Starling Bank refusing bank account application

BeAl

I've got a couple of Starling accounts and hubby and I wanted to open a joint account so he applied for his own account which is what you need to do before applying jointly. He was refused an account. We rang the helpline but the call handler wasn't able to give us any further information. The reality now is that I'll close my accounts and we'll go elsewhere. Anyone had similar? Is it possible to find out why you've been refused? Thanks in advance.  

DE_612183

Has he checked his credit file?

Has he been registered at the same address for a while?

Does he have any obvious markers - criminal record, CCJ's etc

Does he have employment status?

There are loads of reasons why a bank may refuse, and you may not get to know the reason why as applications may get automatically judged.

It may be that if you have a number of starling accounts in your name, then another with the same address may be treated suspiciously....

As you say, probably best to move on, although depending on the reason you may run into it again...

BeAl

DE_612183 said:

Has he checked his credit file?

Has he been registered at the same address for a while?

Does he have any obvious markers - criminal record, CCJ's etc

Does he have employment status?

There are loads of reasons why a bank may refuse, and you may not get to know the reason why as applications may get automatically judged.

It may be that if you have a number of starling accounts in your name, then another with the same address may be treated suspiciously....

As you say, probably best to move on, although depending on the reason you may run into it again...

Thank you. We'll check the credit score and the only thing that applies from the list is that I have two Starling accounts at the same address he's applying from. 

Hoenir

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

BeAl

Hoenir said:

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

Thank you. He's just done a credit score - 999 out of 999! 

CliveOfIndia

BeAl said:

Hoenir said:

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

Thank you. He's just done a credit score - 999 out of 999! 

The score is irrelevant, especially as a lender can't even see it.  What's important is the raw data that's contained within the file.

PRAISETHESUN

BeAl said:

Hoenir said:

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

Thank you. He's just done a credit score - 999 out of 999! 

You need to ignore the score/rating - Starling doesn't see this. Instead you need to look at the actual data on your credit files to see if anything is incorrect. Look for all your accounts being reported correctly, no missed payments, defaults, CCJs, CIFAS markers, etc. You need to check your files from all 3 CRAs - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - as not every lender reports to every CRA.

Ultimately it will be a commercial decision based on risk. There's just something about your husband that they don't like. They aren't obliged to offer him an account, nor as they required to say why he has been rejected. Best course of action would be to look for an account elsewhere rather than trying to convince Starling to reverse their decision.

DullGreyGuy

Has he previously had a Starling account? Certainly a while back they weren't allowing new accounts to previous customers that have left but now want to return.

BeAl

DullGreyGuy said:

Has he previously had a Starling account? Certainly a while back they weren't allowing new accounts to previous customers that have left but now want to return.

He hasn't. 

BeAl

PRAISETHESUN said:

BeAl said:

Hoenir said:

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

Thank you. He's just done a credit score - 999 out of 999! 

You need to ignore the score/rating - Starling doesn't see this. Instead you need to look at the actual data on your credit files to see if anything is incorrect. Look for all your accounts being reported correctly, no missed payments, defaults, CCJs, CIFAS markers, etc. You need to check your files from all 3 CRAs - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - as not every lender reports to every CRA.

Ultimately it will be a commercial decision based on risk. There's just something about your husband that they don't like. They aren't obliged to offer him an account, nor as they required to say why he has been rejected. Best course of action would be to look for an account elsewhere rather than trying to convince Starling to reverse their decision.

PRAISETHESUN said:

BeAl said:

Hoenir said:

Starling have had well documented issues recently with lax controls over account opening and management. Probably all manner of reasons why they are declining new accounts while they address historic issues, 

Thank you. He's just done a credit score - 999 out of 999! 

You need to ignore the score/rating - Starling doesn't see this. Instead you need to look at the actual data on your credit files to see if anything is incorrect. Look for all your accounts being reported correctly, no missed payments, defaults, CCJs, CIFAS markers, etc. You need to check your files from all 3 CRAs - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - as not every lender reports to every CRA.

Ultimately it will be a commercial decision based on risk. There's just something about your husband that they don't like. They aren't obliged to offer him an account, nor as they required to say why he has been rejected. Best course of action would be to look for an account elsewhere rather than trying to convince Starling to reverse their decision.

Yes, sounds like a plan. 

penners324

They are under FCA restrictions at present. Probably related to that