Debt free but now with poor 'credit rating'

pooraschurchmice

Last time I posted was two years ago when I wanted to find the best way to be debt and mortgage free.

Well I did it! Made redundant last christmas and used redundancy to repay credit cards etc. Then sold family home and bought a house and a few acres of land mortgage free on a scottish island, keep hens, grow veggies and hopefully find a job to pay my way in life, supplemented by savings, if needed, equivalent to about three/four years salary for the 'squeezed middle'. I know I should be very relieved and happy, but there's a catch.

My problem now is I have discovered my credit rating is worthless. No job, no mortgage, no debts and only just moved in. I need to change my bank (Santander) because the nearest branch is a 10 hour round trip. I cannot even get Santander to accept my change of address unless I bring proof of ID into a branch. So even if I do proceed with applying to a new bank, it will be flagged up that I am still with a bank from my old address and warn of a possible fraud.

So help needed please. Without credit cards, mortgage, job and only this week registered on the electoral roll, any ideas how I can improve my credit worthiness to enable me to open another bank account which is more accessible.

Should I really carry out the 10 hours journey to show a member of santander staff my passport and driving licence, or could there be a alternative. I've already suggesting getting my solicitor to confirm proof of ID, faxing a certified copy of passport and driving licence from my solicitor or sending original documents recorded delivery, all rejected with a resounding 'computer/procedures say no'.

Trebor16

Have you seen the Santander terms and conditions for notifying them of a change of address? Does it specifically say that you have to do this by going into a branch? I just tried the process with Nationwide and it allows me to do it online through my online banking. No messing about driving 10 hours to get to a branch, nice and simple.

It sounds like Sanatander are being very awkward. If you have held an account with them for a few years why do they need verification of ID? After all, when you get put on the voters register you just fill out a form and are not required to produce ID. So why the song and dance by Santander?

pooraschurchmice

Hi trebor 16

I used to be an Alliance and Leicester account holder for over 10 years then Santander took over. I too thought it would be straightforward too as my daughter was constantly changing her address when she was a student last year. I called the call centre and at first they said it would be no problem, but apparently because I have more that one account with them (one that the salary and bills came from, one for 'spending' and a savings account) I had to go to a branch, this i was told, was to ensure the security of my accounts. There is more risk to me if more than one account address is changed.

No I'm not sure of the logic behind that either!

I did then try to change it online, but I just got a message with words to the effect that some details need to be checked and they would be in contact.

Thanks for reading and replying. All ideas gratefully received.

Trebor16

It might be worth giving head office a call rather than the call centres to find out why you have to go though such nonsense.