Refused basic current account with RBS despite "Excellent" credit score.

jalexa

rosevelvet wrote: »

I have a revolve account but was wanting to apply for a select current account. It's the only account ive had.

OK. So you are (or were) an 11-18 year old?

So, if you are not yet 18 that could be the reason for the decline. If you have now, or soon will achieved 18, I would calmy ask in branch what happens to the Revolve account when you reach 18. I stand to be corrected, but I would be quite surprised if RBS *really* wants to lose your custom.

I note that "new customers" are required to fund the Select account with £1000/month. I'm guessing (from your age) that you may not be able to satisfy that requirement right now. However you should never have "applied" for a new account, you should have discussed "upgrading" in branch.

I am certain that RBS will have an upgrade route for you, though I don't know which account. The RBS current accounts have all recently changed.

You are right about their "great online banking". Give them another chance (to lose you).

rosevelvet

jalexa wrote: »

OK. So you are (or were) an 11-18 year old?

So, if you are not yet 18 that could be the reason for the decline. If you have now, or soon will achieved 18, I would calmy ask in branch what happens to the Revolve account when you reach 18. I stand to be corrected, but I would be quite surprised if RBS *really* wants to lose your custom.

I note that "new customers" are required to fund the Select account with £1000/month. I'm guessing (from your age) that you may not be able to satisfy that requirement right now. However you should never have "applied" for a new account, you should have discussed "upgrading" in branch.

I am certain that RBS will have an upgrade route for you, though I don't know which account. The RBS current accounts have all recently changed.

You are right about their "great online banking". Give them another chance (to lose you).

I'm actually 19. RBS seems more concerned with getting we unwanted ISA's and Savings accounts rather than setting me up a proper adult current account. What I find odd is that no one from RBS has contacted me about changing my account and one person on the phone told me I could have it until I was 21 (which I certainly don't want).

Despite their brilliant online banking and convience locally, I am getting a bit fed up. Each assistant offers different advice and would rather I have savings accounts or ISA's rather than an upgraded current account (or so it seems)

jalexa

rosevelvet wrote: »

I'm actually 19. RBS seems more concerned with getting we unwanted ISA's and Savings accounts rather than setting me up a proper adult current account. What I find odd is that no one from RBS has contacted me about changing my account and one person on the phone told me I could have it until I was 21 (which I certainly don't want).

Despite their brilliant online banking and convience locally, I am getting a bit fed up. Each assistant offers different advice and would rather I have savings accounts or ISA's rather than an upgraded current account (or so it seems)

You are right about RBS seeming not to care about you. They have missed a trick there.

I have a couple of tips, first *you* decide what you want (convenience etc etc) and stick with it, secondly you may be able to opt-out of (in branch) marketing, or "ambushing" as I call it. (certainly Halifax/Bank of Scotland customers can opt-out of cashier "ambushing". Just ask, then get them to show you the settings on the screen.

I'm no longer eligible for a Revolve account on age grounds. Which is a pity because it has some cool features.

I'm still guessing that it is your earnings which is the stumbling block. If so, you may well experience the same elsewhere. Is it a cheque book or overdraft you particularly want? Up to you really what you do but I would say keep calm while exploring what options are available elsewhere.

rosevelvet

Thankyou for replying Jalexa, I try to avoid going in branch to discuss things as they do try to force various savings/ISA's on to me instead of upgrading my current account. They said themselves (on the phone) that they are puzzled why I have been denied this account and it is up to me to provide the details of my credit report and score. I get extremely anxious about these things and feel like I have to justify myself even though my custom has been nothing but ideal. I will not take out loans and credit cards at my age just to improve a rating that is probably specific to each bank and unnaccesable to me.

Guess all I can to is provide them with the credit report they asked for and if they refuse will have to go elsewhere, which is not really something I would like to do despite being a little fed up.

Oh and Im not looking for an account to get an overdraught or cheque book or any other benefits like discounts or insurance deals, just somewhere I can put and withdraw money from.

madgagoo

rosevelvet wrote: »

I'm actually 19. RBS seems more concerned with getting we unwanted ISA's and Savings accounts rather than setting me up a proper adult current account. What I find odd is that no one from RBS has contacted me about changing my account and one person on the phone told me I could have it until I was 21 (which I certainly don't want).

Despite their brilliant online banking and convience locally, I am getting a bit fed up. Each assistant offers different advice and would rather I have savings accounts or ISA's rather than an upgraded current account (or so it seems)

I would suggest going into a branch and speaking to an adviser. I can only speak from a Natwest point of view (but this should be the same as RBS). If you ask to upgrade from a revolve account to select then it should be 'almost' automatic. Ensure that you say you MUST keep the same account number, rather than applying for a new account & you should be fine. The bonus of this is that you keep the same account number as well, so you wont need to redirect and any credits.

I imagine the reason you have been declined a new account is that you have a no borrowing flag against your record with the bank, meaning you can't have any lending (and a select account is counted as lending, even if you have not requested an overdraft). This flag is added if you open an under 18 account and is not automatically removed when you reach 18 (and you could not have any lending facilities because of this). The branch can arrange to remove this flag now you are over 18.

Hopefully this makes sense but let me know if it doesn't!

pmduk

Lith wrote: »

And if this is an RBS branch in england, your wasting ya time, there getting sold to santander by xmas 2011.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, the sale to Santander is apparently unlikely this year now.

jalexa

rosevelvet wrote: »

Guess all I can to is provide them with the credit report they asked for and if they refuse will have to go elsewhere, which is not really something I would like to do despite being a little fed up.

Oh and Im not looking for an account to get an overdraught or cheque book or any other benefits like discounts or insurance deals, just somewhere I can put and withdraw money from.

Been reading the RBS Terms and Conditions. When I replied earlier I didn't realise that the Revolve account doesn't provide Standing Orders and Direct Debit. That is indeed a cr*p account for an adult. I can see why you want something better.

You've had Forum advice regarding the "no borrowing" marker and/or visiting a branch. Give that a try. The Terms and Conditions say RBS "may" change the account type when the account holder reaches 18. It would be perfectly reasonable to put RBS on the backfoot by explaining how discounted you feel with RBS that you reached 18 and were basically ignored. Ask how is that compatible with the "Charter" aspirations. Lay it on as thick as you like. *You* are the customer and don't let them forget that.

Really puzzled that they are asking you for your credit report. The application permits them to search your credit file.

I too have evidence of RBS "idiocy" from time to time. But I'm still a customer because as you point out their online system is excellent. I also find the telephone staff (relatively) excellent and UK based, but the main reason is, from experience, the level of "idiocy" elsewhere is so much higher.

Jib111

Can I just add that I had no problems getting a full offline debit card when I turned 18.

I applied online to Nationwide and was a accepted straight away for a blue offline debit card and Chequebook, I did already have a savings account with them so that might help but there wasn't much in it...

On top of that I was unemployed at the time, just thinking this might be worth aplling for. And if it's not a full account your after you'll be sure to get the basic cashcard+.

JaymesKenin_2

If I may make a suggestion - try HSBC, their online banking system beats any other I've experienced so far (for ease of use, at the very least) - Santander, Barclays & Natwest.

Put it this way, I did not manage to ever log into my Santander account!

claire16c

jalexa wrote: »

Been reading the RBS Terms and Conditions. When I replied earlier I didn't realise that the Revolve account doesn't provide Standing Orders and Direct Debit. That is indeed a cr*p account for an adult. I can see why you want something better.

You've had Forum advice regarding the "no borrowing" marker and/or visiting a branch. Give that a try. The Terms and Conditions say RBS "may" change the account type when the account holder reaches 18. It would be perfectly reasonable to put RBS on the backfoot by explaining how discounted you feel with RBS that you reached 18 and were basically ignored. Ask how is that compatible with the "Charter" aspirations. Lay it on as thick as you like. *You* are the customer and don't let them forget that.

Really puzzled that they are asking you for your credit report. The application permits them to search your credit file.

I too have evidence of RBS "idiocy" from time to time. But I'm still a customer because as you point out their online system is excellent. I also find the telephone staff (relatively) excellent and UK based, but the main reason is, from experience, the level of "idiocy" elsewhere is so much higher.

My husband used to have an RBS account and I can agree. He ended up closing the account, and getting a new one with barclays where I already have an account, and have never had any problems.

I used to have an account with them when I was younger, and when I was 16 they upgraded the account to a more adult one with a visa electron card, and then when I was 18 I went into the branch and asked for a visa debit card instead. They checked that I had a wage coming into the account which I did from a part time job, and they changed it with no fuss.

The fact that RBS cant seem to manage to do something similar with the OP does not suprise me. They were always a pain to deal with.