Told I am 'perfect customer' and then refused an account???

Gulligirl

Hello!

Need some advice please...

I have had the same Santander bank account since I was in my teens and decided it was high time to move to an account that offered a bit more. After lots of searching decided Halifax's reward account was the one. Went to the bank this morning to start the switch to be told that the only account they can offer me is their most basic one with a visa electron card?!? Even the advisor was shocked! She called head office but no joy.

I am in my late 20's, always in credit, never had a credit card / loan / store card / overdraft except a student loan which is now paid off, had the same job for 3 years and earn c. £19k, lived at my current address for 4 years, on the electoral role...... MSE's credit checker says I'm excellent!!

Any top tips on what I should do to become eligible to switch to a full bank account?

Thanks!

hcb42

try a different bank?

newfoundglory

hcb42 wrote: »

try a different bank?

I agree - no point wasting your time with Halifax.

missile

Get a credit card and build up some credit history.

Strangely those with zero credit history are not regarded as "perfect" customers. The muppet you spoke to at Halifax should have known their approval criteria for new customers.

If you have been with Santander since your teens, I assume you (unlike many others) are happy with the service they provide? Your quickest / easiest option may be to get a credit card with them and upgrade your existing account.

opinions4u

The muppet you spoke to at Halifax should have known their approval criteria for new customers.

A bit harsh. Unless they understand every tiny calculation within a remarkably complex credit scoring sytem, there's no chance of them knowing what the approval criteria are.

Gulligirl

Thanks for the suggestions. Guess I'll stick with Santander for a bit longer and try and build a credit rating with them.

Nine_Lives

I was the same as you - didn't want a credit card because they're bad. Bad bad bad!!

Then i get told that if you use one properly, it can benefit your score. So i did (& do).

If you're with Santander, you could take out their 123 card (beware the £24 a year fee). You get 3% cashback on fuel, 2% on dept stores & 1% on supermarkets (or the 2 & 1 might be the other way about). If you're going to make more than £24 per year on it via cashback then you're quids in. Pay it off in full each month & run it for a year or whatever. If you'll not make the £24 back then look at another card.


I know what you're saying though - my brother was refused for a first direct account. I was accepted. He only earns about £1k less than me now & i get about £18k.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I think with your salary you should be over the minimum amount paid into Halifax current account per month to be allowed a reward account.

Are you in shared accommodation? Perhaps someone else's credit score has been linked to yours by having the same address? Although I'm not too savvy about how they work credit scores out.

I guess having been rejected for a Halifax Reward account you should try another bank. Check out MSE's best bank accounts page.

Zorz_2

missile wrote: »

Get a credit card and build up some credit history.

Strangely those with zero credit history are not regarded as "perfect" customers. The muppet you spoke to at Halifax should have known their approval criteria for new customers.

They could give her just the account, without an overdraft facility! It's not like she specifically asked for credit...

It's not the first time I read here something like that and it still amazes me, considering how easily I got a bank account when I moved here in the UK. :question::think:

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Are you in shared accommodation? Perhaps someone else's credit score has been linked to yours by having the same address?

A credit history is assigned to individual persons, not addresses.

savageHK

Zorz wrote: »

They could give her just the account, without an overdraft facility! It's not like she specifically asked for credit...

I had the same problem at first; they won't give you a proper debit card if you don't score well, they'll only give the electron card (which is useless for some things). I had to spend 6 months on the electron card before being upgraded to the debit card proper and then wait another 6 months for a credit card (with a whopping £500 limit!!).

heloid

You can't get a current account without an "overdraft facility". Even if you ask for no overdraft they will still take the liberty of honouring payments and putting you in the negative with an 'unarranged overdraft'.
Wish I had an account with a proper card that declined when I was out of money on it.