cariP v Abbey National

[CariP]

Hi all, I have been referred here to claim bank charges back from Abbey but I think the first step is to open a new account in case they get difficult and take my money? Unfortunately I have defaulted on credit cards and loans in the past so the banks I have tried will not let me open a new account. Does this mean I have to accept the charges and just carry on? Any advice would be great.

[barracad]

Have you tried to open a 'basic' account?

 

Natwest have a basic account called a 'Step Account' - only takes a couple of minutes to set up online. Has facility for Direct Debits etc, even comes with a Debit Card. Several users on this forum who have what they would refer to as a bad credit history have opened these accounts without difficulty.

 

Other banks offer similar 'basic' accounts so you may want to shop around.

[LondonPam]

I opened a step account online. They were really fast and I received my solo card and pin in a few days. It may not be an account that has all bells and whistles but it will suit me fine for a bit.

Good luck.

[Jane Austen]

I fully endorse what Pam says. They don't appear to do credit checks which is really good.

 

Good luck.

[blinkyblinkyblonk]

i would just like to point out that i have been refused a

nat west step account and a co op cashminder account, and this is to do with my credit file as i was told by the peeps on the phone.

 

I phoned them and they said that something may be on my credit file which made the "computer says no" (i can just imagine them being like that at the bank as little britain portray them LOL)

 

im going to have a look at my credit file, I must admit as i moved i stopped paying on my debt management plan, stupid mistake i know but have come to my senses and restarted it, im assuming that this is probably why no one at the banks will touch me with a barge pole, oh apart from barclays and they were one of the creditors i owe and one of them i stopped paying, im a bit afraid to put money in it for fear they may take it to cover my barclaycard debt, but i have added them to my dmp now.

[barracad]

I'm sure I saw a post where somebody said if you apply for a 'Step Account' over the phone they can't do a credit check just for that account, they just do a general credit check for a current account.

 

I've not yet come accross any posts where somebody has been refused a Step Account when they applied online - please correct me if I'm wrong.

[callumsgran]

BTW nat west step account do do credit checks! ive just opened one and its on my credit report!

[Jane Austen]

Well, I have a cr** credit report and I applied online and got one no bother.

[blinkyblinkyblonk]

I'm sure I saw a post where somebody said if you apply for a 'Step Account' over the phone they can't do a credit check just for that account, they just do a general credit check for a current account.

 

I've not yet come accross any posts where somebody has been refused a Step Account when they applied online - please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

 

barracad i have just been refused a nat west step account and i applied online. it could be that i have stopped paying on my dmp that has caused the problem when its all up and running again i will apply again.

 

they did say that once i get my credit report, and if everything looks in order(as it can be on my credit file) then i am to go into the branch of natwest with my credit report and my debt management plan details and they will look at it again.

[chrismc]

I must admit as i moved .

 

blinkyblinkyblonk

 

Are you on the Electoral Role? at your new address? if you are not after your move I doubt you would get any account in my experience anyway!! I cannot see a Step account being refused for bad credit, so it has to be something else. Get a copy of your credit file, you can get one online from Equifax, that will probably tell you why.

 

Chris

[Seminole]

It should be possible for almost anyone to open a basic bank account. The Coop Cashminder account is even available to undischarged bankrupts.

 

There are three main reasons you may have problems:

 

1) You have no means of proving your address. Banks have to receive suitable ID information to prove who you are and where you are. They may well use a credit check to do this but they shouldn't credit score. In other words what's on your credit file shouldn't affect your application.

2) Important exception- if you have a CIFAS (ie fraud) record on your credit file this may count against you. If you are having problems getting hold of your credit report is important,

3) Bank staff will often put you forward for a full account and not a basic account. This may be a mistake but it may be that they get more commission if they sneak you through.

[blinkyblinkyblonk]

blinkyblinkyblonk

 

Are you on the Electoral Role? at your new address? if you are not after your move I doubt you would get any account in my experience anyway!! I cannot see a Step account being refused for bad credit, so it has to be something else. Get a copy of your credit file, you can get one online from Equifax, that will probably tell you why.

 

Chris

 

hi chris, i have a council tax bill if that puts you on the electoral roll i dont know, come to think of it ive never had a polling card so maybe you could be right, it could also be that i sent my halifax statements with umpteen charges on it, perhaps that was it,

and unfortunately i dont have a debit/credit card to do the credit file online but i will send them a postal order and get it that way, I dont suppose i could use my mums debit card to get the file??? that may be seen as fraud

thanks for your reply chris

[barracad]

I dont suppose i could use my mums debit card to get the file???

 

I'm fairly sure you can. I know an independent mortgage advisor and I think they pay for credit file requests on behalf of their clients.

[Seminole]

Being registered for council tax is not the same as being on the electoral roll. Ring up your local authority and ask for a form.

[blinkyblinkyblonk]

It should be possible for almost anyone to open a basic bank account. The Coop Cashminder account is even available to undischarged bankrupts.

 

There are three main reasons you may have problems:

 

1) You have no means of proving your address. Banks have to receive suitable ID information to prove who you are and where you are. They may well use a credit check to do this but they shouldn't credit score. In other words what's on your credit file shouldn't affect your application.

2) Important exception- if you have a CIFAS (ie fraud) record on your credit file this may count against you. If you are having problems getting hold of your credit report is important,

3) Bank staff will often put you forward for a full account and not a basic account. This may be a mistake but it may be that they get more commission if they sneak you through.

 

1) ive only been at this address for under a year but gave them my previous address which i was there for 7 years.

2) never done fraud

3) definitely a basic account applied for.

[blinkyblinkyblonk]

Being registered for council tax is not the same as being on the electoral roll. Ring up your local authority and ask for a form.

 

 

 

thank you so much i will do that

[Seminole]

1) ive only been at this address for under a year but gave them my previous address which i was there for 7 years.

2) never done fraud

3) definitely a basic account applied for.

 

You don't have to have done fraud, you could be a vicitm of it. Huge numbers of people are having their credit reports screwed as a result of ID theft.

[chrismc]

thank you so much i will do that

 

Yes you need to be on the Electoral Roll.....and get a copy of your Credit File, it would be hard to go any further without that, there may be lots of things on there that you are unaware of, or just not correct which could affect you.

 

But proof you actually live where you say you do is a big one. Electoral Roll I think is very important, make sure you are registered.

 

I think you could register online using,your mums card, but if they have just recently turned you down for the same account I think you would be wasting your time.

 

Maybe best taking care of the above first then trying the CooP or another bank, you could always then go back to the NatWest in maybe 3-6 months time if you had too.

[CariP]

Hi all, haven't really done anything to push my claim but they have just charged me £30 for going £0.40 over so it's full steam ahead now. Trouble is my Dad used to work for Abbey so he is against me pushing this. Will let you know how we get on.