashpoint card that can be used at any atm & also gives full access to on-line banking. Is this true? Or can anyone advise of another a/c.

Finally i am also going to change my home phone number & go X directory. If i do change banks will they give my new contact details to my creditors.

Any advice will be appreciated.

PeachPickle

Hi up the creek

I have an HSBC basic account, which is obviously no use for you! Lots of people here seem to have Natwest Step Accounts though, and they seem to be happy with them

notmyrealusername

I was rejected by Nationwide in similar circumstances. Although hideously financially overcommited I had never missed a payment, gone over the credit limit etc.

I applied in the branch for a flexaccount and specified that I did not want an overdraft facility, just a cheque book and debit card. The application was refused and I was told that I couldn't apply for even the basic account as "If you were eligible for any one of our accounts the computer would have indicated it".

So, undeterred I applied for a regular Natwest account with cheque book, debit card and online banking (no overdraft) and was accepted straight away.

Do you have any financial links with Natwest? There was a link that detailed which banks and credit cards have financial connections but I can't find it. Nat west also do a step account which has a solo debit card, online and telephone banking, you can set up standing orders and direct debits too. Having just looked on Natwest website it says "manage your account using Telephone and OnLine banking*" but then "* Please note that bill payments, or payments to other bank accounts, are not available to Step customers through OnLine banking or Actionline".

Red_Fraggle_3

I have had an account with the Co-op for over 10 years (still there as i like the ethical view) they have always been good in bad times - the nationwide well dad suggested I should get an account there managed to get a flex account but after 4 years and never a bad debt - but can I get the account upgraded NO

up_the_creek_5

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately i can't go to Nat West as they are linked to RBS who provide my Mint card.

However, as a "member" of Nationwide for over twenty years i am thinking of making a complaint to the Chairman re: the misleading application form & the "attitude" from the woman who rang me. Over the years i have encountered rude staf on several occasions. I am not appealing against the decision but i just want to have my say. They really are no better than the fictional bank in their adverts. I only keep the savings a/c open in case the float!

With regards to a new current a/c i think i will try The Co-op next.

Thanks

pms

One of my creditors was the RBS and I managed to get a Natwest Account although it was only their step account. You can only try them.

mrs_mug_2

You can go in to a Nationwide branch and ask for a non scored flexaccount. They can open a basic flex with out running a credit check. You will be able to have access to your details on line and set up dd from your account still. However you will not be able to upgrade to a full debit account with out undergoing a credit check in the future. You will need to do this in person though to enusre it is opened using the correct system.

Nationwide are very strict with their credit scoring, and I have no idea how they come to their conclusions. but it is worth trying again.

lou_lou_skinty_poos

pms wrote:

One of my creditors was the RBS and I managed to get a Natwest Account although it was only their step account. You can only try them.

its not that u cant get an account with one of your creditors its that they can take money from your account to pay for your debt you could end up with a nasty surprise one month where in rbs take your money from ure natwest account which they can legally do as there connected. beware!!

mm2000

Have you tried the Halifax. Aligned with BOS not RBOS. As far as Nationwide is concerned getting your credit file may have rang alarm bells when you applied for the account. I'd advise against getting an account with a bank you already owe money to and will be in default with as they can keep taking any money paid in to settle your debt with them, leaving you with nothing for the other creditors.

Zulu_Dawn

Just to add to the list, I had exactly the same experience with Nationwide.

I applied online for their Internet flex account with no overdraft, just a debit card. I was rejected.

Went to the branch to investigate and was informed the reason for rejection was "too much credit". I asked for an account without a debit card and no overdraft but was told I could not apply for a further six months regardless.

There is an online appeal procedure which I went through in the branch, which involved sating yes to a series of questions and filing an appeal on line.

This was three months ago and I've heard nothing since. I'm tempted to compalin further as I think Banks are duty bound now to offer cash type accounts. However as I have nearly cleared my original current account and this linked account thing doesn't seem to be a problem unless you default, I've decided not to bother.

Good luck. I'm a CG and going through a similar experience to you.

Chris