Opening a bank account after sentence spent

StephenFenn

Having been convicted of a crime (not bank related) and having now spent sentence how can someone overcome (now that they've been living clean and got full time employment - Royal Mail) banks declining the opening of regular bank account? (currently using pocket account only)

surreysaver

How does the bank know you've got a criminal record? I cannot recall ever being asked that question when applying for an account 

eskbanker

Probably worth looking at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts/

StephenFenn

I'm actually a mentor for others (should have made that clear). I don't know that the bank do but they will not divulge why they are declining the application. It has happened at several banks now so it would appear there is some marker against the applicant. TSB did open an account but then closed it after full checks and now want to return £25 deposit by cheque. What the applicant is supposed to do with a cheque when he has no account goodness only knows.

elsien

It may be more related to the lack of a financial history for the time that they’ve been in prison? 

The applicant also needs to be aware that trying to open lots of accounts in a row is not going to help, although I can see why. 

Is this one where it might be better to have a face-to-face conversation with the bank before applying rather than going through the online systems. 

Nacro or any other ex-offender organisations might also have some suggestions as they are likely to have come across this before.

https://www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/criminal-record-support/

RAS

Has he checked whether there is a CIFAS marker on his account? If so, it's really difficult to find out what triggered the alert. 

StephenFenn

Fortunately for them they received a suspended sentence with tag but fair to say their financial/credit history will be pretty ropey. If it is because of that why will the banks not just tell the person so?

elsien

They don't give the reasons - same as when you get declined for a credit card no-one ever tells you why. Sometimes it's commercially sensitive information so it's easier to make a blanket decision not to share why. 

Basic bank account as already referenced is the way to go for people with a poor credit history while they work on rebuilding.

StephenFenn

Many thanks for your responses, I had already bookmarked to get them to do a DSAR with CIFAS and will look into NACRO with them. Cheers

RAS

The option might be for the person concerned to make a Subject Access Request, although the proof of ID might be challenging, as it includes photo ID and an account held at the current address. 

However, if the person has trouble with that, they might also have problems opening an account anyway, and if they've been confused or inconsistent about their history when applying for accounts that might have triggered the marker.

As a start, are they on the electoral roll at their current address, do they have any photo ID, are they paying any bills (other than phone) at their current address? No need to answer but it gives you a starter.

And have they ever had a credit union account which they've failed to pay? One or two put markers on credit records rather than going to unenforceable CCJs.