Refused Bank Current Account - Help! What now?

Goobersdad

Hi,

I currently have a JOINT Premier Direct Current account with A&L but, as my wife and I are currently going through divorce, I have tried to open an additional current account solely in my name, so that neither my wife nor I can expose the other to unnecessary debt, etc.

I've been with A&L since December 2002 when I started working for their Wholesale business and it was an employment requirement, and also have a linked savings account and a personal loan (yes, yes, I know I shouldn't have all my financial eggs in one basket!).

I have recently moved house twice and am living in rented accomodation, although the local council have updated their electoral register since I moved to where I currently am.

However, when I contacted A&L about opening an additional account, they told me over the phone that I'd failed the initial address check and that my application would be referred to their credit department for manual review.

I received a letter this morning telling me they won't open an account for me after my application had been "assessed by one of our experienced underwriters".

I have a number of concerns:

1) the address on the letter is incorrect (little wonder I failed the address check, even though the guy on the 'phone read it back to me correctly, it's clearly not been input into their system correctly)

2) does this mean I'm not on the Electoral Roll correctly? How can I check this?

3) Will this have left one of the infamous 'footprints' on my credit score?

The letter states that I can appeal against their decision, but I'm concerned that will just leave even further 'footprints' on my credit rating.

Any help any of you can offer would be very gratefully received!

Mark

neilp

Mark, I suggest looking at your credit files - they should fairly clearly answer all the questions above. It is also worth asking A & L for the reasons for declining your application. I think they have an obligation to provide a response.

Goobersdad

Thanks Neil - what exactly do you mean by my "credit files"? Do you mean by using Creditexpert (for example)?

Zebedee69

Yes check them with credit expert. Its your experian file the most widely used company....... Have look at it.

Goobersdad

Thanks again

I've just coughed up £6 to discover that my national credit score is 921 out of a possible 1000 - didn't think that was likely to adversely affect me! One thing that didn't show up is my name on the electoral roll at my current address, this despite my signing the electoral roll form early December 07.

Time to contact my local council?

d123

GoobersDad wrote: »

Thanks again

I've just coughed up £6 to discover that my national credit score is 921 out of a possible 1000 - didn't think that was likely to adversely affect me! One thing that didn't show up is my name on the electoral roll at my current address, this despite my signing the electoral roll form early December 07.

Time to contact my local council?

If you sent the form in early December you would missed the cut-off for registration for 2007.

How to register your name

From the end of August until the end of November an annual canvass of all the residential properties takes place. This is done to compile the new Register of Electors, which will be published on 1 December 2007.

Goobersdad

My mistake - I'm not totally convinced it was December when I signed the form, but I did do it when a representative from West Lancs DC called at the flat, advising they were updating the electoral roll (so I'm guessing I've either been had, or it was before December!).

However, my name isn't associated with the current address.

I've contacted the Council direct this morning, but am not hopeful of a positive response, they usually don't bother to reply!

dunstonh

The banks don't normally supply the information to their staff on why you have failed. If they do, its normally limited information or generalised. Often just a failure code is given which could include a range of things.

If the address is wrong then the credit score will fail.

Goobersdad

That stacks up all over the place!

He actually said he couldn't "get a match on that address" when I was applying through the Call Centre and that it would referred for manual review by their credit centre.

Also, the fact that I'm not on the electoral roll, and the incorrect wording on the letter. Great.

Goobersdad

Thanks anyway!

Actually dunstonh, when you say the address is wrong, were you implying the fact that the letter I got was incorrectly addressed and, therefore, the credit score would fail, or the fact that I'm not on the electoral roll at this address, even though I am associated with the address on my credit report (although it states 0 years and 0 months, which is wrong!)

dunstonh

Normally (wary of generalisations) the address would be carried through from one input. So, if its wrong in one place, there is a good chance it is wrong with every other useage.

Electoral roll is only one of a number of things checked. Whilst it works a little against you, it wouldnt be the sole reason for failure. Telephone is checked against BT directory enquiries for example. Other credit applications appear on file as well.

The system works by matching data. Inconsistencies can throw up a refusal. Indeed, they can even throw an identity fraud warning up (although the Experian system is a little flawed there at times and does give false positives which the user needs to get Experian to clear).