Debt Free Ex Bankrupt with excellent credit still cannot upgrade Nationwide account

Red21

Hi all

This might be of interest.

I went bankrupt due to a business failure in 2009. I was discharged in 2010 and have been debt free ever since. I have one credit card with a £250 limit that I manage diligently and have quite a large pot of savings. Over the last 6 years I have had a Nationwide cash card account with no overdraft and no bounced payments.

Since it is almost 6 years since my discharge I have checked my credit files with all 3 credit reference agencies yesterday. According to all 3 I have excellent credit and experian even rated me 991 out of a possible 999. Pleased with this I attended a Nationwide branch to try and upgrade my account to a full current account.

Imagine my surprise when I was refused. Apparently it is their policy to wait the full 6 years despite my credit file being clean now, regardless of my credit rating. I wasn't even applying for credit!!!!

Having been a victim of the creditscore !!!!! for so long I am appalled that it seems I am never going to shake this off. If they are making up their own rules to suit themselves, how is anyone supposed to move forward?

They suggested that I reapply after the 6 year anniversary, at which point they will do the credit check they just did again (which will be no different) and then may decide to upgrade me (no promises given).

Ridiculous, unfair and arbitrary. I'm looking for a bank that treats me like a person, not a credit score. Any suggestions?

[Deleted User]

Wait the full six years, then take your business elsewhere. I've always found Natwest ok, but that's just my personal experience.

sourcrates

Cant be long till the six year window is up.


I assume the only way they know you were Bankrupt is if you ticked the little box on the application, or does it still show on your credit file ?

Red21

Nope, didn't fill in any forms and it is no longer on my credit report from any of the big 3 agencies.

andyfromotley

Hi red,

i do get that this may be frustrating but i cant see how yu have been a 'victim' of credit score !!!!

You went bankrupt and therefore didnt repay your creditors. An accepted part of this is that your credit history will take a hit for 6 years. This seems to me to be fair position which protects those offering credit and those who chose bankruptcy.

i'm not having a dig at you. or those who choose bankruptcy, but there is obviously going to be an adverse impact on you and to me 6 years seems about right.

2catsandcounting

i had problems with nationwide when i was a student - had a student bank account with a massive overdraft else where, and nationwide wouldn't even give me a debit card. They gave me the excuse of, they're a building society, not a bank so have to be careful who they give money too, and i wasn't even asking for an overdraft or credit.
take your business elsewhere. my credit rating is shot and i've just been accepted for TSB Plus account with £200 overdraft.

MitziB

I have a Nationwide cashcard account too, started when I embarked on my DMP. It obviously doesn't offer an overdraft but I don't want one anyway. The account is used for all my DDs and my salary is paid into it each month. There is always a small surplus remaining when a new payday comes around. I also have 2 small instant saver accounts with them.

On my Nationwide internet banking account page I keep getting offers to upgrade to one of their Flex accounts. The only reason I want to do this is because I want to save some money with them and the better interest-bearing accounts require that the customer has a specific Flex account.

So I tried to open one, after particularly specifying that I did not want to be considered for the optional overdraft, only to be told this account was not available to me:mad:. I only want it as a means to open a savings account with them but they don't want my money!

If my own bank don't want to offer me anything but the most basic of services I doubt any other bank would consider me for a more 'grown up' account until my DMP is done and dusted in 3 years time. Very annoying:mad: