Bank has closed my current account

MacSue

Zanderman said:

daveyjp said:

"don't even use it that much"

That may be the problem.  Are you meeting the conditions of the account?  Minimum monthly deposit, certain number of dds etc etc.  

That seems unlikely to be the problem as OP says, if I'm reading their post correctly, the account is used for incoming pension and outgoing utility DDs - i.e. like a main bank account.

Edited to add, it's still not clear, from OP's posts, what actually happened. The account was closed on 4th August with no warning.  But, OP, can you say how and when you became aware of this - an email or text from the bank?  And if so what, precisely, did that communication say? Or did you simply find out it was no longer active? 

There are no minimum usage requirements as far as I'm aware and I've had this bank account for 50 years!!! Set it up in Jan 1973 when I got a new job and needed to give a bank to pay my salary into, didn't want to stay with Natwest that had been my student account. 

I became aware of the closure when I got an email on the evening of the closure saying that a major DD mandate (to my landlord) had been cancelled. I went online to look at my account and the current account had disappeared. I haven't had a letter or email from them at all or any communication from them until the cheque arrived on 10 Aug. This said "We are writing to confirm that the above account has been closed as requessted." cheque enclosed etc. 
My favourite bit was "If you have and questions give us a call on (the general number) or pop into your local branch." I had been calling the general number, chatting online and was each time told that it had been referred and that those investigating would be in touch within 48 hours at the latest. 

Eventually I was given a direct number to call Complaints and on the third day of calling I found a more helpful person who calls me daily to let me know she has made no progress as she hasn't had replies to her emails but I do believe she is trying!!!

MacSue

flaneurs_lobster said:

MacSue said: The only odd thing that occurred to me yesterday is that on Experian Credit Check, the account is listed as open but it shows £0. I guess I need to get that changed when it's all sorted whichever bank I end up with! Any idea if that could trigger this? 

That Experian zero total is the amount of lending on the account i.e. an overdraft that is in use. It's not the balance of the current account.

Thanks, that is super helpful! I hadn't understood that

eskbanker

MacSue said:
I haven't had a letter or email from them at all or any communication from them until the cheque arrived on 10 Aug. This said "We are writing to confirm that the above account has been closed as requessted." cheque enclosed etc.

Ouch - they obviously believe you wanted to close it, and, equally obviously, you didn't!  I can imagine that it'll take a little while to get to the bottom of how they messed up....

GeoffTF

eskbanker said:

MacSue said:
I haven't had a letter or email from them at all or any communication from them until the cheque arrived on 10 Aug. This said "We are writing to confirm that the above account has been closed as requessted." cheque enclosed etc.

Ouch - they obviously believe you wanted to close it, and, equally obviously, you didn't!  I can imagine that it'll take a little while to get to the bottom of how they messed up....

The good news is that MacSue's other accounts do not appear to be at risk, and she should be able to set up other accounts. I do not know where she lives, but Metro Bank will set up a current account with a functioning debit card on the spot.

dealyboy

Well Sue I feel for you  ...

Indeed there is no indication here that this is a pre-emptive step due to suspected fraud or money laundering, rather a major blunder to close an account without a request or confirmation.

If there was a suspected issue with your landlord they would block payments and probably block your account access but they notified you that they had cancelled the DD mandate as they would in the account closure process.

I know you are undergoing aftershocks but are clearly facing up to the issues. You may find this link useful in your pursuit of an alternative current account ... https://becleverwithyourcash.com/how-to-pay-in-a-cheque-with-your-phone/ .

Best wishes 

GeoffTF

dealyboy said:

I know you are undergoing aftershocks but are clearly facing up to the issues. You may find this link useful in your pursuit of an alternative current account ... https://becleverwithyourcash.com/how-to-pay-in-a-cheque-with-your-phone/ .

MacSue's cheque seems to be for over £1,000. None of the banks in that article will accept a cheque that large via their app. Someone suggested Starling, whose limit for depositing cheques via their app is £500.

Zanderman

MacSue said:

Zanderman said:

daveyjp said:

"don't even use it that much"

That may be the problem.  Are you meeting the conditions of the account?  Minimum monthly deposit, certain number of dds etc etc.  

That seems unlikely to be the problem as OP says, if I'm reading their post correctly, the account is used for incoming pension and outgoing utility DDs - i.e. like a main bank account.

Edited to add, it's still not clear, from OP's posts, what actually happened. The account was closed on 4th August with no warning.  But, OP, can you say how and when you became aware of this - an email or text from the bank?  And if so what, precisely, did that communication say? Or did you simply find out it was no longer active? 

.... I haven't had a letter or email from them at all or any communication from them until the cheque arrived on 10 Aug. This said "We are writing to confirm that the above account has been closed as requessted." cheque enclosed etc. ...

Thanks for that info - it certainly looks like a mess-up more than anything else.  So it would seem your banking record is fine, and there's no need to worry, except for why they thought that you requested closure. Which you obviously didn't!

sheramber

Since it is their error, would they let  you open a new account  to deposit the  cheque while they investigate.

You could switch the new account to another bank and get a switch payment if you did not want to stay with them.

wmb194

GeoffTF said:

dealyboy said:

I know you are undergoing aftershocks but are clearly facing up to the issues. You may find this link useful in your pursuit of an alternative current account ... https://becleverwithyourcash.com/how-to-pay-in-a-cheque-with-your-phone/ .

MacSue's cheque seems to be for over £1,000. None of the banks in that article will accept a cheque that large via their app. Someone suggested Starling, whose limit for depositing cheques via their app is £500.

Lloyds is now up to £5,000 per cheque.

https://www.lloydsbank.com/online-banking/payments-and-transfers/pay-in-a-cheque.html

dealyboy

wmb194 said:

GeoffTF said:

dealyboy said:

I know you are undergoing aftershocks but are clearly facing up to the issues. You may find this link useful in your pursuit of an alternative current account ... https://becleverwithyourcash.com/how-to-pay-in-a-cheque-with-your-phone/ .

MacSue's cheque seems to be for over £1,000. None of the banks in that article will accept a cheque that large via their app. Someone suggested Starling, whose limit for depositing cheques via their app is £500.

Lloyds is now up to £5,000 per cheque.

https://www.lloydsbank.com/online-banking/payments-and-transfers/pay-in-a-cheque.html

... and Halifax.

https://www.halifax.co.uk/aboutonline/payments-and-transfers/pay-in-a-cheque.html