Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

[henryJSB]

Hello everyone, I was referred here bya member of MoneySavingExpert as they said people here might be able to help me.

Basically I've been having some ongoing issues obtaining a basic bank account. I'm in about 5,000-6,000 worth of debt through Pay Day Loan companies, bank overdrafts and credit cards and with my very low income I opted to put myself on a debt management plan. Since I've been on the debt management plan I have been almost entirely unable to open myself a BASIC bank account.

Unfortunately, I am now stuck with a ThinkBanking account which whilst it does the job perfectly fine, I am trying to budget to get rid of unnecessary expenditure and I consider the 14.95 fee a month an 'unnecessary expenditure'.

In pursuit of a free basic account here's what's happened to me:

Applied for a basic barclays account. My application was referred and I had to wait another week to hear back. A week past and I was rejected.

Applied for a co-op cashminder account. 10 days past and rang up for progress on my application. I was informed that it had been lost and to try and re-apply.

Applied for a Yorkshire Bank readycash account. I was told I'd be contacted back in 48hrs with a decision. 4 days past and rang up for progress on my application, I was informed that my application had ALSO been lost and to try and re-apply.

I'm extremely confused and baffled at this. Surely two lost applications cannot be a coincidence? and I am concerned as to why I've been rejected for an account that I am told is one of the easiest bank accounts to get?

Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening? Any help is much appreciated.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Hi & welcome to AAD

Ok I'd be looking at both CIFAS & N HUNTER before anything else. You'll need to send an advanced SAR plus £10 to each but we need to establish any fraud markers. Then it's a case of checking equifax & experian (£2 each) - upon which we should be able to assist more.

N Hunter info is here --> National Hunter - allaboutFORUMS

I fully understand the FPA processes and internal systems so happy to help. I'll post link to SAR when I'm on pc as using phone at moment to reply.

Any questions give us a yell

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

ps the YB account, you normally open this in branch with an advisor. Did that not happen? If not I'm surprised.....

As for co-op I'd wait. They can take a while but similarly, apply in branch if you can as it's easier.

Right now though. Don't apply anywhere.....

[jen_br]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

If you want a quick look noddle is a free report and you can gain instant access

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

No. Noddle/call credit is useless. You need experian & equifax.

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

ps the YB account, you normally open this in branch with an advisor. Did that not happen? If not I'm surprised.....

As for co-op I'd wait. They can take a while but similarly, apply in branch if you can as it's easier.

Right now though. Don't apply anywhere.....

Nope, I rang a number for the YB readycash account. I also applied for the co-op one in branch, and then rang them when they didn't get back to me they told me they lost the application. Same as YB.

As for all the CIFAS and headhunter stuff, do you mean I have to send them both SAR's? Do I just request this in writing?

I have tried to gain access to an Equifax credit report, and they told me I needed to contact them so they can ask me more questions. I contacted them today, and the person on the phone said some details I entered were not recognised, and I was going to be contacted via e-mail over the next few days. So for now I can't gain access to a credit report.

Could you tell us a bit more about your debts and your DMP? There may be other options for dealing with them..

My debts are with HSBC (1750 overdraft) HSBC (500 credit card) Vanquis (500 credit card) Aqua (650 credit card) Capital One (750 credit card) Wonga (500 Payday loan) MoneyShop (250 Payday loan) Northern Debt Recovery (Started as a 245 loan, is now somehow 780) Speedy Cash (165 Payday Loan) I'm with Gregory Pennington as my debt management company and I'm paying 206 a month out of a 650 per month income.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Ahhh now that's why you can't get a basic account.

Leave things for now. Apply for experian too. You need your address details to match, clearly they do not hence banks will not touch you.

You need to send one of these to N Hunter - not cifas (yet) --> Our Templates | Unenforceability Templates | Subject Access (SAR) - Advanced Request

And get a £2 statutory experian report. That's all for now.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

N Hunter address is on here --> Welcome to National Hunter

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Right okay.

- SAR to N hunter.

- £2 statutory experian report.

I'm on it. Thanks so much for the speedy and informative responses.

I've also updated my previous post to explain my debts and DMP situation.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Excellent thanks. Remember the £10 to n hunter

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

The debts wouldn't play much of a part with basic accounts. Barclays and coop take bankrupts. It's fraud they knock back on and with equifaxes response, something isn't adding up with your details used vs those supplied by electoral registration feeds.

It's easy to sort unless there's more to it such as witheld previous addresses or a link to a partner with a fraud marker maybe? Best wait n see what cra reports & n hunter say.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Ahh separate issue

Ok I'm sticking to n hunter stuff. You go for ue

[SXGuy]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

Send the £10 as a postal Order btw, not as a note.

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

What is a postal order? How do I obtain one?

Sorry for my ignorance. I'm quite young and this is all new to me. I'm 22 yrs old.

EDIT:
Is experian callcredit.co.uk?

[henryJSB]

Re: Having real issues obtaining a basic bank account.

I'm trying to sign up to Experian to get a credit report but it's saying I have already applied.

Just DOUBLE checked, I did try to get an experian credit report but they sent me an email requiring that I send them documents through the post to confirm my identity. Shall I send these documents?

Send TWO of the following:



Original (not a copy) Bank Statement dated in the last 3 months
Original (not a copy) Credit Card Statement dated in the last 3 months
Original (not a copy) Gas/Electricity/Water Bill dated in the last 3 months
Original (not a copy) Council Tax Bill dated in the last 3 months


And, also send ONE of the following:


Photocopy of current Passport
Photocopy of both parts of current UK Driving Licence
Photocopy of Birth Certificate