Child & Co RBS Branch to close

[Deleted User]

Just to add my 2p here, although the old form is indeed available on the open internet and you're not doing anything wrong to warrant a fraud marker, this would still not guarantee your accounts will stay open.

Any bank can close all your accounts for any reason they like so long as it’s not discriminatory. So even though the form is technically available, RBS could decide to close your (or everyone’s) accounts at any time without justification but the old form would be a very realistic reason. It is exploiting a loophole, after all.

WillPS

Any bank can close accounts for any reason, that's true.

I don't think it's exploitative though as the actual product being applied for isn't one the bank has closed off. In fact, as a brand new customer there is presumably nothing stopping you from using the public form and then selecting 'London Drummonds' branch?

ForumUser7

@[Deleted User] @willps RBS can probably see the selected sort code used during the application, and the link the application originated from (in case of any referral site bonus/commission). Therefore, if RBS were closing all customer accounts who used that old form, surely this means they don't want people using the old form. Would they not therefore just remove the old form? I feel like given it's still up, they can't really be that bothered - as if they were, they would just take it down...

Unless it's just a trap, but then the rules would be applied equally to all customers and several MSE users would find their accounts closed - but only 1 has reported this.

[Deleted User]

We don't know why RBS have the form up, and we are only guessing as to why some applications get referred to the verification unit and why some don't.

You're right that if they were really bothered, they would have removed it already. That said, it's still a form which is not openly advertised/directed to on their website and only available if you figured out the workaround. So they are equally in their right to get a little annoyed and bin you off as a customer.

It's ultimately down to luck as we don't have any insight into what happens in the background (although all applications get manually reviewed so maybe whether the person is having a bad day also plays a part).

If someone had their accounts closed and complained, it would be interesting to see which way it would go. I doubt the Ombudsman would find in the customer's favour though given the banks have every right to close accounts.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that as everything is just speculation. 

WillPS

Just to note that there are reports on here that opening an account at Natwest Group has led to all accounts being closed, following the completely normal flows.

Opening many accounts in a short space of time is a bad idea, as is using false details. Using a form on an official website via the public internet which does not contain any warnings that it should not be used or anything like that - I'm less convinced.

PloughmansLunch

Is this a normal submission screen? I haven’t previously had any RBS/NatWest accounts and could do with setting up another regular saver, plus I’m a bit of a ponce so attempted the fancy Child&Co card option. However, it’s been more than 24 hours and I’ve not heard a sausage either via email or text.

gary1312

PloughmansLunch said:

Is this a normal submission screen? I haven’t previously had any RBS/NatWest accounts and could do with setting up another regular saver, plus I’m a bit of a ponce so attempted the fancy Child&Co card option. However, it’s been more than 24 hours and I’ve not heard a sausage either via email or text.

I'm an existing RBS Reward account customer and applied for a Child a/c (I'm also a bit of a ponce) on Sunday evening. Got the same screen and have heard nothing since. I know from past experience that it can take three or four days to set a new RBS/Natwest account up though - the last time I opened a new Natwest account it took three working days to open.

[Deleted User]

If you’re new it will take a few days for you to be asked for ID (or to have your application terminated 😆). Then it will take week(s) for everything to slowly come through/be set up. 

If you’re an existing RBS customer then the timeline’s been discussed earlier in this thread. 

[Deleted User]

I report SUCCESS!

I am now the owner of a Drummond card after firstly receiving a hut card back in the summer. Re ordering the card I received a Drummond letter with card attached.

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

ForumUser7 said:

WillPS said:

ForumUser7 said:

[Deleted User] said:

Saver101101 said:

Hi, Quick Question how do you open the account online and choose the Childs branch ?, I have a RBS account and when I go to open another account it just allocates the new account to the same branch sort code ?.

@Saver101101
 You need to use the old link:

https://www.cao.rbos.com/cao/external/rbs/launchChannelHandler.do?PF=CAC&PI=ZJ&BRD=RBS&CID=INT&CS=N&devicemode=null&subbrand=responsive_rbs_personal&CCF=Y

Be quick!

Has anyone successfully used this link recently, and got a child’s and co branded debit card etc. without having the so called ‘application verification unit’ close all their group accounts please? Thank you

Not for Child's, but I did this for Drummonds last month.

Don't lie on your application form would be my protip for not getting investigated.

@strictgold5208 - thank you! I am currently an RBS customer (Digital RS and Revolve), hence why I’d prefer to avoid them closing my accounts! 😂

@WillPS - I’m not going to lie on it, not worth it at all and CIFAS markers sound like a nightmare. When you applied for Drummond’s, did you get the Drummond’s branded card, or just the RBS premier beach hut please?

From what I’ve read on here it seems new Child’s customers get Child’s cards, but new Drummond’s customers get RBS premier cards

15-80-00 - Child’s
16-00-38 - Drummond’s

*EDIT - just seen your edits - what would the online only debit card be please? Never come across one of those before. My favourite colour is navy blue, so chase and child’s will be must gets for me.

Why would you end up with CIFAS markers? Which category would "attempted to open a bank account using a form we left available on the internet with legitimate details" fall under?

In the past, the only customers who haven't received Child's branded cards have been those who scored lower (on RBS' internal credit scoring, not any made up credit score from Experian or whatnot), who would receive an 'online only' RBS debit card. I don't know if these are a thing any more, it's been years since I've known of somebody not getting a Child's card - every recent example I can recall has resulted in a Child's card being issued.

On the contrary - hardly anyone used to receive a Drummond's branded card on 16-00-38, however it seems since the switch to Mastercard something has changed and now (it seems) you will receive a Drummond's branded Mastercard.

The only way to receive an RBS Premier card is to be eligible for RBS Premier.

YMMV of curse.

'Online Only' means the debit card can only be authorised with an online connection. 'Online and offline' means the debit card can be used in situations where no online connection is possible - these use cases are extremely limited nowadays, on board trains and planes used to be the example given but in the case of trains I believe even these are all online now.

I’m afraid the Drummond has nothing to do with the Mastercard switch. I received a standard rbs card since the switch, but have always received child cards at child and Co. I was thinking of applying for a second Drummond account but decided against it.

Perhaps that wasn't the cause but I signed up in December and got the Drummond's card, as did someone else I know of, off the back of reading reports of them being issued. I didn't believe it was happening at first and almost did it to prove I wouldn't get it, yet I did...

When did you sign up? The Drummond's Mastercard wasn't available until late Summer '22 I don't think...

July or August. Dare I apply again! I doubt ordering a new card would work?

Honestly don't know. It'd be interesting to discover.

@Willps

this has worked as above. So we must assume all accounts will now receive the Drummonds card? But the question is, is this deliberate or a fluke RBS haven’t taken into account. 

I note the wiki page for child and co has been edited to suggest the bank no longer exists. “Child and Co WAS”