Help with getting a current account

suzy10

Hi,

Please can anyone advise my husband and I on getting a current account?
For the past year we have had a cash account with Barclays Bank. This is a totally useless account, you can't even get internet banking to see where your money is going. We had to set up this account when we returned from abroad in 2006. We thought after 6 months Barclays would upgrade us to a normal current account.

We have run the account with no problems, never had a letter from the bank about going overdrwn etc. Over £3000 per month goes into this account!

3 months ago we applied to upgrade and they turned us down, saying something came up with Experian. We paid for a credit search with Experian and nothing came up on it, so now totally bewildered.
Went this week and the same thing has happened, told them we had got a credit search done on us and nothing found. Barclays said there was nothing they could do.

Not sure what to do next. Any advice would be gratefully received.
Is there any other banks we should try?

Thanks
Suzy

floss2

How about A & L or Natwest? Both do basic accounts, with internet banking.

I'm with Natwest & have had no problems (even when claiming £3k of bank charges!)

Crown

Could you not try somewhere else or is there a reason you need to be with Barclays? I moved to the Abbey when I was up to my neck in it and opened a basic account with just a cash card. THere basic account does come with online banking though and this has been a godsend as I can do bank transfers and standing orders.

Since not having a card it had the benefit of of not using it on impulse purchases.

misspoppy

Hi

try the co-op they have a basic account if you are turned down for a full account, they give you a great online facility and you also get a debit card. Are you on the electoral roll this could be the problem the other could be that you don't have any credit history try and get a mobile phone or credit card this would build some history for you.

suzy10

Thank-you all for your replies, very much appreciated.

We have a credit card and contract mobile phones. Maybe the problem could be with the electoral role as we only came back to the UK in 2006.
I am going to try the Co-op bank, the only reason we haven't tried other banks is because we thought maybe stupidly that it was better to build a good credit rating with the bank you were with. How wrong was I, does not seem to matter how much you pay in each month with Barclays. What made matters worse was whilst I was in the bank waiting to be seen, a young lad was being offered current account, and overdraft facilities when he only worked part-time:mad:

Thanks again
Suzy

rayday2

A&L accepted us we went through Quidco and got £50 cashback, they gave us internet banking, debit card and cheque book we could have had an overdraft if we wanted too as long as we shut our other bank account down but we wanted two so said no.