I checked with Barclays
They just need the last three bank statements from country of origin to open an account
(Halfy By light alone, Sun 19 Jul 2009, 22:29, 1 reply)

Useful to know
This is either a) an enlightened new policy (entirely possible, the banks are screwed and now need every deposit they can get) or b) something that always was the case but which the staff were unaware or too lazy to sort out.

This is (or was) part of the problem. Asking staff in a bank to do anything out of the ordinary, something that would involve checking manuals or consulting with head office was just too much trouble. Far, far easier to sit back and say "sorry, we can't help you". Why should they go out of their way when their branches were filled with other customers whose needs were much more straightforward.

This is also why I envy what used to be the American model. Every town had small local banks with just the odd one or two branches, all competing fiercely for the small pool of customers. Mess up and they would shit a brick at their custom crossing the road to their rival, so they did everything they could to kiss your arse.

Try asking a behemoth like Lloyds TSB to kiss your arse to avoid losing your custom. Just try it.
(TalkbackStuck making obscene phonecalls since, Sun 19 Jul 2009, 23:19, closed)

I must be one of the lucky ones .. .. .. .. ..
LLoyds TSB have been fantastic to me and mrsff over the years. When other banks didn't want our business account (who are now, stupid stupid Natwest, bombarding us with "switch to us" advertising) LLoyds welcomed us. When other banks wouldn't give us a mortgage LLoyds gave us one. When we needed a £30k loan so we could extend our house guess which bank offered us the best interest rates?

Sure I've had the odd minor niggle with them but nothing as bad as the experiences my family have had with Barclays who re-reading the initial post were almost as crap towards you.
(manwiddicombe is thinking of something witty to add here, Sun 19 Jul 2009, 23:43, closed)

I was thinking the same re: Natwest
they've had my custom for the entire almost 28 years of my life, and will continue to do so as they have provided nothing but first class service.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 20 Jul 2009, 10:07, closed)