Child & Co RBS Branch to close

ForumUser7

Deleted_User said:

ForumUser7 said:

Deleted_User said:

Great to see they are keeping the brand going.

For Drummonds, I applied for an account post Child closure and received the hut card. Standard RBS.

@willps re hut card 22nd Oct

Please explain?

I meant to tag @[Deleted User], in the post at 9:35 they mention vaguely recalling someone getting a beach hut card - it was you they were referring to I think

WillPS

ForumUser7 said:

ndrw said:

Ordering a new card might work if that’s the default now. Otherwise applying again might work, and if your last account was at Drummonds you wouldn’t need to use the form since your home branch is now Drummonds. 

I think I’m the person @WillPS knows of who got the Drummonds card in December. That said I believe online vs offline cards are still a thing. I vaguely recall someone getting a beach hut. 

I have a standard RBS sort code as my current account and savings account sort code. If I applied for the Select account through the old form, should it give me the Child's sort code please? I.e. is the difference between old and new that the old allows you to choose your own sort code? Thanks

If you use the standard application form as an existing customer you are normally (but not always!) not given a choice about branch, and thus your sort code is the same as the last account you opened (regardless of whether that branch is open physically).

If you use the old/'rbos' form, you are always given a choice. Whether or not Child's still shows on there I do not know; 15-80-00 is the sort code you want.

ForumUser7

WillPS said:

If you use the standard application form as an existing customer you are normally (but not always!) not given a choice about branch, and thus your sort code is the same as the last account you opened (regardless of whether that branch is open physically).

If you use the old/'rbos' form, you are always given a choice. Whether or not Child's still shows on there I do not know; 15-80-00 is the sort code you want.

Thank you - I’ll make sure to use that form then.

You mentioned RBS uses an internal credit score - does this mean they are unlikely to carry out a hard search unless I apply for an arranged overdraft please? Just want to make sure I won’t tank my credit score!

Thanks

WillPS

ForumUser7 said:

WillPS said:

If you use the standard application form as an existing customer you are normally (but not always!) not given a choice about branch, and thus your sort code is the same as the last account you opened (regardless of whether that branch is open physically).

If you use the old/'rbos' form, you are always given a choice. Whether or not Child's still shows on there I do not know; 15-80-00 is the sort code you want.

Thank you - I’ll make sure to use that form then.

You mentioned RBS uses an internal credit score - does this mean they are unlikely to carry out a hard search unless I apply for an arranged overdraft please? Just want to make sure I won’t tank my credit score!

Thanks

You submit to a full hard search as part of the application, I can see one in December for my Drummond's application on my Equifax report.

RBS will likely use the data they collect from that search as well as any data they already hold for you to generate some kind of internal score which informs whether or not to allow or decline the application, as well as some other parameters (random example which RBS may or may not actually do - encourage you to apply for an overdraft). 

You don't have "a credit score" so you don't need to worry about "tanking it".

[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.