Bank Account Refusal

Rekusu

Hi there, Here is the thing! My wife, who is Japanese and has lived here with me for over 20 years, has applied for a Santander 123 a/c but been refused. The reason seems to be that she is not on the Electoral List, and as she is not a UK national, is unable to vote and therefore it is apparently illegal for her to be on the list. But she has had two bank accounts for 20 years in her own name, jointly owns our house and is named on the Council Tax register. I gather the Santander credit reference is automatic, so how can she overcome this refusal. She is not actually after a credit card, just to open an a/c and take advantage of the 3%. Thanks Rex

innovate

On the 28th of March you said she had got the 123?

Rekusu wrote: »

................ But, she has opened a Santander 123 a/c (no problems) ..............

dr_adidas01

innovate wrote: »

On the 28th of March you said she had got the 123?

Perhaps he lied or they opened it then closed it based on further checks?

Rekusu

Didn't lie as such, but I guess that both her and mine a/c opening was subject to the credit check. I passed easily on the day of application, but my wife's had to go for further approval for whatever reasons. She was rejected because of the non-electoral list issue but it has taken Santander almost two weeks to tell us that. The person we have been dealing with has reapplied with extra copies of bank statements, passport, driving license, shoe size, length of her finger nails, distance she can run and how long she spends in the garden, but he is not hopeful.

He says that Santander put credit checks out to an agency who just tick the boxes. If there is no check for electoral list, then automatic refusal. She has had two bank a/cs for 20 years, has a credit card but hardly ever uses it and if/when she does, it is paid fully when the statement arrives. But none of this appear to matter. Nor does that fact the she intends to deposit 20k into the account. Seems Santander don't want her money!
What's next?
Rekusu


PS Looking back on what I said, it was regarding a Santander ISA, which did not happen because of the no NI issue. At that time, it appeared to us that her a/c would be OK, subject to the usual checks, which unlike my checks, was not going to happen instantly. But we did not consider that she would be rejected for an account.

innovate

Rekusu wrote: »

Seems Santander don't want her money!

Like any other bank these days, Santander don't need depositors money when they can get cheap money from the Treasury.

If your wife is desperate enough for the account, she would probably have to become a british citizen. A simple, although potentially protracted, formality for her, I would imagine. She can then register on the ER and job done.

If she wants to retain her japanese citizenship, she'll just have to accept that some UK banks are out of bounds for her. I am sure this will be outweighed by other advantages out of bounds for british citizens.

Rekusu

Thanks for your reply. Unlike the UK, Japan does not recognise dual nationality. If she got a UK passport, she would have to renounce her Japanese citizenship and that will not happen.

Returning to my original question, there must be a way to change whatever info is on whatever organisations data base that automatically refuse an account application, based solely upon the fact that she is not on the ER?

jonesMUFCforever

Rekusu wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. Unlike the UK, Japan does not recognise dual nationality. If she got a UK passport, she would have to renounce her Japanese citizenship and that will not happen.

Returning to my original question, there must be a way to change whatever info is on whatever organisations data base that automatically refuse an account application, based solely upon the fact that she is not on the ER?

Why - they obviously don't want her as a customer - move on.

[Deleted User]

Santander (and other banks) couldn't care less if your wife is registered to vote. The reason lenders use the electoral roll is to IDENTIFY you, not to make sure that you're discharging your democratic right to elect your leaders. I guess this is simply because by being on the roll, you have provided identification and proof of residence to the local authority, thereby saving the bank the hassle/cost of identifying you themselves.

As your wife cannot get on the register, she should be able to prove identity/residence by submitting paper copies of passport, utility/credit bills, council tax forms (marriage certificate?) etc. Call Santander and ask.

People sometimes go on about the electoral roll as though it's an absolute must have to get any form of credit, this isn't true at all. I got a First Direct current account (and credit card) last year and I wasn't on the electoral roll at that time - and First Direct are supposed to be one of the pickier lenders.

In fact, now I think about it, I remember that I had also applied for a Santander account (savings I think) and because I wasn't on the roll they wanted me to submit documents (these didn't have to be officially certified or signed if I remember right). I didn't bother as the account wasn't a big deal for me at the time but I can tell you from my own experience that they can accept paper identification in lieu of the roll.

Rekusu

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Why - they obviously don't want her as a customer - move on.

You are correct and I would, because in all honesty, I don't really care for Santander, but who else is giving 3%?

Lazyloki,

The marriage cert. That's a good one that we did not include.

We will await the outcome of the appeal with all the other photo-copies.

jonesMUFCforever

Rekusu wrote: »

You are correct and I would, because in all honesty, I don't really care for Santander, but who else is giving 3%?

Lazyloki,

The marriage cert. That's a good one that we did not include.

We will await the outcome of the appeal with all the other photo-copies.

Lloyds TSB Vantage accounts?