Complaints against the GB Bank!!!!

Miosotis

I recently came across the GB Bank, while looking for a better interest rate for two fixed rate bonds that are maturing soon! My experience has been excruciating, and finding out how they discriminate against foreigners like me very demeaning, therefore I would like to know if others have had the same experiences and how it felt like for them!

Their demands go on and on and on. First they did not accept my long, foreign name, very normal in many countries around the world, so I accepted to abbreviate it, no problem. Tried all possible combinations, but.... then, of course, none matched the full name in my nominated account! Not my fault, right???? Therefore I had to submit a copy of my passport and a bank statement. I didn't really want to, because I feel that if no British person has to do it, why me and those "like" me? But I did, as I need the best return on my money that I can get! Two days went by with no answer, so I presumed that all was well!

Worried, I phoned the bank! Oh no, they had even more demands. As my bank puts initials on the bank statement, probably the same for everybody and legal in the UK, they didn't accept it! They demanded I contacted my bank and got one with my name in full! I did, my bank told me that I had to go to the Highstreet! It was raining and cold, my husband offered to drive me there, but OK, this time my account would be opened, right? Oh no! Not with the GB Bank... two days later, meaning, this morning, I received a call and presumed that it was from the complaints department!!! No, it was someone who wished to tell me that the bank had even more demands. They wanted proof that I have the right to live here! And what next????? So I refused! Still waiting to hear from the complaints department and while I do, my Welsh husband, opened an account with them in a matter of minutes! 

Interestingly enough, a lady, from the customer service had a good excuse to make it seem as if they are not discriminating against foreigners. She told me that when she wanted to open an account, and didn't want to include her full name, as she didn't want to use her grandmother's name, she had to show all kinds of documents. I tried to tell her that this was a completely different situation, to which she put down the phone. The lack of respect towards prospective clients is horrendous! 

The only thing I wanted to do was to open a savings account, using my legal name and money obtained legally! The lady on the phone today kept telling me not to take it personally! What did she mean? That us foreigners have to put up with more, just because of who we are and where we come from? I feel humiliated, am angry, frustrated and with good reason. I didn't get to this ripe old age to be treated badly, because of having been born in a different country and having a name that is longer than the average British name, but then there are millions like me in this country, some even born here, from foreign parents! Why is this not talked about??? Some discrimination is still very well tolerated! At one of the main banks I was told that maybe my best option is to change my name and adapt it to the British norms. Still, no bank has been as bad as the GB Bank! 

Voyager2002

Firstly, I have never heard of GB Bank.

Secondly, all banks are required by law to check the identity of people seeking to open an account, and to verify that they are in the UK legally. Since I prove my identity with a British passport, this is not an issue for me, but if I (or anyone else) used a different proof of identity, there would also be a need to show a visa or equivalent. This is the responsibility of our elected government, not the bank, who are simply doing what they law says they must do.

ColdIron

Miosotis said:

I didn't really want to, because I feel that if no British person has to do it

This is simply not true. Banks are required to identify their customers regardless of their nationality

They wanted proof that I have the right to live here!

Again this is a legal requirement

So I refused!

And that was the end of that

Some discrimination is still very well tolerated!

Nothing that you have said substantiates that claim

wmb194

Miosotis said:

I recently came across the GB Bank, while looking for a better interest rate for two fixed rate bonds that are maturing soon! My experience has been excruciating, and finding out how they discriminate against foreigners like me very demeaning, therefore I would like to know if others have had the same experiences and how it felt like for them!

Their demands go on and on and on. First they did not accept my long, foreign name, very normal in many countries around the world, so I accepted to abbreviate it, no problem. Tried all possible combinations, but.... then, of course, none matched the full name in my nominated account! Not my fault, right???? Therefore I had to submit a copy of my passport and a bank statement. I didn't really want to, because I feel that if no British person has to do it, why me and those "like" me? But I did, as I need the best return on my money that I can get! Two days went by with no answer, so I presumed that all was well!

Worried, I phoned the bank! Oh no, they had even more demands. As my bank puts initials on the bank statement, probably the same for everybody and legal in the UK, they didn't accept it! They demanded I contacted my bank and got one with my name in full! I did, my bank told me that I had to go to the Highstreet! It was raining and cold, my husband offered to drive me there, but OK, this time my account would be opened, right? Oh no! Not with the GB Bank... two days later, meaning, this morning, I received a call and presumed that it was from the complaints department!!! No, it was someone who wished to tell me that the bank had even more demands. They wanted proof that I have the right to live here! And what next????? So I refused! Still waiting to hear from the complaints department and while I do, my Welsh husband, opened an account with them in a matter of minutes! 

Interestingly enough, a lady, from the customer service had a good excuse to make it seem as if they are not discriminating against foreigners. She told me that when she wanted to open an account, and didn't want to include her full name, as she didn't want to use her grandmother's name, she had to show all kinds of documents. I tried to tell her that this was a completely different situation, to which she put down the phone. The lack of respect towards prospective clients is horrendous! 

The only thing I wanted to do was to open a savings account, using my legal name and money obtained legally! The lady on the phone today kept telling me not to take it personally! What did she mean? That us foreigners have to put up with more, just because of who we are and where we come from? I feel humiliated, am angry, frustrated and with good reason. I didn't get to this ripe old age to be treated badly, because of having been born in a different country and having a name that is longer than the average British name, but then there are millions like me in this country, some even born here, from foreign parents! Why is this not talked about??? Some discrimination is still very well tolerated! At one of the main banks I was told that maybe my best option is to change my name and adapt it to the British norms. Still, no bank has been as bad as the GB Bank! 

BIB, "Therefore I had to submit a copy of my passport and a bank statement. I didn't really want to, because I feel that if no British person has to do it, why me and those "like" me?" This is false. I've been asked to provide bank statements and copies of my passport. A couple of days ago I opened an account with Nottingham BS and had to do this.

I suspect you're wasting your time with a complaint. Banks have to comply with KYC and anti-money laundering laws and they face large fines if they don't take it very seriously. I'd move on and try to open an account elsewhere.

Middle_of_the_Road

This all went wrong when GB bank's system would not accept your 'unusual' surname.
You then tried using an abbreviated name, which did not concur with information at your main bank, leading to all the requests for identification.
This is hardly surprising, and has nothing to do with discrimination. 
I avoid dealing with outlier banks, but with the increasing amount of money laundering checks now being commonplace, this could happen with any bank.

born_again

Simple.

https://www.gbbank.co.uk/complaints-process

Although I do not fancy your chances. All they have done is KYC checks.

Beeblebr0x

I have a GB Bank savings account and have had no problems so far

kempiejon

Have you seen GB news? Who'd want to use their bank... Clearly a bunch of chutney swallets.

elsien

kempiejon said:

Have you seen GB news? Who'd want to use their bank... Clearly a bunch of chutney swallets.

Aside from there being no connection between the two? 

Eyeful

Try somewhere else if you are that unhappy with them.

dunstonh

My experience has been excruciating, and finding out how they discriminate against foreigners like me very demeaning, therefore I would like to know if others have had the same experiences and how it felt like for them!

Another point of view is that you are the one being discriminatory by suggesting that only British people should be subject to the European-wide laws and that you should be exempt.

herefore I had to submit a copy of my passport and a bank statement. I didn't really want to, because I feel that if no British person has to do it, why me and those "like" me? 

Except everybody does where electronic identification fails.   That includes British people, who are the majority of people applying for UK bank accounts.

No, it was someone who wished to tell me that the bank had even more demands. They wanted proof that I have the right to live here! And what next????? So I refused! 

The anti-money laundering and KYC checks are risk-based.  The more inconsistent the data, the more checks will be required especially where electronic checks cannot verify the information.    Also, those who are difficult or refuse to supply will usually be considered greater risk, and that can lead to further checks.

while I do, my Welsh husband, opened an account with them in a matter of minutes! 

He probably passed the electronic checks if he has a long enough history to have built up records in the UK.

 The lack of respect towards prospective clients is horrendous! 

Respect goes both ways.
You have played the discrimination card when there is no discrimination.   You could have approached this much more sensibly and have probably created some of the issues yourself.

The UK laws mirror the EU still.  They are not discriminatory as they apply equally to everyone.     Basically, it looks like you failed the electronic check and they have to revert to manual but were given inconsistent data whereas your husband passed the electronic check and didn't need manual checking.