Nationwide Basic Bank Account (FlexBasic)

wizzywig27

I recently applied for a bank account with Nationwide. During the process it asked me if I had a bank account elsewhere so I ticked the box to say yes. I was refused a full bank account with them but offered their FlexBasic account.

I have read numerous posts on here that you are only offered this account if you are not eligible for a full bank account and don't hold any accounts elsewhere? Is this correct?

I was open and honest with them, and even if I lied they would be able to see bank accounts held elsewhere due to the credit search.

I would ask the bank, but don't really want to highlight it to them as I would like to take advantage of the refer a friend promotion.

MrWB

Having a bank account elsewhere is irrelevant.

You don't, at point of application, meet Nationwide's criteria for them to give you a full bank account. They are currently only willing to offer you a FlexBasic account.

wizzywig27

MrWB wrote: »

Having a bank account elsewhere is irrelevant.

You don't, at point of application, meet Nationwide's criteria for them to give you a full bank account. They are currently only willing to offer you a FlexBasic account.

Did you not read my question?

Fully understand how these things work, what I asked was, (based on comments on here) you can only have this account if you are ineligible for a full bank account anywhere , and was this correct.

wizzywig27

The post in question is here

eskbanker

wizzywig27 wrote: »

I recently applied for a bank account with Nationwide. During the process it asked me if I had a bank account elsewhere so I ticked the box to say yes. I was refused a full bank account with them but offered their FlexBasic account.

I have read numerous posts on here that you are only offered this account if you are not eligible for a full bank account and don't hold any accounts elsewhere? Is this correct?

I seem to recall this coming up in another recent thread where I'd said that I thought that basic accounts (in general) are only available to those who can't get other accounts and you countered that you'd got this one despite already having one or more full accounts elsewhere.

Nationwide's own position seems reasonably clear, in that if you try to apply online for their FlexBasic at https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexbasic/apply, if you click that you're not bankrupt and then click the 'I have another UK current account' button, it terminates the application with

You cannot apply for a FlexBasic account if you already have another UK account.

although strictly speaking you didn't apply for a FlexBasic account I suppose!

Edit: this is what I was thinking of: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74168821#Comment_74168821

wizzywig27

eskbanker wrote: »

although strictly speaking you didn't apply for a FlexBasic account I suppose!

See my post above mate, I linked to another thread where somebody explicitly you cannot have a basic account with them if you have an account elsewhere. Well I told them I did, and its been open for five months now and they haven't closed it

But you are right in that I didn't apply for it.

I did ask if I could upgrade it, computer said no!

MrWB

wizzywig27 wrote: »

Did you not read my question?

Fully understand how these things work, what I asked was, (based on comments on here) you can only have this account if you are ineligible for a full bank account anywhere , and was this correct.

Yes, I did read your question, and I responded to it.

You wrote:

I have read numerous posts on here that you are only offered this account if you are not eligible for a full bank account and don't hold any accounts elsewhere? Is this correct?

I just answered that having accounts elsewhere is irrelevant (so no it's not correct).

I then went on to explain that it's just based on Nationwide's own criteria and that you don't currenlty meet it.

When I opened my first Nationwide account, they only gave me a FlexBasic account at the time too (this was several years ago) - even though I had full accounts elswhere. They upgraded it after a while, and since the upgrade have allowed me to have other full accounts, overdrafts, etc too. It's just based on their criteria and their assesment of you at any given time.

wizzywig27

MrWB wrote: »

Yes, I did read your question, and I responded to it.

I just answered that having accounts elsewhere is irrelevant (so no it's not correct).

I then went on to explain that it's just based on Nationwide's own criteria and that you don't currenlty meet it.

The problem is you have failed to read the comments again because someone else has stated the terms of their FlexBasic account which states you are not allowed an account elsewhere, so it is relevant.

I didn't ask why I wasn't accepted for that account, I fully understand how these things work, but thank you for the information regardless, its good to know they may upgrade me. Unfortunately I am not going to give up a full bank account for a basic

maxximus75

I had the same issue with them.

Applied even though I had bank accounts elsewhere I was only approved for a Basic.

15 months later they still won’t upgrade to a full account even though I’ve been approved for a credit card with a large credit limit by them.

It’s all odd.

I ticked the box as you did so if it’s an error it’s on their end. I’m just keeping the account now as a donor if needed.

MrWB

wizzywig27 wrote: »

The problem is you have failed to read the comments again because someone else has stated the terms of their FlexBasic account which states you are not allowed an account elsewhere, so it is relevant.

If you look, I actually replied before there were any other comments. I was your first reply. You then challenged me asking if I had read your question, which I replied to.

I didn't ask why I wasn't accepted for that account, I fully understand how these things work, but thank you for the information regardless, its good to know they may upgrade me. Unfortunately I am not going to give up a full bank account for a basic

You don't understand how these things work though. As someone else has explained, you can't apply for a FlexBasic account if you have an account elsewhere. You didn't apply for a FlexBasic account (nor did I, when I was in your position). You applied for another account and instead got offered a FlexBasic account. That's very different, and is allowed.

As you said, when Nationwide searched your credit files and asked you (and when they did mine/asked me, several years back the same is true of me) they saw you had other accounts. So they know you have other accounts and still only offered you a FlexBasic account. That's their choice, and is as I say different to you just applying for a FlexBasic account directly.