What is the thinking behind this bank account?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

I opened a Santander basic bank account and they automatically opened a second account with it called “top up debit card”. I can get my wages and bank transfers into the basic bank account, I can withdraw cash at the ATM but I can’t pay anything out of it. I can’t buy anything in the shops with the card or online. In order to do that I have to transfer the money to the top up account and use it for debit card transactions. It means having two cards and two pins to remember. I don’t understand the point of it.

We had this for a relative with Alzheimer's! They could spend, but only a limited amount with no access to main account. Just as well as kept PIN with card and used to ask shop assistant to enter it for them!

Was of not explained to you that this would be the case? I would expect this to be explained before/during the application stage

It's all explained on the website ...

www.santander.co.uk/uk/current-accounts/basic-current-account

Did they not explain this in the branch?

Thanks for response, that makes sense ohguess.

I opened it online so there was no explanation. I didn’t even know there would be a second account. I went into the local branch today and asked but all they said was how to use it, not why. I didn’t want to be an awkward fucker and start quizzing the poor woman on the counter about the reasons for having a weird system

I work for santander- it's basically an account for customers who are new to the UK, living in the EU or have poor credit rating! It can help customers help build their credit file and build the relationship for future products- mortgages, credit cards etc!

It's so you can't go overdrawn. The account is for people with a low credit score, so they're considered a risk. Use it well and you might be able to upgrade in future