Opening NatWest fixed rate ISA account without photo

Stargunner

happybagger said:

I had the email asking for a selfie - I don't have a camera phone. Asked in branch if I could take in ID, they said yes that would do, as long as I took in the reference number too. However...

... I brought up what many on the ISA forum are claiming is incorrect advice I was given last week by branch staff, where I was told by a 'greeter' no interest was paid before the "start date". Three separate people - the advisor, her boss, and a "financial advisor", spent about 45 minutes trying to get to the bottom of it. The end result is that they state that the "Fixed Rate" account is "opened" on the "start date" and starts earning interest THEN. Not before. They were unable to state what account is "opened" on the date of acceptance or deposit, or if any interest would be paid.

One of the staff actually said (was it a slip of the tongue?) that it seemed to be "deliberately unclear"

Either way, I'm not going to debate it on here as people are now in two camps; but for me it's too opaque for me to deposit anything in that account.

This should satisfy those doubters

auser99

Stargunner said:

happybagger said:

I had the email asking for a selfie - I don't have a camera phone. Asked in branch if I could take in ID, they said yes that would do, as long as I took in the reference number too. However...

... I brought up what many on the ISA forum are claiming is incorrect advice I was given last week by branch staff, where I was told by a 'greeter' no interest was paid before the "start date". Three separate people - the advisor, her boss, and a "financial advisor", spent about 45 minutes trying to get to the bottom of it. The end result is that they state that the "Fixed Rate" account is "opened" on the "start date" and starts earning interest THEN. Not before. They were unable to state what account is "opened" on the date of acceptance or deposit, or if any interest would be paid.

One of the staff actually said (was it a slip of the tongue?) that it seemed to be "deliberately unclear"

Either way, I'm not going to debate it on here as people are now in two camps; but for me it's too opaque for me to deposit anything in that account.

This should satisfy those doubters

Alright no boasting, now you're in the promised land at actually managing to get it open, unlike some of us assuming it's in process, but no real idea if it's happening 

Stargunner

auser99 said:

Stargunner said:

happybagger said:

I had the email asking for a selfie - I don't have a camera phone. Asked in branch if I could take in ID, they said yes that would do, as long as I took in the reference number too. However...

... I brought up what many on the ISA forum are claiming is incorrect advice I was given last week by branch staff, where I was told by a 'greeter' no interest was paid before the "start date". Three separate people - the advisor, her boss, and a "financial advisor", spent about 45 minutes trying to get to the bottom of it. The end result is that they state that the "Fixed Rate" account is "opened" on the "start date" and starts earning interest THEN. Not before. They were unable to state what account is "opened" on the date of acceptance or deposit, or if any interest would be paid.

One of the staff actually said (was it a slip of the tongue?) that it seemed to be "deliberately unclear"

Either way, I'm not going to debate it on here as people are now in two camps; but for me it's too opaque for me to deposit anything in that account.

This should satisfy those doubters

Alright no boasting, now you're in the promised land at actually managing to get it open, unlike some of us assuming it's in process, but no real idea if it's happening 

Luckily I already had a current account with Nat West, so it literally took a few minutes to open from within the app. I doubt it will all be plain sailing though, as I am transferring a S&S ISA transfer to it and I had to print off and post the transfer form to them due to Bestinvest not being part of the electronic ISA transfer scheme. I only opened the iSA with Bestinvest in April to take advantage of the £350 cashback that Quidco were offering and just put the 20K into a short term money market fund. Now that I have received the cashback I will switch it to Nat West.

Ocelot

I'm still waiting for confirmation too.

Money_Grabber13579

happybagger said:

I had the email asking for a selfie - I don't have a camera phone. Asked in branch if I could take in ID, they said yes that would do, as long as I took in the reference number too. However...

... I brought up what many on the ISA forum are claiming is incorrect advice I was given last week by branch staff, where I was told by a 'greeter' no interest was paid before the "start date". Three separate people - the advisor, her boss, and a "financial advisor", spent about 45 minutes trying to get to the bottom of it. The end result is that they state that the "Fixed Rate" account is "opened" on the "start date" and starts earning interest THEN. Not before. They were unable to state what account is "opened" on the date of acceptance or deposit, or if any interest would be paid.

One of the staff actually said (was it a slip of the tongue?) that it seemed to be "deliberately unclear"

Either way, I'm not going to debate it on here as people are now in two camps; but for me it's too opaque for me to deposit anything in that account.

This is what it says on the RBS website. Seems pretty clear to me.

peter021072

To add insult to injury I was told that "I declined the option to be identified!" 

I eventually opened up Shawbrook's 1yr fixed ISA.  I applied, opened, funded and confirmed a deposit of 20k, all this morning, although I already had an account with them!

Jaunty

Stargunner said:

Jaunty said:

markym3 said:

Don't need a photo if an existing customer, as I am. Application was done in a few minutes intitated via app (takes you to a website form to complete the application).

I bank with Halifax, as part of RBS would that make the application process more straightforward do you know? 

Halifax are not part of RBS

Sorry didn’t realise I posted that. Of course they are not part of RBS. Have applied to NatWest and awaiting instructions…

auser99

Jaunty said:

Stargunner said:

Jaunty said:

markym3 said:

Don't need a photo if an existing customer, as I am. Application was done in a few minutes intitated via app (takes you to a website form to complete the application).

I bank with Halifax, as part of RBS would that make the application process more straightforward do you know? 

Halifax are not part of RBS

Sorry didn’t realise I posted that. Of course they are part of RBS. Have applied to NatWest and awaiting instructions…

You wonder how hard and fast the "separate FSCS cover" RBS and Natwest have is.

If someone went in max allowance on both, for fixed bonds, and then the rules changed, what would happen? An awkward wait for the fixed bond to end to remove your risk?

ForumUser7

auser99 said:

Jaunty said:

Stargunner said:

Jaunty said:

markym3 said:

Don't need a photo if an existing customer, as I am. Application was done in a few minutes intitated via app (takes you to a website form to complete the application).

I bank with Halifax, as part of RBS would that make the application process more straightforward do you know? 

Halifax are not part of RBS

Sorry didn’t realise I posted that. Of course they are part of RBS. Have applied to NatWest and awaiting instructions…

You wonder how hard and fast the "separate FSCS cover" RBS and Natwest have is.

If someone went in max allowance on both, for fixed bonds, and then the rules changed, what would happen? An awkward wait for the fixed bond to end to remove your risk?

I don't know for sure, but I imagine if for some reason RBS and NatWest were to be made to share the same licence rather than being on separate licences as they are just now, all customers would have to be permitted to cancel fixes free of charge, and withdraw funds free of charge and close accounts free of charge etc. as it would be a change to their disadvantage under the ts and cs.