Another one to add to the list - First Trust Bank - £125 switch incentive

mhuk01

Just tried calling to open an account, unfortunately I didn't pass the 'check', however I have a strong feeling it was purely to do with my postcode not being Northern Ireland...

starM

I got feeling they are not inputting details correctly.

On 2 occasions they inputted my name wrong - This flagged up on my equifax file. On both of these time they have asked for my date of birth and contact telephone number.

On 3rd occasion they adviser was trying to input details incorrectly but I asked her to repeat the details back to me. Spelling of my name was again incorrect. I told her correct spelling. On this occasion she did not ask for my date of birth or contact telephone number. I guess she inputted any date of birth in order to fail the ID check. Name was correctly typed this time around as showing on Equifax file.

starM

Just tried again - Made sure she had all details correct - She came back with ID decline - She said there is ID but not enough for telephone application. Rubbish - So far any other banks applications I have made ID check gone through without a problem.

karlie88

starM wrote: »

I got feeling they are not inputting details correctly.

On 2 occasions they inputted my name wrong - This flagged up on my equifax file. On both of these time they have asked for my date of birth and contact telephone number.

On 3rd occasion they adviser was trying to input details incorrectly but I asked her to repeat the details back to me. Spelling of my name was again incorrect. I told her correct spelling. On this occasion she did not ask for my date of birth or contact telephone number. I guess she inputted any date of birth in order to fail the ID check. Name was correctly typed this time around as showing on Equifax file.

I also had the same feeling that this was happening to me.

Tried a 2nd time a couple of weeks ago and got rejected. I signed up to Equifax and noted spelling errors on both applications - despite double checking with the telephone adviser.

It seems to me that they are deliberately making it more difficult for non-NI residents to open an account.

Funnily enough, my family member who managed to open an account lives in Bangor, North Wales - coincidence? Perhaps the advisor thought they were a NI resident and weren't fully aware of postcodes in Bangor, NI?

castle96

It really does make you wonder how their advisers are briefed out each morning ! Do they get a bonus for each non-'Irish' applicant they turn down. Wonder if it would be possible to accuse/bring a race accusation !?

MARTYM8`

castle96 wrote: »

It really does make you wonder how their advisers are briefed out each morning ! Do they get a bonus for each non-'Irish' applicant they turn down. Wonder if it would be possible to accuse/bring a race accusation !?

To be fair they are the Northern Ireland operating arm of Allied Irish Banks.

And while for some reason while they don’t publicly say so they clearly only want NI resident customers they clearly do as that is where their branch network is.

English or Scottish or Welsh people who live in Belfast, Armagh or Derry would not be turned down. Most local building societies similarly have local restrictions e.g. the Vernon only allows applicants who live within 25 miles of Stockport to open accounts – 26.5 miles and you have no chance.

starM

MARTYM8` wrote: »

To be fair they are the Northern Ireland operating arm of Allied Irish Banks.

And while for some reason while they don’t publicly say so they clearly only want NI resident customers they clearly do as that is where their branch network is.

English or Scottish or Welsh people who live in Belfast, Armagh or Derry would not be turned down. Most local building societies similarly have local restrictions e.g. the Vernon only allows applicants who live within 25 miles of Stockport to open accounts – 26.5 miles and you have no chance.

If they don't want to open up an accounts for non NI residents then they should make it clear. Just declining ID checks is not acceptable.

castle96

too late for an Easter Uprising !