setting up fixed term savings accounts is a problem ... help to fix it needed urgently

tallguy68

I have recently been trying to set up a few fixed term savings accounts but have been declined by all of the banks i apply for which is peculiar as i have been successful in the past, the only difference being that some previous applications were postal rather than online. I popped along to my bank to see what the issue could be only to find that they also could not set up a savings account for me online also !! i have banked with them for over 40 years. Having checked my electoral register (which is correct) i was left scratching my head. I then tried to run a credit check with experian which came back with "the system does not recognise the information provided" .... further discussions with my bank left me even more confused as they informed me that it was as if i did not exist !! they suggested posting here to see if anyone could help or has faced similar system issues.... For clarity i have no debt, i have check with my card suppliers if there was anything in there systems that could have triggered this ... all clear there, i am not seeking a loan just looking to invest in a fixed term savings bond. I have spoken also to some of the banks i have applied to who tell me that even before they receive any application there is a third party check which can decline based on what ever checks they carry out.... I am at a complete loss as to what to do next to remedy this glitch ..... all / any advice greatly received. 
Thanks

eskbanker

Even when not applying for credit products, it's standard practice for financial institutions to carry out ID verification checks via the automated services provided by the credit ratings agencies, so this will be where the issue is.

You might wish to check all of them rather than just Experian:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

but if there's an issue with the data held at Experian then you need to contact them to resolve it.

flaneurs_lobster

Be good if you could break up your posts into paragraphs, it's hard to read as one lump of text.

Do you have one of the usual forms of personal ID, a passport or a driving licence?

Do you have access to your online HMRC account? Be worth checking that your details held there are correct, particularly your National Insurance Number.

Are you a homeowner? Do you have the usual utilities and Council Tax registered in your name?

poolboy

I ve opened loads online, make sure you are on electoral role and everything is in order, passport, utilities etc.  Each bank is different but the id checks just confirm name and address.  

born_again

tallguy68 said:

I have recently been trying to set up a few fixed term savings accounts but have been declined by all of the banks i apply for which is peculiar as i have been successful in the past, the only difference being that some previous applications were postal rather than online. I popped along to my bank to see what the issue could be only to find that they also could not set up a savings account for me online also !! i have banked with them for over 40 years. Having checked my electoral register (which is correct) i was left scratching my head. I then tried to run a credit check with experian which came back with "the system does not recognise the information provided" .... further discussions with my bank left me even more confused as they informed me that it was as if i did not exist !! they suggested posting here to see if anyone could help or has faced similar system issues.... For clarity i have no debt, i have check with my card suppliers if there was anything in there systems that could have triggered this ... all clear there, i am not seeking a loan just looking to invest in a fixed term savings bond. I have spoken also to some of the banks i have applied to who tell me that even before they receive any application there is a third party check which can decline based on what ever checks they carry out.... I am at a complete loss as to what to do next to remedy this glitch ..... all / any advice greatly received. 
Thanks

Could they set it up in branch?

Sounds like there is a issue with the CRA's & the data they hold on you.

Have you moved at some point, but failed to update bank or such?

tallguy68

Thanks for all of your replies.
I ran the "moneysavings expert credit check" all is good there.
All usual forms of ID are available and current.
Checked the HMRC web site and all is ok there including NI number.
I am a home owner with all the usual council taxes, bills ect linked.
I have been resident at my home for over 8 years.
The bank could over ride the electronic check by manually entering my passport details which was a relief, however, the interest rate at the bank is far lower than that of the accounts i am trying to open online.

Any ideas further ? 

regards

flaneurs_lobster

Most odd. If there had been a refusal to open the accounts because of some erroneous data held by the CRAs then that would be open to remedy. 

But this inability to even identify you sounds more fundamental.

Are you known by other names? I note your username but have you changed your name by (eg) marriage or other reason?

Were you born outside the UK?

TBH, unless you have a very common name (as is common among some ethnic groups), then full name, DoB and Place of Birth is usually enough to identify an individual in the UK.

Bobblehat

Bit of a long shot ... but do you have an apostrophe in your name?

friolento

Are you on the Electoral Register?

Are you using the exact same address on your applications as on the ER?

Do you have a double - barrelled surname, or special characters in your name?

Have you asked Citizens Advice to look into the issue for you?

WindfallWendy

I've had something like this happen to me recently. I was trying to set up an Apple ID and it was trying to verify me via PayPal information. I put it down to the online forms I was completing, were auto-filled fields and they didn't align to the information that was being asked for. I think I fixed it by clearing my cookies or something mundane. Sorry, that isn't necessarily going to fix your problem, but it's interesting that someone else is having their ID questioned too!

LHW99

Bobblehat said:

Bit of a long shot ... but do you have an apostrophe in your name?

Or is it one of the "Mac / Mc / Mack" names? There are times when you may put a space after the "Mac / Mc / Mack", but other records don't (or vice versa).

If you habitually do it one way, in this era of very exact requirements, the DB computers used by the agencies / banks may have it the other way. Because those databases are generally not customer facing, neither you, not the customer service people can see the difference, as they only see one side of the system. Spaces tend to be ignored by humans (but may not be by computers).