How can you be declined a basic bank account?

slugger09

Getting a bit fed up with this to be honest, I want a high street bank account, I'm in Northern Ireland and in my home town the choices are.

Ulster Bank
Northern Bank
First Trust
Bank of Ireland
Santander

I'm with Santander and we all know that shambles they are, First trust and Bank of Ireland don't have a debit card, this leaves Ulster bank and Northern. I applied for http://www.northernbank.co.uk/en-gb/Personal/Day-to-day/CurrentAccounts/products/Northern-Personal-Access/Pages/Northern-Personal-Access.aspx account with the Northern and got this.

Dear XXXX

You recently applied to us online for a Northern Personal Access. Unfortunately, your application has not been successful.

If you have any questions about our decision, you can call us on 0845 606 0572. Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, except Northern Ireland bank holidays or other holidays when the bank is not open for business (see the note below). Or, you can e-mail us on cd_sales_dept@northernbank.co.uk.

bendix

slugger09 wrote: »

Getting a bit fed up with this to be honest, I want a high street bank account, I'm in Northern Ireland and in my home town the choices are.

Ulster Bank
Northern Bank
First Trust
Bank of Ireland
Santander

I'm with Santander and we all know that shambles they are, First trust and Bank of Ireland don't have a debit card, this leaves Ulster bank and Northern. I applied for http://www.northernbank.co.uk/en-gb/Personal/Day-to-day/CurrentAccounts/products/Northern-Personal-Access/Pages/Northern-Personal-Access.aspx account with the Northern and got this.

Dear XXXX

You recently applied to us online for a Northern Personal Access. Unfortunately, your application has not been successful.

If you have any questions about our decision, you can call us on 0845 606 0572. Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, except Northern Ireland bank holidays or other holidays when the bank is not open for business (see the note below). Or, you can e-mail us on [EMAIL="cd_sales_dept@northernbank.co.uk"]cd_sales_dept@northernbank.co.uk[/EMAIL].

Banks are under no obligation to take anyone as a customer if they don't want them. They are a business and can choose to do business with whoever they please.

slugger09

bendix wrote: »

Banks are under no obligation to take anyone as a customer if they don't want them. They are a business and can choose to do business with whoever they please.

But they don't even give a reason, surly thats like going to a night club, a bouncer saying "I don't like the look of you, your not getting in"

bendix

Precisely the same.

It's fine for a nightclub to say it, so why not a bank? They're both businesses. Why should they have to give a reason?

Why do you want to get a new account? Perhaps your motivation to get a new account might explain their reluctance to take you as a new customer.

What are all the facts?

slugger09

bendix wrote: »

Precisely the same.

It's fine for a nightclub to say it, so why not a bank? They're both businesses. Why should they have to give a reason?

Why do you want to get a new account? Perhaps your motivation to get a new account might explain their reluctance to take you as a new customer.

What are all the facts?

Why do I want a new account?

Santander messing about is the main one, Payments not going out, faster payments going bacs the list could go on.

Also its the same bank my employer is with, employees at the same bank get there pay in the same day rather than waiting 3 days

stclair

Have you tried appealing the decision?

Have you checked what information the CRAs hold for you?

slugger09

stclair wrote: »

Have you tried appealing the decision?

Have you checked what information the CRAs hold for you?

Yes, I know its not fantastic, its average, not poor and not bad.

It doesn't say I can appeal. Just basically we don't want you now go away

stclair

slugger09 wrote: »

Yes, I know its not fantastic, its average, not poor and not bad.

It doesn't say I can appeal. Just basically we don't want you now go away

Well part of the letter stats: If you have any questions about our decision, you can call us on 0845 606 0572. Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, except Northern Ireland bank holidays or other holidays when the bank is not open for business (see the note below). Or, you can e-mail us on [EMAIL="cd_sales_dept@northernbank.co.uk"]cd_sales_dept@northernbank.co.uk[/EMAIL].

Ring them and see what they have to say for themselves.

maddocks_2

slugger09 wrote: »

But they don't even give a reason, surly thats like going to a night club, a bouncer saying "I don't like the look of you, your not getting in"

*cue tongue in cheek comment about government bailout of various banks meaning they're no longer subject to the same freedoms of the free market*

OP: They are allowed to refuse if you are a undischarged bankrupt, or have a record of fraud. They're also obliged to tell you why your application was declined.

Quoted from CFEB: "If your application for a basic bank account is turned down, you are entitled to ask why. The bank or building society should tell you (unless there are exceptional circumstances such as suspicion of fraud or money laundering)."

Nothing wrong with asking?