RBS "Automatic" Upgrade

someone

A few months ago I got a letter saying that they would automatically upgrade my account to a student account. Now I thought this was rather underhanded as they should not presume "he has an account with us and is going to uni so would like our student account".

Anyway I went into branch to say that I did not want this to happen, the lady took my details and said she would sort it out.

Fast forward today and I got a surprise in the post, not only had the post came early but it had a welcome pack from RBS. I phoned the number on the letter and they told me to phone the branch, when the branch had a look at the account the said it is still showing up an normal account and I should just bin the stuff they had sent.

Oh, in the pack they had one of them lost key things, a VUE 2 for 1 card and a pack of 2 for 1 cinema vouchers. (think I might keep these)

Anyone else had this problem?

melancholly

i guess what concerns me is that they somehow knew he was going to university... that seems a bit odd. they can't assume that everyone will go to uni so how did they know?

i'd also recommend getting your son to deal with this from now on - if he's an adult then i'm not sure that they should be allowing you to make decisions about his account without him being there to show that he agrees?

and i hope he will be getting a student account with another bank instead? the interest free overdraft will be a lifesaver for him, so even if he doesn't want one with RBS, he probably should get one with someone.

someone

melancholly, Its me posting this (i.e. the account holder) so I am dealing with this.

They find out from UCAS

I am getting a student account with another back and that is what annoys me, they just presume you want THEIR ACCOUNT. This is why I dont actualy bank with RBS, everything they do seems to be disorganised . My granddad sent this account up along time ago but the staff never thought of registering for no tax on interest. Then ever few years you had to complete a form to move to the "next account" as you were too old for current kids account you had.

melancholly

do you put your bank details on your UCAS application then?! i applied in 1998 when it was all paper-based, so it's all change now. i think it's really bad if UCAS do hand out information like that.

i don't think it's RBS being all that abd really, with the interest and changing accounts and things - all banks are pretty shoddy about telling you things that could benefit you, and signing a form every few years isn't all that bad. banks aren't there to 'help' you - you have to make sure you get what you need from them! sounds like you're doing this already, but don't get your hopes up that any other bank will suddenly be amazing!