Nationwide flexi account.

FannyHill

I read that if you use a Nationwide cashcard abroad to withdraw cash it's cheaper than many other banks.
I already have three bank accounts and two credit cards so don't really need another bank account but thought well I can just get a basic flexi account and put some cash in it and then use it abroad to withdraw.
I obtained the booklet and application form and took it in to my local Nationwide branch.The booklet tells you what you need - one proof only for ID passport,driving licence etc and one proof only of address gas or electricity bill,tel bill for a landline,council tax bill etc. It also states that if you cannot provide any on the list contact the branch as they may be able to accept other items. In other words the impression given is that they will try to be helpful.
Anyway I took in my passport and tel bill with the application form. I also had a bank statement with my address from one of my other bank accounts but the girl said one item for name and one for address was enough.
I'm not on the voter's list at the moment so was willing to provide more than one item if necessary.
I received a letter a couple of days later asking for my council tax bill but unfortunately I can't find it.It's in a box I'm sure but is somewhere I can't find it. I did find one from Dec 2003 but they won't accept that.
Anyway I phoned the branch,they said they would phone me back....no return call. I phoned back again and spoke to the branch manager and complained about not being phoned back. Anyway the manager stated he must have my latest council tax bill and nothing else is acceptable as they did a check and I'm not on the voters list.
I explained that all I wanted was a basic flexi account no cheque book,overdraft or credit card as I would only use it to withdraw money when abroad. He wouldn't budge.

I then wrote a letter to head office in Northampton saying that they seemed very inflexible at my local branch and the booklet states that there may be other forms of proof of address you can use but this guy insists on the one item I can't find at the moment. I think he's a little upset that I complained about not being phoned back and said I hadn't even joined yet and I could see how poor the customer service at that branch was,and perhaps he is being inflexible to get his own back.
Anyway electricity bills,phone bills,bank statements,fuel bills,letters from Inland Revenue, Tv Licence,I'm also in the phone directory but none of this will do.
The head office have faxed my letter of complaint to the manager of my branch and he's written back saying he's sorry I had to write to head office to complain and he cannot budge on the council tax bill and once I get the new one shortly around March/ April take it in and he may reconsider.

I was hoping the head office itself would look into it rather than send it right back to the manager.I don't want the person I'm complaining about to deal with the complaint.

I've never been refused a bank account or credit card and my credit file last time I checked was fine. I suppose I could send a letter to the Register of Electors to be put on the voters list but for a basic account I'm surprised this guy is being so insistent.
I joined another bank two years ago from my present address and they opened it without any problems.

Should I just leave it as this guy obviously doesn't want to be helpful in any way or write again to a different section of Nationwide,some department where they won't just fax my letter back to the same manager.

Any advice appreciated.

Many thanks.

thesaint

Ask the council for a copy of your council tax bill.

FannyHill

Yes I could do that but their booklet states that "if you are unable to produce any of the items please contact your local branch as there may be other forums of ID you can use".
It doesn't say in the booklet we must have a council tax bill only.
If the manager keeps insisting on the one thing I can't find it makes me think he's trying to be difficult.He certainly doesn't sound helpful on the phone.

Years ago on the Esther Rantzen Tv prog they had this Jobsworth feature. People like parking attendants and those with a little authority who tried to be awkward saying "I can't let you park there isn't more than my jobsworth. :rotfl:

kenshaz

I would pursue this to the end ,make sure you get an account ,then complain again about this managers attitude ,they are closing ranks because you complained about him and he is using his discretion to spite you .It will be easy to get a statement of payment for the council tax.Good luck I understand your frustration ,but let it make you more determined ,the account is worth having ,it has saved me a lot of money in charges abroad,do not blame Nationwide because of a few bad more than by jobs worth attitudes.

paulboy83

How do you get any credit not being on the electoral register?

I wasnt on the electoral register for a while and was turned down a few times for a few things and discovered that the majority of lenders wont offer any kind of credit without checking you are on the electoral roll.

Perhaps they are just running a check to ensure you are who you say you are as you only want a basic account and to do so they need to use the electoral register as its the easiest way. And (i thought) its a legal thing that we all have to be on there. I assume if you arent on that list then they need something from the council proving you live there?

FannyHill

I live 25 miles from this branch, I have another branch in another town about 25 miles away in a different direction.l suppose I could go in there and speak to them in person and ask if I can open a flexi account with them even though I'm not on the voters list. I think the first branch might be more trouble than it's worth and another branch might be better.
I have the letter from the Register of Electors asking me to give my personal details to be put on the list so I could return it but I don't know how long it takes to put me on. Or I suppose I could wait for my new council tax bill and then go this other branch.

I think it's just the fact that I think the branch manager should try to be helpful to customers and isn't that is a little annoying.
I feel that I'm giving them the business and they act as if they are doing me a favour.


I think you "have" to fill in the census form but I didn't think it was a legal requirement to be on the voters list.

paulboy83

You do have to be on the electoral register.

Courtesy of google and The city of london:

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/about_us/voting/register_of_electors/

Register of Electors
The 2007 Register of Electors was published on 1 December 2006.

The Register of Electors is a list of residents in the City of London who have registered to vote in Parliamentary, European Parliamentary and Greater London Authority elections for the Mayor and London Assembly. It is a legal requirement to be registered and each local council in the UK will compile its own Register of Electors. You cannot vote in elections if your name is not included on the Register and you may also find difficulty obtaining credit or a loan because the full register can be sold to authorised credit reference agencies who use it to confirm your identity.

I'd think its probably something to do with the fact you arent registered, which means they have different procedures in place.

YorkshireBoy

FannyHill wrote:

I don't know how long it takes to put me on. Or I suppose I could wait for my new council tax bill and then go this other branch.

Wouldn't it be better to make one phone call or send one e-mail to your council to a) find out how soon you can be added to the Electoral Roll, and b) as thesaint says above, get them to send you a copy of this years Council Tax bill?

FannyHill

OK if it's a legal requirement I'll send off the last letter I got with my details to them.

Just had a look at the letter and you can be on the register but choose not to appear on the edited register,although obviously in my case I do want to appear on the list.


:T

I tend not to vote as there isn't any party in my area that are worth voting for. The only one I ever liked was Screaming Lord Sutch :snow_laug

ManAtHome

You can choose not to appear in the "spammers version" (that's the one they sell to various companies). The one you can't opt out of is the one used by banks and credit agencies.

FannyHill

Do the junk mail companies use the edited version ?


I don't want more junk mail.


If you have two flats in two different parts of the UK and use them both do you still only register with one council ?