Do I have the right to cancel and close a dormant current account

visi

For decades I have been happily using First Direct for my current account banking.  I formerly used LTSB but have not used my current account with them for a great many years. I owe them nothing and they owe me nothing, but they still occasionally send me correspondence.  As I will be moving house fairly soon, I decided I could be at risk of ID theft if I don't cancel my LTSB account.  They have told me that I have to take passport and other ID into my former branch in order to close the account.  In lockdown!  I also live a considerable distance from that branch now and I don't drive.  Surely I have the right to close a current account when no money is owed on either side?

Aylesbury_Duck

You do, but it's reasonable for them to do some checks before you do so.  If you're not comfortable visiting a branch at the moment, leave it until lockdown is over.  Surely another few weeks or months in the context of many years isn't going to hurt?

[Deleted User]

Presumably it's because the account was opened ages ago in the days before passwords were set up for telephone banking. I've just closed two accounts over the phone this week.

TadleyBaggie

You could do a current account switch to a bank that is more conveniently located and then close the new one.

dentedporsche

If you're able to switch, switch it into the existing account you use. 

davidmcn

visi said:

Surely I have the right to close a current account when no money is owed on either side?

They're not denying you have the right to close it, just explaining the procedure for doing so. Have you actually asked them how to do so if visiting that particular branch isn't convenient? I'd have thought it possible to do it by post. 

lincroft1710

Lloyds and TSB demerged some years ago, so is the account now with Lloyds?

IvanOpinion

I would suggest waiting until you move and then update the address before you close the account.  Banks will store your data for several years after closing and there may be (e.g.) a final annual statement or some legal/regulatory documentation that could still be sent out.

visi

lincroft1710 said:

Lloyds and TSB demerged some years ago, so is the account now with Lloyds?

Yes it is