When did you open your current account? Security question

bobblebob

Rang Halifax to ask about my account, and this was one of the security questions. I opened my current account some 10 years ago, so i had no idea on the date. Does anyone? I failed so have to ring back

YorkshireBoy

I'm surprised they didn't have some back up questions! When I've 'failed' security (although not with Halifax) I've always been asked another (more easily answered) question.

For the record, my longest held current account was opened on 19th November 1979.

HoneyAndLemon

Yea I know when I opened mine.

Anyway, they would tend to ask this question if there was very little information to ask, e.g no recent transactions, no DD's,etc. In this case the system will choose the only options left to ask, which unfortunately results in these difficult questions.

They should have offered to sent you out a security number which you can use in future when you call up. However you have to wait for it to arrive in the post. If you need to call back sooner than that, then you'll have to go through the questions again. If you pass the next time, ask for a security number, and in future they will only ask for that.

bobblebob

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I'm surprised they didn't have some back up questions! When I've 'failed' security (although not with Halifax) I've always been asked another (more easily answered) question.

For the record, my longest held current account was opened on 19th November 1979.

They had other questions, which i answered correctly. I just failed that one

Mrs_Ryan

The only one I actually remember was my now (thank God) defunct A&L account which I opened on December 24th 2007.

My current Barclays account (I think its used to be called the Basic Bank Account but its called something different now I'm sure) dates from circa 2002 which I think is pretty impressive

mgdavid

I don't waste their or my time phoning them; do it online or walk in if I need to. Been with them since 1968, never let me down.:j

innovate

There is no way they can check the date you opened your current account.

Think about it - - they aren't asking you for the sort code and account number of your current account, nor for your authority that they can ask your current account bank for any information (e.g. date you opened the account).

Plus, for people who have multiple current accounts (like many of us MSEers have), which account are they talking about?

Just give them an approximate date that you can remember. What they are looking for is something with a bit of longevity - therefore it's always good to keep an old current account that you don't really use much. Just in case they will follow up for more details, don't try to be smart and make up things you can't prove!

NB. they will be able to do some approximation checks against your Credit Reference records if you authorise them to do a credit check. But they are unlikely to pull you up if you are out by a few months, and they will most definitely be very confused if you have umpteen current accounts.

YorkshireBoy

innovate wrote: »

There is no way they can check the date you opened your current account.

Think about it - - they aren't asking you for the sort code and account number of your current account, nor for your authority that they can ask your current account bank for any information (e.g. date you opened the account).

Plus, for people who have multiple current accounts (like many of us MSEers have), which account are they talking about?

Just give them an approximate date that you can remember. What they are looking for is something with a bit of longevity - therefore it's always good to keep an old current account that you don't really use much. Just in case they will follow up for more details, don't try to be smart and make up things you can't prove!

NB. they will be able to do some approximation checks against your Credit Reference records if you authorise them to do a credit check. But they are unlikely to pull you up if you are out by a few months, and they will most definitely be very confused if you have umpteen current accounts.

I think you've misread the OP (and the subsequent replies).

The first sentence of the OP's post starts...

"Rang Halifax to ask about my account"

This was a security question asked by Halifax of their customer regarding the customer's existing account.

freezspirit

I remember I had to type in the year of my longest running account when I was trying to setup online banking. Took the passbook in to halifax, had not used account for over ten years and had less than £5. Anyway cashier told me the day, month and year. Also found out that they had the wrong addrerss so got that sorted out too.

bobblebob

One thing i didnt know until today is when they ask these questions, the person on the other end doesnt know the correct answer. They just input your answer into the computer, and that tells them if you passed or not.

I always thought the computer tells them what to ask, but it was the staff member who decided if it was correct or not

DreamerV

bobblebob wrote: »

One thing i didnt know until today is when they ask these questions, the person on the other end doesnt know the correct answer. They just input your answer into the computer, and that tells them if you passed or not.

I always thought the computer tells them what to ask, but it was the staff member who decided if it was correct or not

Tax Credits is on a similar system. They don't need authorisation to credit check you (as a post above implies) because they do not have the answers. They just type in your answer, and move on and ask the next one that comes up on the screen, till the computer says yes or no.

With regards to when I opened my account - I am usually asked that question, and always just give the year. It's always enough