Post Office CC ridiculous application process

maggiecon

I applied for a PO cc a month ago, I just want to let people know how horrible a process it is to get one.


They sent a list of documentation to provide, one document from each of four sub-categories. these documents all had to be signed by a solicitor or someone at the post office.


I sent all info and they wrote back saying it was no good as the girl in the PO didn't write the right certification phrase on the document, even though she signed it and date stamped, obviously they don't trust their own staff.


Went through the whole process again only to be told my proof of address is no good, they ask for a utility bill I sent them a letter from my electric company to show I had signed up to prepay, this apparently is no good as it is not a bill... you don't get a bill with prepay.


I then sent them my Talktalk phone bill, this is no good as it was not posted, I use online billing.


I then sent them my mortgage statement, same as the Talktalk bill. So 5 trips to the post office to get documents signed and still no further forward.


Just had a raging conversation with their call centre staff as I cant provide them what they want because all the companies I use don't post bills.


What a joke, sorry for the rant but just had to get that off my chest. and wanted to let people know the rigmarole you have to go through.


Im away to try for another cc and hope the application does not affect my chances

GingerBob_3

Another example of money laundering paranoia, this time coupled with stupid staff. Cancel your application and go elsewhere, but I don't know who will be guaranteed not to go through this unnecessary time-wasting exercise. My last application was with Nationwide. They suggested they might ask for ID proof but never did. Your own bank might be a good bet.

maggiecon

I just applied for one with Lloyds bank online, they are to contact me within 4 days so fingers crossed.


I am only applying for one as I have an AMEX BA card and there a lot of retailers who don't accept it, so I just need a backup Visa or MasterCard.

The_Boss

I applied for a Post Office card and didn't have to do any of that.

Just wanted everyone to know how straightforward a process it is and didn't need to go through any "rigamarole" to get my card.

yangptangkipperbang

I tried to open a PO savings account last year, started going through the same process.

Exactly the same when the PO Counter staff didn't "certify" my documents correctly - it all came back in the post telling ME that I had done it wrong - it then all went in the bin !!

If they didn't want my custom there were others who did ............

giblet10

I got the PO Mastercard a few months ago and didn't have to go through that but have read stories about people who have.
I haven't had cause to phone them yet so can't comment on how good or bad their staff are.
Their website is quite basic though.

Herbalus

I wonder how many applications PO have that aren't completed because ID checks are returned as false. It sure seems like more than other companies.

Given my past experience, if ID verification is required and I can't take my documents into a branch to show somebody, I don't continue with the application. There are plenty of other providers who don't require faffing with certified documents and postal delays etc.

maggiecon

Glad to know I'm not the only one that was made to do this.


For anyone else who is thinking of applying they have 4 sub-categories to fulfil
List a is ID eg drivers license
List b is proof of address eg Utility bill
List c is Bank Details
List d is Employment Details


To date I have sent them my drivers license, letter of registration for electricity, telephone and broadband bill, mortgage statement, bank statement and payslips.


The strange thing is I apparently didn't qualify as my evidence for list b, proof of address was insufficient, yet they wrote to me five times at that address, surely that is proof enough. Common sense has to prevail at some point?


Is it any wonder the Post Office is always on the news about how they aren't making enough money.

Alexd52

I have just recently applied for, and got, a PO mastercard. All I had to do was fill in the online application form, and was accepted within a week, no other forms etc.

maggiecon

Just a quick update, applied for a Lloyds credit card on the 28th as I was getting nowhere with Post Office and received written confirmation from them on the 1st August to say I had been approved and got a credit limit of £7.5k. A quick five minute online application is all it took.


They have a similar balance transfer to the PO 15 months at 0% with a 0.7% fee. I think the PO was 12 months 0% with 0.5% fee. So all in all a good outcome.

Scrilla

I had problems when applying for one in January. Checked with them on the phone first to see if the documents I was sending off were appropriate because I am almost completely paperless so wanted to check and they said it was fine. Got photocopies of the ones I did have in paper form certified by the Post Office. Then they said they needed my online statements certified as originals: print it out and get the PO to sign them! (Huh?!?) Did that, wasn't ok. Oh, and each time they communicated this by sending a letter to my address. They said to get the bank to certify the statements or get them to send out a COPY (which looks EXACTLY like the printed online statement) and get it certified by the PO... anyway, took about 2 months and I didn't use the card in the end for what it was going to be used for.

Applied for Santander CC on Thursday online, got approved the day after. Probably helped that I had an account with them already though.

Out of interest, those who got approved for the PO CC with no hassle: are you on the Open register? I'm not and I'm wondering if that's the one they check for addresses: i.e. if you're on it, they approve quickly.