Basic Bank Account Thread

ESES

I just posted on another basic bank account thread, so sorry for the repeat.

My partner has recently been into 'money trouble', therefore she went to open a basic bank account. She went to NATWEST, asked for a BBA and the personn who dealt with her insisted that they had checked, and there was no problems with her cred score. O.H. was pushed into opening a NATWEST gold account, £15/pm, various benefits etc. O.H. insisted 3 times that she wanted a BBA, but Natwest said they had no such product. Bear in mind, my O.H. is French and not as savvy as some others.
Next thing, she received a letter from NATWEST saying that they won't deal with her, she is not welcome at the NATWEST/RBS banking group and that they are not willing to enter into any further communication wse. IDIOTS!

rescynic

Just been into local Santander branch and told i cant open a basic account without first providing them a closing statement from my Lloydst TSB current account.

Is this true? or was the guy not interested in my business due to it being a non commisionable sale?

gentleorange

I applied online for the A&L/Santander £100 cashback account and was accepted by email over a week ago. The only annoying thing is that today I found my existing HSBC account had been emptied when A&L state in their t&cs that they will leave a small amount while transitioning that the customer can transfer when they like. I don't have a debit card for the new account yet, and they don't have a branch in my town so I believe I am currently unable to spend any money!! I'll have to phone them tomorrow, I could've done without this hassle.

gentleorange

rescynic wrote: »

Just been into local Santander branch and told i cant open a basic account without first providing them a closing statement from my Lloydst TSB current account.

Is this true? or was the guy not interested in my business due to it being a non commisionable sale?

Hi, why don't you try applying online too? The main terms for the account seem to be that you deposit at least £500 a month and that you use their Premium Switching Service to swap over accounts. The online form was quite simple.

Mulligan1

NATO wrote: »

Go with Halifax. You only need one form of ID, and it can be done through post, so you don't have to waste your time with some of the incompetent staff in the banks. Also Lloyds in Woolwich will give you (including people with no credit) a full current account with cheque book with no proof of address, and 1 form of ID.

I bank with Lloyds TSB and whilst I am happy with them they seem anything but a pushover regarding approvals for most accounts or any financial products for that matter, even for existing account customers who run their accounts well and just want to upgrade. Many threads on this forum would seem to back this up.

NATO_4

Mulligan1 wrote: »

I bank with Lloyds TSB and whilst I am happy with them they seem anything but a pushover regarding approvals for most accounts or any financial products for that matter, even for existing account customers who run their accounts well and just want to upgrade. Many threads on this forum would seem to back this up.

Notice I said Lloyds in Woolwich. I don't speak about other branches, only the one that I know. Also, I don't consider them push overs. I consider them desperate. Especially since I did not ask for a current account. I asked for a basic account, but they gave me a current account to fullfill their sales quotas.

Adapazari

Please, there any significant difference between the V Electron and the V Debit card facility if I don't wish to have an overdraft? As long as I can pay for things online and pay bills via DD or S/O I'm not bothered.

Also, how would you suggest I move my salary payment, DDs and S/Os efficiently? (timings etc.)

I'll be grateful for any advice.

Thanks

Mulligan1

NATO wrote: »

Notice I said Lloyds in Woolwich. I don't speak about other branches, only the one that I know. Also, I don't consider them push overs. I consider them desperate. Especially since I did not ask for a current account. I asked for a basic account, but they gave me a current account to fullfill their sales quotas.

I guess it all depends on an individuals circumstances. The checks they make on application are exactly the same at any branch, it's a centralised computer system. They will only have offered a current account if your circumstances allowed (they have no desire to offer a cash account if they possibly can avoid it) but it is extremely rare that anyone without at least a half decent credit record will be provided with an overdraft or even less likely a cheque guarantee card, probably just what is known as a Visa Debit 2in1 ultra card which needs authorising with every purchase, there is no risk with these cards. I banked with them for well over a year before I got upgraded to a current account with a full debit card and have also been accepted for a Advance Mastercard albeit with a very modest credit limit, I have never had a CCJ or defaulted but have made a fair few late payments over the years.

Adapazari

I decided to apply for the Halifax Easycash account but the terms and conditions ask me to agree that I have not "been the subject of any decree or judgment for debt outstanding."

As I have a CCJ, I presume I cannot open an account with Halifax . Does anyone know which bank accounts don't include such a statement in their Terms and Conditions? Please.

Also, on the Halifax website advises that they are busy and thus it may take 7 days to verify details etc. Has anyone opened an account with them online recently? How long did the process take?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Mulligan1

The Lloyds TSB (same group as Halifax/Bank of Scotland and you can only open this account in branch)) cash account stipulates that they can open an account if you have a poor credit history but will not open one if you have any history of fraud or are a undischarged bankrupt. You will get a Visa Debit card which will request authorisation with every transaction and it will not let you spend what you do not have available. You can only use the card in Lloyds TSB cashpoints however you can also open an EasySaver account for £1 and ask for the optional cashpoint card which can be used at any UK ATM. Set up internet or telephone banking and you can instantly transfer funds over from the cash account and away you go. This is just what I did until I finally got accepted for a current account which took over a year crediting a decent monthly salary and always having funds available for DD's etc.

You also get a £10 buffer and you can get £10 out the ATM so long as you have at least 1p in the account, I do not know whether this covers DD's or card purchases though as I never tried.