Can I get a basic account?

TunaTwist

So back in November Halifax decided to close my account, they told me it'd be closed in 60 days without proof that I sold something (a bitcoin) but I brought in the proof, it wasn't enough, they decided to close my accounts with them. Which have over 10k sitting in them. I think this may have put a fraud mark on my credit file.

Zoom forwards to January when I went to the bank again and asked about the progress and they told me that for some reason the countdown of 60 days never began and they'd be starting that in January, ending 23rd of March but they said I'd get a cheque with my balance through the post in February. That was a lie and I've had nothing.

In the meanwhile I'm on JSA at the moment and to have an account to pay it into I could either have used my co-op current account (overdrawn from a mortgage payment, wouldn't have had any access to money) or open a new account. I applied for a Barclay's basic account. I got money to that but the very next day they closed my account for unspecified reasons. The next week I tried to open a Co-op cashminder basic account but that was flat out refused. Now today I've learned that they're terminating my current account with them as well, even after explaining that I should be able to pay off the outstanding balance in a week.

My question is, as I'm guessing this is to do with fraud (can't afford the CIFAS payment at the moment) is there *anything* I can do to get an account with literally anybody? I don't need anything like an overdraft but I do need to pay my mortgage (I have overpayments going forward another few months) as well as internet, electricity, gas and my phone bill. They're not expensive (about 400gbp/mo in total) and I need somewhere to stick money from JSA and in future when I'm employed again.

I've found myself today in a situation where I don't have a bank account and I have no idea what to do. Co-op have told me the account will simply be closed (wrote a letter to them about the Cashminder account they refused as they couldn't discuss it on the phone), Barclay's won't accept my custom even on a basic account, Halifax have banned me from all banks in the Lloyds group.

I'm a bit at a loss here, I never thought that a simple bitcoin transaction that wasn't even fraudulent on my end (backed up by the website owner, three others that got scammed and the person whose account got hijacked or whatever) would come to this.

(I hope this is the right section? I was thinking of posting it in CAB but I don't have the rights to post new threads there.)

Cheers

Tixy

Hi

Its difficult to advise without you knowing what is showing on your credit files in relation to fraud markers (and it does sound like that will be the problem).

Are you not able to get your free noddle report to see what if anything shows in the CIFAS section of that?

(The CAB section was a trial section that is no longer in use).

TunaTwist

I hadn't heard of noodle but to get through their registration you have to enter card details of a working non-prepaid card, and all of my cards are currently not working.

Tixy

Does using the existing co-op card details not get you through the sign up pages?

No credit cards at all? (I think you can use a credit card to sign up?)

TunaTwist

I entered the details from each card (I have a debit and a credit card but the debit card is to be closed as soon as it's been paid off and the credit card isn't in a usable state because neither is my debit card) in the hope that maybe it was just a number check, but they must maybe do a 1p deferral and then cancel it? At a guess? Either way it didn't work in the end.

I've applied for a Nationwide basic card (got through their credit check online apparently?) and they'll be sending me something to sign and bring to a branch (my mortgage is with them, I don't know what that's worth) but then this is a familiar story as my Barclay's card went through successfully but then got closed the day after I put money on it due to "ongoing checks" that they wouldn't go into any details about.

PaulW922

You only need check your Experian/Equifax file to see any CIFAS mark - the charge by post is £2 per report and you can write a cheque or get a postal order.

LplateSaver

PaulW922 wrote: »

You only need check your Experian/Equifax file to see any CIFAS mark - the charge by post is £2 per report and you can write a cheque or get a postal order.

I did a bit of rooting around for this information today. Only two cifas will show on a credit report

Protective Registration & Victim of Impersonation (if you have been the victim of identity fraud and if your lender has filed this for your own protection).

https://www.checkmyfile.com/jargon/cifas-entry.htm


This is the full list of cifas
Protective Registration –!where the entry on the database has been made at the request of the person named. The entry may be requested due to the person being a victim of crime, such as a burglary or theft, where personal documentation has been stolen. Stolen documentation can be used to apply for an account, policy, service or insurance claim in the victim's name. Protective Registration helps to prevent this. Victims of data breaches and those at particular risk of identity fraud may also register with the service.
Identity Fraud!–!where either a bogus identity or the identity of a genuine person is used without their consent, in an application for an account, policy, service or insurance claim. Also contained within this!fraud type are the details of the victim of impersonation filed for his/her own protection, which does not mean that he or she has committed fraud.
Facility Takeover!–!where an existing customer's facility (e.g. bank account) is hijacked by a fraudster and unauthorised transactions made, for example, money is transferred out, the address on the account changed, or new cards requested.
Application Fraud!–!where an applicant has used his/her own name but has made an application for an account, policy, service or insurance claim which contains a 'material falsehood' for example, false employment details, false income, or concealed addresses. The use of a false document (such as a payslip, bank statement or driving licence) when applying for an account, policy, service or insurance claim would also fall within this case type.
Asset Conversion Fraud!–!where a customer sells goods (usually a vehicle) that he/she does not have title to, under a hire-purchase, conditional sale, contract hire, leasing or rental agreement.
Misuse of Facility!–!Obtaining an account/policy or other facility with the deliberate intent of using that facility for a fraudulent purpose (for example, deliberately avoiding repayments or using an account to receive stolen funds or fraudulent transfers).
Insurance Claims Fraud!–!where false information and/or false documentation is supplied as part of an insurance claim.

LplateSaver

I know you said that you can't afford it but if I were you I'd scrape together the £10 and request your information from the Cifas agency because it looks like there must be something on it. I can't imagine the stress it is causing you not being able to open a bank account, I'd want to defend myself and have it end.

TunaTwist

Facility Takeover!–!where an existing customer's facility (e.g. bank account) is hijacked by a fraudster and unauthorised transactions made, for example, money is transferred out, the address on the account changed, or new cards requested.

This is what happened to the person I sold to, so nothing to do with me, I figured one would simply reverse the transaction and be done with it.

I'll save and send for a cifas at the start of next week. I should be able to scrape together a tenner grudgingly - I have other things to pay for too. It's a complete nightmare.

stator

In the mean time purchase a pre-paid VISA/MASTERCARD from supermarket for small internet transactions
Hope it all works out for you in the end

LplateSaver

So much for those fraud agencies reassurance that "No one should be refused credit just because of a CIFAS marker"