can't get a bank account

[tootles]

Many years ago I lived in Germany and had a Commerzbank account (huge international bank) When I returned to the UK the bank there (Lloyds) wouldn't give me a cheque book or atm card because (honestly and truly) I had no debts in the UK and therefore no credit rating.
They are a bizarre and entirely self serving industry. (who have halved our income in the last few weeks)

[Two_Sheds]

Can you opt out of online statements for a couple of months?

yes, I clicked that option y'day.
Twill take a few months to get sorted .. by which time it'll be nearly April and I'll be able to change my ISA.

I thought the banks wd be wanting my money

[pdblake]

Where'd my post go?

[Two_Sheds]

When I returned to the UK the bank there (Lloyds) wouldn't give me a cheque book or atm card because (honestly and truly) I had no debts in the UK and therefore no credit rating.

I had terrible trouble getting a credit card - not because of my name, but because I've never had a debt in my life. (in the end I had to fib a bit)
They want people who are going to go overdrawn and therefore pay lots of interest, not careful people who pay it off every month.

I also couldn't get a BT phone in my name, although my unemployed bf at the time could.

[Two_Sheds]

Right, here's an update, because I need to rant

I decided to change all my documents into the one name .. my birth name.

My credit card company will not change my name unless I can supply a Deed Poll certificate showing a change of name (I don't have one). I'll work on that another day.

I wrote to my bank and filled in a change of name form, 2 weeks ago. I got a letter today asking me to call them. I couldn't get past security because I don't have (or don't remember) the password I was given when I joined 9 years ago. They don't give you any clues, either. The conversation went something like this. I expect it's on youtube by now - search under "snotty customers":

"I'm sorry I can't get you past security without your password, you'll have to write to us". I did, you asked me to ring you, I said.

"Oh, I'll check with my supervisor then"

5 mins on hold. "What is your phone number?" I give it. "That's not what's on our file" I have moved house 4 times since opening the account, let me give you some of the different numbers that I've had. "Sorry, can't do that, you can't just guess"

I am tearing my hair out and trying REALLY hard not to say a bad word or raise my voice. She had my mobile number on her file, but was very reluctant to call it, because it wasn't the CORRECT phone number (she had it listed under Work, not Mobile, so it didn't count. Finally she did call it, and seemed a bit peeved that it got through to me.

"I need to do some more security checks now because you failed on your password". OK, fire away.
"What's your memorable address?" Er, address or city? "sorry, can't give you any clues"
I gave her two of my favourite cities, and she grudgingly agreed one of them was correct.

"Mother's maiden name" - correct
"account number" - correct

She still wasn't giving up. "who was your previous bank?" Um, can't remember. It was a decade ago. It's like being on a quiz show, your mind just goes blank and you feel guilty even though you're not.

Look, can you just tell me why you wrote to me? I said. "Sorry, I can't do that without verifying your identity"
"Last three transactions on your card, please" God, no idea I said, I use it everywhere every day; I'll have to look at my online statement. "Sorry, you can't do that, you are locked out for security reasons"

aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

I was on the phone for 24 mins, while she tried to catch me out. Eventually she said "right, what can I help you with?" I don't know, I said, you wrote to me!

"okay, I'll just have a look at your file" (hadn't you just been doing that for 24 minutes? )
"All it is, we just need to clarify your new name because we can't read your writing". So I spelt it out for her, and she had to spell it back to me in that morse code thing (tango quebec aqua) that I can never follow.
Cow.

[Sanjo]

Oh TS TS, calm down and have a cuppa tea. Know what you mean though. I've had conversations like that and by the time you have finished you are almost frothing at the mouth.
Re: the change of name deed. I used to work in a solicitors office and we often did them. They can be expensive if funds are limited but if anyone is interested, you may be able to get one under what was the old green form scheme.
They have probably changed it by now but it may be worth while ringing a few local solicitors and finding if it (or its replacement scheme) is still available.

[Jenegade]

I hate those security things as well TS, I never know what number the password is, last time I tried to do phone banking for my VISA (hadn't paid the minimum payment of 2P!!) they asked me millions of questions, and eventually said no they couldn't get through for me to pay into my account as I didn't know the exact address of my bank, the best I could do was the town!! Got really annoyed too, now I have to take in all my ID into the bank to open up the phone banking again as I'm now locked out of it!

[Glutton4...]

I sympathise TS, I really do.

When we moved I forgot to cancel Sky. But I did remember to cancel the payment instruction with the bank, as I had recently been made redundant and cancelled a load of things 'just in case.' Then tried to get Multi-room facility with my Parents' as we are now on their property, and it works out cheaper for all of us.

Tried getting through on the 'phone, but just got held in a queue until the 'phone battery went flat. Twice. Eventually got through after about a week, to a lovely lady who couldn't help because it was in my husband's name. Lost my temper and threw the 'phone.

Found spare handset for 'phone, and persuaded OH to call. Luckily he got through, only to be told he couldn't do it over the phone, but could do it via their interactive service, which they had cut off!

Then told him he could do it on-line. Unfortunately neither of us could remember the password. The lady was very helpful, and eventually he guessed the right password, but it wouldn't work on-line because the payment had been stopped and by now we were sort of black-listed and couldn't access the site.

Eventually, after me getting very stroppy, they decided they would take a debit card payment. Yippeee. After all that, they couldn't transfer the service, I had to get my Dad to call them and arrange it as it was going to be on his account. Annoying, but fair, I suppose.

Had to wait for Parents to get back from holiday, and eventually they called, but got stuck in a queue until the 'phone battery went dead...bla bla bla

It got sorted eventually.

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paul Wagland]

Account security is becoming a real pain - why do I need a sixteen digit pass code to talk about my phone bill?! You're not supposed to write the things down, you're not supposed to use the same codes for every account, small wonder we all forget them.

As a small aside regarding phone calls to service providers, I found this list showing how to bypass automated answer services. In other words, how to get hold of a human instead of cycling through ten different menus:

gethuman

[jackie j]

My sister always payed the water rates bill over the phone when she was Ill I did it for her as I knew all her security details. When she died I rang them to tell them that she had died and the response was ' SORRY WE WILL NEED TO TALK TO HER TO VERIFY'. um I just told you she has died if you can talk to the dead carry on. The silence was deafening.

[Flummery]

Our local Natural History Society had had a treasurer for so long no-on remembered the previous one. She died and we had SO MUCH trouble closing the account and opening a new one - they wouldn't let us change the signatories - she was the only one and of course, she couldn't sign to say she was no longer going to continue in that capacity! They actually asked us for a death certificate - we didn't even know her family! Eventually and just by luck one of the staff realised that her own account had been held with that bank so someone, somewhere had seen the death certificate to close her personal account. They drive you mad.

[allotmentlady]

If you like, I have interests in the legal field and I could draw up a statutory change of name deed document, you will need to have 2 witnesses when you sign it. If you know of a headmaster/teacher/ MP/2 people who are not related to you. You can use this at the bank.

Only want to help :-)

[jackie j]

My son was having trouble openiong a bank account. I went to Abbey with him he only had his passport two accounts opened there and then. One Issa and one normal account, she put the majority of the cheque in the ISSA and the remaing in the other. Simple no problems at all. We were shocked cos he was having so much trouble at all the other banks.

[sharonr]

This is the second part of my problem.
I have a birth certificate, but it's a different surname to the one I have used since I was 4 years old.
I wasn't officially adopted, so I have nothing official to prove the name I use is my real name. It's just always been my name.

I have considered changing all my documents into the name that is on my birth certificate: but that is a huge job, and anyway, that isn't my name

My so had that problem for his passport, as he has used my married name since starting school. He was told to get a letter from a solicitor stating that he uses a different name to the one on his birth certificate, get the solicitor to sign it (it does cost money, but I`m not sure how much). He got his passport. Might be worth a try contacting a solicitor.

[Paulottie]

If you like, I have interests in the legal field and I could draw up a statutory change of name deed document, you will need to have 2 witnesses when you sign it. If you know of a headmaster/teacher/ MP/2 people who are not related to you. You can use this at the bank.

Only want to help :-)

Good thinking...Can't your Doctor and/or Dentist confirm who you are?