Basic bank account feedback thread

pomp

Myself and my wife had issues with our finances and ended up taking an IVA, we were advised at the time, approx 2 years ago that we needed to open a new bank account and that Co-Op cash minder account would be suitable. We took the account out very easily and everything went great, although we hated their online banking, until the last 3 months when suddenly things began to go wrong with them, my wife was unable to use her card more than once per day without the fraud team stopping her - they even insisted that if she planned to use her card more than once in a day she needed to ring them to let them know! How ridiculous is this- I mean who knows how many times you may need to use your debit card, especially when you go out shopping?

And then we had an episode where money was taken from our account and magically returned a day later - but the co op had no explanation, they did however advise that it could have been somebody taking a payment from the wrong account but it was picked up.. hmm ok
The final straw came today when a payday loan type company took money from our account - money we never authorised or even knew about, we only realised when my mobile payment didn’t go out, but because we had used payday loans in the past coop would not class this as fraud and we need to speak to the dispute team - not happy!

Anyway due to the fraud issue my wife had been having we had already approached Barclays online and they had given us a cash card account, we could not get a current account due to our financial situation, but that was fine. We had the cards etc but didn’t really pay attention until today when we moved everything across and once we had cancelled the co-op account we realised the cards we had received were only ATM cards, but the paperwork and the website state you can have either an ATM or a debit card. When we rung Barclays to ask about a debit card we were originally told to go in branch and ask for a connect card, but I called again after re-reading the welcome pack - which clearly states debit or ATM card and was told that we could not get a debit card on this account and would need to apply for a upgrade - which obviously we won’t be able to. Now while it’s not the end of world, it is very annoying as we use a debit card for nearly everything and it is so very easy and convenient, I will go into the local branch to check but has anybody else had this issue?

spaceman93

I opened a Barclays Cash Card account about 2 weeks ago, on the website it does clearly state "cash card or debit card".

So when I got the cash card I was a bit annoyed so I called them up to ask for an upgrade I was told to go into the branch.

I went to the branch with the cash card and was told to come back when my pin number arrived because they use the pin sentry to confirm its your account.

Anyway when my pin number arrived I went back to the branch and about 5 minutes later and after signing 1 form I had a Visa debit card and a new pin number ordered.:j

The cards/pin numbers arrived both very quickly as promised on their new TV commercial.

wheelchair1983

I have just open a TSB Basic bank account (cash account). I have just tried to deposit some money at the Post Office. I was told I couldn't, even though the Post office website and my local TSB branch says that I could. Any explanation would be appreciated. Thanks

bazgee

I tried to transfer a basic bank account from the CO-OP to First Direct today (2013-11-18) and they told me that they don't do a basic bank account, and wouldn't accept me anyway because I have an IVA, so don't waste your time if you are in any debt. :wall:

karmaqween

Hi, I feel a little worried after reading all these posts here.

I lost my TSB account in 2010 due to being ill via a medicinally induced mental illness, I owed TSB £9.30 in an overdraft fee but was unable to manage menial every day tasks (even sign on - lost my benefits).

Finally (2 years on after reduction withdrawal) I returned with evidence to TSB but, was told `Tough sh*t` (in a politer manner of course) I even offered to pay the debt back but, was told `No can do` and `Too late sorry`

Unfortunately, in my youth (mid 1990`s) I !!!!!!ed up my £35 overdraft with Barclays.

I wouldnt mind paying this back if they allowed me an account? but, the letters I got back in the 90`s showed the debt upping every time they sent a letter.

Since having lost my account with TSB, I have recovered from a brutal period of mental illness, been back to college, gotten qualifications and have just started work.

Despite this, I have no way of being paid. My benefits were being paid into a post office account (strictly for benefits) and no bank will accept me due to lack of ID - I do not drive, My passport ran out in July 2012 and I have no birth cert (I was adopted).

I have tried all the banks but am told my ID is no good despite clearly being who I say I am to receive benefits, my having lived at my address 20 years and having Council letters and bills.

My wages cannot be paid into a friends account because my employer refuses to do this (due to nature of private employment and doing so would seem fraudulent with many questions asked).

Where do I go from here? any advice appreciated

Archi_Bald

Are you on the Electoral Register? If not, you need to get on pronto. If you are, you might be able to apply online, without further need to prove ID.

Also, if you can, check the free version of noddle.co.uk to make sure your data is in good shape. Ask for corrections if necessary.

Ultimately, you really should get yourself a passport because without being able to proof your ID with a recognised photo ID you might hit all sorts of obstacles. You should be able to get one since you already had one before.

confusedincoventry

I've banked with Natwest for year and the past two years have seen the support and help go from excellent to non-existant. Now I find myself in a bad place and need to find another bank but I have a really bad credit rating so where do I look? I want a simple, basic internet account with no frills and into which I can send payments from my PayPal accounts.

I looked online at HSBC and got turned down, same with nationwide.

Can anybody steer me?

angel13

dontlikemondays wrote: »

Just to let everyone know, this Coventry account is a basic cashcard only and NOT a VISA DEBIT
Means you can't use it online or to pay bills I think?

I have spent a couple of hours reading this thread this evening. I have banked with natwest (current account) for over 12 years but approx 2 years ago my current account became a basic step account which has the drawback of not always being able to withdraw money,

I am still livid about it as my son (who at the time was still at school/6th form) has a full account with them and on top of that my partner with terrible credit history applied online for an acount. He has NEVER shown them any ID of any sort, his account was never downgraded and has now been given an overdraft facility/account upgrade which he did not request.... and have still never seen any ID (on top of that his wages are paid instantly to me so his balance is never more than a £100 or so for more than a couple of minutes once a month)! Also I pay larger sums of money in and out (wages/bills) than either of my family members and I have savings with them -so in my eyes completely unfair.

So I would like to find another option for my main banking as they refuse to put my account back to the account I originally had (I have bad credit history from a long time ago but nothing for years now but on noodle I still only score 1 out of 5 ).

Anyhow as for coventry building society account the small print says this:

http://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/savings-and-investments/easy-access/callsave-moneymanager/CallSave-MoneyManager.aspx?tab=2

which states that you can set up DDs and SO's and have a link card.

so is this correct???


BTW for anyone else out there as for Nationwide (also been with them 9 years now) I would not recommend either. Recently I called them as my card had stopped working ..... I was told a new one was sent to me 3 weeks earlier without me knowing due to large number of fraudulent transactions being reported by a LARGE online company and that over 5000 customers had been issued new cards as a precautionary measure. As I had not activated the new card (as I did not get it and did not know) they stopped my card and thus I had no access to my money over Christmas and New Year :mad: Was also not apologised too, told its my own fault as my address must be wrong (It is not as next card arrived) and told that I was lying when I said I did not use that account for online banking ever so it will not be linked to an online purchase (he then told me I have used it on a dodgy site and its my own fault!). Worst customer service ever, new card did arrive and the date he told me caused all of this I had actually shopped at Sainsburys (in store I hasten to add so I will also never use my card in there again). Did anyone else have their card stopped or a new one issued over Christmas like this? .... also phone call prior to that one (6 months earlier) they told me they had a special new account for longterm customers where I would earn extra interest, no credit check would occur and it is a "thank you" for being a long term customer with a lot of money with them during that period of time. So I said yes please in that case (who wouldnt) and then thirty seconds or so later was told oh no we have decided you are not good enough for this "thank you" account, would not give me a reason and hung up on me! :mad:

angel13

confusedincoventry wrote: »

I've banked with Natwest for year and the past two years have seen the support and help go from excellent to non-existant. Now I find myself in a bad place and need to find another bank but I have a really bad credit rating so where do I look? I want a simple, basic internet account with no frills and into which I can send payments from my PayPal accounts.

I looked online at HSBC and got turned down, same with nationwide.

Can anybody steer me?

I have just applied for a yorkshire building society account which is listed on here which I hope will be good for me and maybe for you.

loopylu36

Hi, I am this year trying to become a little more financially stable so want to open a new bank account. I've applied and been accepted for a nat west basic account. My question is that I had an rbs credit card which has long since (getting on for 6 yrs but probably not quite) been transferred to dca's - do I need to be worried about this in terms of "offsetting" by nat west/rbs?.
TIA