Basic Bank Account Thread

paulasx

Just a quick update, i spent and hour and a quarter in barclays this morning, i had to provide details if my income? why when its for a basic account? then at the end the man, who to be fair was very nice and helpful, said it wasnt a yes or a no, my application has been passed to the credit risk team, again why when im NOT ASKING FOR CREDIT! surely im a better risk by not having an overdraft, then someone who runs up a huge one? and it could take up to 5 hours for a response! when i asked why he said he couldnt legally tell me why, but if it came back as a no then he could give me an indication of the area where there is a problem. Now i could understand all this if i was asking for a loan, an overdraft or mortgage or other form of credit, but im not! all i want is an account where i can pay money in and take it out, and set up dds and so so i dont get charged extra for paying some other way I am now beginning to wonder if there is a big red flag on my name saying 'dont touch'! The only thing i have read about where you get turned down for a basic account is either being bankrupt which im not, or in cases of fraud, and im quite sure ive never gotten any credit by being dishonest with my application, i always give the right name, address, date of birth, previous addresses etc? or is this not what they mean by fraud? have i been doing something else fraudulently that i dont know about? aaaarrrggghh!!
if this fails, then i think i will have to go down the route of managed accounts, which charge about 12 per month, which as a mature student with children i could do without paying
any advice would be welcome xx

usedandabused

await the decision, then we can dissect what the funk is going on, personally I find Barclays to be one of the biggest offenders along with HSBC at basic bank account snobbery, and making it as time consuming and interogation like to the customer!!!!

seeya23

i when in to barclays to open cash card account but come out with premier account @ £25 a month after a few months i told them i did not want it any more now i ve just got the barclay bank account now i have 2 ccjs one from 2006 and 2007

benoit

paulasx wrote: »

Just a quick update, i spent and hour and a quarter in barclays this morning, i had to provide details if my income? why when its for a basic account? then at the end the man, who to be fair was very nice and helpful, said it wasnt a yes or a no, my application has been passed to the credit risk team, again why when im NOT ASKING FOR CREDIT! surely im a better risk by not having an overdraft, then someone who runs up a huge one? and it could take up to 5 hours for a response! when i asked why he said he couldnt legally tell me why, but if it came back as a no then he could give me an indication of the area where there is a problem. Now i could understand all this if i was asking for a loan, an overdraft or mortgage or other form of credit, but im not! all i want is an account where i can pay money in and take it out, and set up dds and so so i dont get charged extra for paying some other way I am now beginning to wonder if there is a big red flag on my name saying 'dont touch'! The only thing i have read about where you get turned down for a basic account is either being bankrupt which im not, or in cases of fraud, and im quite sure ive never gotten any credit by being dishonest with my application, i always give the right name, address, date of birth, previous addresses etc? or is this not what they mean by fraud? have i been doing something else fraudulently that i dont know about? aaaarrrggghh!!
if this fails, then i think i will have to go down the route of managed accounts, which charge about 12 per month, which as a mature student with children i could do without paying
any advice would be welcome xx

This was highlighted on BBC moneybox a couple of weeks ago. They spoke to the Information Commissioner about Banks doing credit checks for basic accounts with no overdraft or cheque book & they said the banks shouldn't really be doing that with basic accounts because they are not offering you a credit facility. So far i have found Barclays to be the least helpful.

paulasx

Well Im hoping anyway, as so far i have been turned down by co-op, natwest, yorkshire and RBS! Im beginning to think i am unclean! I have cable/internet/tv and a contract mobile with virgin, i must have passed something to get them, and my accounts are all up to date, no defaults, i also have a catalogue which again is in good order. I know i have outstanding debts, which are either being paid or are in the process of being paid, this is why i only want a basic account! and now i have been applying for accounts, i keep getting phone calls from people wishing me to confirm my address and name before they will tell me who they are! It is so frustrating

book12

seeya23 wrote: »

i when in to barclays to open cash card account but come out with premier account @ £25 a month after a few months i told them i did not want it any more now i ve just got the barclay bank account now i have 2 ccjs one from 2006 and 2007

How did you manage to get a Premier accont when you insisted a Cash Card Account? Is it opened in error?

seeya23

book12 wrote: »

How did you manage to get a Premier accont when you insisted a Cash Card Account? Is it opened in error?

he said i could have a better account base on my credit score so i took him up on the offer

Stronger

Anyone any ideas or advice on who is currently the best for a basic bank account to have my salary paid into, that does not carry out all these flipping credit checks?

seeya23

try Halifax easycash

Old_Wrinkly

seeya23 wrote: »

he said i could have a better account base on my credit score so i took him up on the offer

And paid £25 per month for it? _pale_