How do I get a bank account?

[jasjun]

I am currently with Lloyds TSB Bank and I can not wait to get shot of them because they have treated me abysimally through hard times when my husband was sent to prison, charging me hundreds/thousands over the past five years.. I am now divorcing my husband and will get a financial settlement sorted soon and will pay the Bank off completely and close my account. The final straw has come when I became a victim of card fraud last week in Turkey which has wiped out my current account. Lloyds TSB tell me it will take 60 days roughly before I get reimbursed and during this time they have refused to give me an overdraft to help me through this period. They have also refused to replace my debit card - the debit card which I personally cancelled, I was not told by them to give up my debit card - I had �2500 in my account before this happened to me - all they will do is give me a cashpoint card. I am absolutely furious as I do a lot of my buying online especially airline tickets and hotels for when I go to Turkey to see my fiance. I want out now but have tried to get a bank account elsewhere and am getting turned down. I want to get my life back - any suggestions please.

[welshygirl85]

Hey jasun,

Sounds like you've had a rough time!

I work for halifax, most highstreet banks give basic accounts to anyone just as long as your not looking for an overdraft facility if you've struggled financially in the past.
To open an account they will create a credit search but it's just standard as it a way of identifying you and checking for fraud.

Also a bit of advice for you as you have had someone using you details, you'll need to protect your information so they can't apply for anything with your details. Contact experian or equifax to put a "waring flag" on your credit file with a password so if you or anyone does try to apply with your details the lender will contact you to confirm it first.

Also regarding your financial history with you ex husband you can also create something on your credit file called "A Notice Of Correction" with this you can explain why you have been in a sticky situation and that it is not the normal way you would conduct your affairs.

If your ex husband had bad debt it can be affecting your hence not being able to get an account, you can dissociate yourself with him by speaking with the above companys.
08702416212 - experian

Hope this helps!

[jasjun]

Thank you so much for that very helpful answer. I am most grateful. I will pluck up the courage to look at the worst scenario of my credit history and put a note on there as to how this situation has come about. Many thanks.

[welshygirl85]

that's ok glad to be of help!

[sandbach99]

There are ways now of getting some of your bank charges back. There have been answers on here which told you how to do it or google for the websites that have a prepared letter on. Good luck.

[Kate77]

You have been through it! I hate Lloyds TSB too and the only reason I am still with them is because I have all my direct debits! They have actually put me into loads of debt by giving me an overdraft years ago which i basically lived off, then offered me a loan, which I just wasnt going to pay off with them so I borrowed more from EGG to pay that off!

I was opening a monthly savers account the other week with the halifax and they are doing some good deals on accounts at the moment. there is one where you have to pay in at least �1000 a month. They will cancel your old bank accounr for you! and transfer any standing orders/direct debits to your new account!

Llo;yds TSB the bank who likes to say " come hither and we will screw up your life"!

[lady_p_gold]

Well sorry but I just had to adjust the balance here, I have been with LLoyds for many years and the service I have received has been second to none, they have helped me through feast and famine and without them I think I would have gone under. Even today when I called in about a simple question re my pin number the manager took me aside into a room and discussed the problem personally. Maybe it is just which branch you get ... ....

[Oneeyedvic]

Kate77 - "They have actually put me into loads of debt by giving me an overdraft years ago which i basically lived off, "

Yeah, what b'stards, they took a gun and forced me to buy things I didn't even want!

Take some responsibiltity for your own actiosn and stop blaming others!

[Kate77]

ooooooooooooh

I know where the fault lies!
I have a basly paid job and I am crap with money. I know it wasnt Lloyds that caused my finance problems but they should also learn not to hand out loans etc willy nilly ;-)
I am suprised they let you live of an overdraft . . . .

[stevie21]

Oneeyedvic - I thought I was the resident finance nazi!
Agree 100% though. Stop blaming the banks for being pesh with money and getting yourselves into debt.

To jasjun, though, SIXTY DAYS!???????????? Have you reported this to the police and got a crime reference number? Have you spoken to someone in the bank's fraud department and then asked to speak to their manager if they insist on the 60 days?
Make it clear that you'll escalate this as high as possible, exhaust the bank's complaints procedure and go to the ombudsman. Even if you're wrong, it costs the bank hundreds of pounds to go to the ombudsman to demonstrate that you're wrong.
60 days is 100% unreasonable. There's no way that the average person can afford to go 2 months with no money and no assistasnce from the bank. I know that sometimes they hold off a refund "pending the investigation" but that should be 12-14 working days maximum in my opinion.

[jasjun]

Hi all, thank you for all your answers. I have now rang Fraud Department again and they are still waiting for my papers from disputes department but hope to have them by Monday. I faxed everything over on Wednesday this week. They say that the Bank should give me an overdraft to cover this fraud so I rang Collections again and they have point blank refused me any help whatsoever. I have told them that all they have to do is ring their Fraud Department to confirm my claim and they do not want to know. I also said that it was me who cancelled the debit card because of fraud and they said that they would have cancelled it anyway. That is a load of lies as I previously put my account back in order before all of this. They said that whilst my account is in collections they would ask for my debit card back - I asked if this isthe case then why did they not take it off me three years ago. I am so so angry. I have now cancelled all my direct debits as I do not have the money in my account to pay them and Lloyds are certainly not going to have the privilege of charging me hundreds of pounds in charges for sending them back. I have told them not to bother to send me a default letter on the loan because it is not my fault that I can not pay at this time. I have asked for help and they have refused me help for circumstances beyond my control. They tell me that I will get letters and they will pursue me. Let them try. I am going to go to the top on this - somehow. From one veyr angry ex customer of Lloyds Bank because once I have this money refunded to my account, I will be taking it all out and paying people in cash for the moment until I get another Bank account. I will pay Lloyds Bank their loan as soon as I get my divorce settlement sorted. Until that time they can sing. My rent and utilities come first.................... I try and get my life back in order and they will not listen tio reason or speak to the fraud department.

[legend1751]

The problem you have is your probly in the collections department or a high risk band because of your husbands financial problem. Because of this LTSB and all other banks will only be able to offer you a basic account called a cash account no credit facilitis debit card cheque book. The best solution is to get your husband of your joint account then run it well for at least 6 months and then you should be able to have a debit card and other products. I know you dont like LTSB but at the moment they are your best bet with your banking facilties as they know your situation. Wait and if still unhappy change when your in a better footing with LTSB. As with your fraud it wont take 60 days you will recieve the money from them is no more than 3 weeks at the most, you will prob need to report to police and sign a declaration saying it was not you then you will get your money back. Good Luck