Question about Monzo

jasonwatkins

On the 8th of January this year, I opened an account with Monzo.   Ultimately, I changed my mind and decided to go with Revolut instead and closed the Monzo account.

Long story short, for reasons, I would ideally like to go back to Monzo from Revolut so last night I downloaded the app and tried to re-apply.   I got to the phone number verification part and the app told me that the phone number was already in use even though I'd previously closed the account.

I messaged them on Twitter to ask if this could be looked in to and they asked me to email their help desk with a various details to confirm ID, which I did, and I got an email this morning out of the blue telling me that the can't offer me an account ??.

I don't know if i'm misunderstanding it, but for me, it implies that they've retained all of my previous information and made the account application for me ?.

Or is it a case that previous Monzo customers can't rejoin ?.  I've asked them to escalate the query but if anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful.

wiseonesomeofthetime

Previously, Monzo have had a policy of not allowing people who close their accounts to rejoin within 12 months.

I am not sure what their current status is on this, however, it appears that they have decided that they do not want your business and I'm afraid that there is little you can do about this.

Just as you can decide which bank account to apply for, the banks can decide who they want as a customer.

Best thing you can do now is just move on.

Unfortunately, asking you to confirm who you are before delivering their decision, whilst understandable, probably also gave you false hope that you could get a new account.

Daliah

It’s just that they don’t want you as a customer at this time.  We can only speculate about the reasons but as this makes no difference, it’s best to move on. There are plenty of other banks.

As an aside, Revolut still don’t have a UK banking licence.

jasonwatkins

wiseonesomeofthetime said:

Previously, Monzo have had a policy of not allowing people who close their accounts to rejoin within 12 months.

I am not sure what their current status is on this, however, it appears that they have decided that they do not want your business and I'm afraid that there is little you can do about this.

Just as you can decide which bank account to apply for, the banks can decide who they want as a customer.

Best thing you can do now is just move on.

Unfortunately, asking you to confirm who you are before delivering their decision, whilst understandable, probably also gave you false hope that you could get a new account.

Thankyou for this, it does make sense if this was a pre-existing policy as it looks like it's still policy.   I'll look elsewhere.

Thankyou @Daliah as well

k_man

 Another takeaway from this, is that just because you didn't want to use Monzo at the time, you didn't have to close the account (I know some people like to keep things tidy).

jasonwatkins

k_man said:

 Another takeaway from this, is that just because you didn't want to use Monzo at the time, you didn't have to close the account (I know some people like to keep things tidy).

Hah, welcome to my world

Keeping things 'tidy' has been the bane of my life in that respect.   

[Deleted User]

You could try a different mobile number as they linked you to your number when I last used them.

Not sure what would appeal with a Monzo account other than the bright debit card though. 

Neil49

Try for a Starling account instead. 

jasonwatkins

Neil49 said:

Try for a Starling account instead. 

I've already got a Starling account.   It's my main daily account but I personally prefer having a second account for bills and recurring payments so this is why I went with Revolut, but I want to change that now.

Rather amusingly, I've just had a message from Monese telling me they can't offer me an account.   One of their main selling points is that they will, apparently, give an account to literally anyone regardless of credit history, lack of address e.t.c.. and yet they won't give me one.

Daliah

Like Revolut, Monese aren’t a UK Bank either. But leaving this aside, if you are having difficulties getting another current account from companies who don’t carry out hard credit searches, this could be due to a CIFAS marker. Have you checked with CIFAS?

jasonwatkins

Daliah said:

Like Revolut, Monese aren’t a UK Bank either. But leaving this aside, if you are having difficulties getting another current account from companies who don’t carry out hard credit searches, this could be due to a CIFAS marker. Have you checked with CIFAS?

Thanks.  I haven't checked CIFAS, no.   I'll look in to doing that.