Student bank account closure

Patty1313

Although ordinarily resident abroad, I was advised by the Santander (in writing) that I could open a home student account if I obtained a British passport which I did. On opening the account, I was asked for a home address in England and gave my grandmother's where I normally stay when in the UK. After several visits to the branch, I was then told it would have to be an international account with no overdraft facility and with bank charges. I enquired in other banks and only then discovered that I had to be living 3 years in the UK for a home account. Angry at the misinformation and poor service with the Santander, I called them and told them not to go ahead with the application. I opened an international account with Barclays (debit card and no overdraft). They asked for my British passport but my home address abroad. I never received a card as I was 'under investigation' and after a month of waiting was handed a letter (apparently it was posted but never arrived) stating that my account was closed and told to remove my money immediately. No reason was given.

Can I do anything to clarify all this? I have no credit history in the UK and have never had any sort of bank account before. I am worried that if I try to open an account somehere else the same thing will happen.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

innovate

Why do you need a UK student account if you don't study in the UK?

jonesMUFCforever

How did Santander get your name and address?

dalesrider

I think someone did not tell Santander the whole truth when 1st contacting them about opening a account.
Did you say you lived in the UK?

Best advise.

Start again and tell us exactly why you want a UK bank account. Are you planning to become a student?

Seems to be more missing info, that is provided....

Including the title, as no where in your post is any thing about a "Closed student account"....

Patty1313

Thank you for your responses.

In answer to the questions:

I am now studying at university in the UK which is why I need a bank account.

My parents bank with the Santander in Spain and through a Spanish area manager we were given the contact details of the person who advised me from the UK about the UK student account. He was aware that I had lived outside the UK as our email correspondence began while I was still in Spain and specifically stated that I would be eligible on obtaining a British passport.

jonesMUFCforever

Patty1313 wrote: »

Thank you for your responses.

In answer to the questions:

I am now studying at university in the UK which is why I need a bank account.

My parents bank with the Santander in Spain and through a Spanish area manager we were given the contact details of the person who advised me from the UK about the UK student account. He was aware that I had lived outside the UK as our email correspondence began while I was still in Spain and specifically stated that I would be eligible on obtaining a British passport.

Then he was obviously wrong.
You can have an account (probably basic) - it does not have to be an International one unless you cannot provide proof of address in UK.You will not get any credit facilities.

innovate

This site should help: http://www.bba.org.uk/media/article/bank-account-access-in-the-uk-for-non-residents

Patty1313

Thanks for the suggestions and the very helpful link.


I have written to Barclays to explain the different decisions and steps I have taken, but I don't know what the outcome will be. They closed an account with no credit facility. Something is wrong, I just don't know what and they won't tell me as even the local branch tried to find out and they were unable to.

I didn't know you could be accused and found guilty without even knowing what you are accused of.

zerog

The thing is, you don't need a British passport to open a student account in the UK. I opened mine with HSBC from overseas, and got an overdraft and credit card as well. The only stipulation was to tell them my UK address once I arrived.

After 3 years, Santander gave me a student account with overdraft as well. I still don't have a British passport as they want me to find my grandparents' tombstones in 3 different countries to get their dates of birth!! (or I can make them up, the DOBs were probably made up anyway, and the only way to check would be for a civil servant to go on an all-expenses grave-finding trip too...)

If you have an official letter to your address in the UK, you should be able to open a normal account or at least a basic account with any bank, though you should stay away from Santander and Barclays now. If no letter but you have a driving licence, you can convert it to a GB one which will then have your address. I presume you have a Spanish passport, this is acceptable to open accounts with most banks.