Banking with TSB and issues.

rfcpatrick09

Hello, first of all I am a foreign student on student visa studying in the UK. Have been in the UK for 3 years now, also studying accounting and finance so am very sensitive about anything money related as I would like to get the best out of having a bank account.

Due to the visa regulations, I am only allowed to get one bank account at a time. For instance, if I am banking with Lloyds right now and would want to bank with Natwest, I can't just go to Natwest to open one but have to close with Lloyds then go to Natwest to open a new one.

Barclays have been quite a joke so I decided to bank to TSB and opened a current account with no overdraft last month. I have been having many issues since then.

1. I have never been able to get on online banking. Not even once. I have tried to get on online banking via my iPhone, macbook pro (Safari browser), desktop (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox). It always comes back as we had to log you out/technical difficulties. Have been ringing TSB few times, they promise me to fix it (though saying there's no errors and they have reset my account for few times no luck) never got to fix it. 2 months into having this new account, I still have to ring TSB to find out my balance or have to dash to cashpoint to check. Absolutely have no control over my account as I can't even check where and how much I have spent on which day. So if someone decides to debit my account wrongfully at night, it will have to be the next morning that I will find out, or ever find out if I decide not to go to cash point for few days.

2. I am a South Korean. There is a very fine line between South Korea and North Korea. It is one of the most controversial land as it's the only officially divided country in the world and the one up North is constantly threatening the South that they will deploy few nukes on us. Obviously I have given Republic of Korea which is the official name of South Korea when I opened with TSB, though I found out today that they have listed me as North Korean national. For some, it may sound like something you can laugh about and leave it but for Koreans, this is a very sensitive matter and even though it perhaps is irrelevant but started to think I couldn't access their online banking due to being registered as a North Korean. Obviously I have nothing to do with any communism matters and have no intention to money laundering to overseas to fund for nuclear bombs that maniac is trying to build. I am sure I am just being a bit oversensitive about this whole thing but I do receive about £15-20k a year from my parents back in South Korea and I don't want FSA on me because TSB made a stupid mistake and the British government starts to think some North Korean is laundering money.

I am so sorry if it's too long. I was just wondering what the next course of action I have to take. I obviously can close account with TSB and go elsewhere but this would take quite long time and being as a foreigner it is not always guaranteed that I will be receiving a current account as I do not have any credit histories. (Always have bought phones pay as you go and paid full price for the phone. No credit cards)
Also for the negligence and inconvenience they have caused, I was wondering if it will be ever possible to make a legal claim on them though compensation would be nice but that's not really paramount at this point. I know my case is not like someone who's been charged loads of money for nothing but I want them to learn a lesson or two. (For a massive high street bank like TSB, it'd be hard to but still want to try)

Whoever reads this whole thread and replies will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

ProudDad

Hi OP

My initial advice would be to call into a branch (if account opened in branch go to the one you opened it at). You'll need to take your passport in so that they can amend your nationality on the system.

Someone in branch should also be able to get your internet banking sorted or at least get internet banking help desk to sort it.

Finally about your concerns I would say make a complaint as through no fault of your own they have caused you a great deal of offence. This should be quantified and reimbursed along with any expenses. Main thing is if your not happy with their solution to your complaint speak up because within reason they have to look at an alternative (eg more compensation).

Hope you get this sorted.

System

I would concur with this.

Give TSB the chance to correct it in branch and then anything left outstanding lodge as a written complaint. As you've probably noticed, many banks aren't the best handling something out of the norm due to poor staff training.

ProudDad wrote: »

Hi OP

My initial advice would be to call into a branch (if account opened in branch go to the one you opened it at). You'll need to take your passport in so that they can amend your nationality on the system.

Someone in branch should also be able to get your internet banking sorted or at least get internet banking help desk to sort it.

Finally about your concerns I would say make a complaint as t

Hope you get this sorted.

grumbler

rfcpatrick09 wrote: »

Due to the visa regulations, I am only allowed to get one bank account at a time.

Are you sure?

jonesMUFCforever

grumbler wrote: »

Are you sure?

I am reading it as a visa that you get in your passport rather than the visa card regulations - unless I have misunderstood your post.:D

grumbler

I am reading it the same way, but I've never heard of such restriction/regulations before.

Thrugelmir

So if someone decides to debit my account wrongfully at night, it will have to be the next morning that I will find out, or ever find out if I decide not to go to cash point for few days.

Is this for real. Can you not manage your affairs without constantly checking the balance? Unsure what you expect from a current account. As a very basic service. Where more often or not people create their issues.