Unable to close bank account

[KinseyWinsey]

I have an old bank account with the Co-operative Bank. I never use it.

I'm trying to close it.

I've written to them asking them stop all standing orders, direct debits and to close it. They ignore my letters and I get overdrawn each month as a result but I can never see how as I can't log in online.

I've tried calling them and never get through.

I try to log in online and the website says there's a problem and locks my account.

I've tried to find the account closing request form on their website but it just comes up blank.

I'm getting seriously pissed off.

Anyone else had this?

I don't live in the U.K. anymore so can't just pop in to a branch.

They are normally fairly responsive on webchat

where are the standing orders and direct debits going?
This needs to be sorted first, do a bank switching service that moves these to a new bank (or your current one) and then closes the old account, only takes a week and easy to do.
You will also need an account in credit in order to close it, maybe this is the problem?

I pay off the overdraft every month.

I wrote to them to stop all standing orders a d direct debits.

I don't use the account.

I've written to them asking to close the account.

They just ignore me.

I can't log in to chat because they lock my account.

So weird.

But what are the DDs for? Surely if you still jave live DDs then you need that account?

Everything swapsicles said!

It seems unlikely they would deliberately ignore your letters so make sure you are sending to the correct address (ideally by tracked mail in case you need to raise a complaint in future) and that your communications contain all the information they would need to identify you and your account.

Do they know you no longer live in UK?

What companies are taking the direct debits? Speak to the companies to stop them or get them transferred to a different account.

Which bank is it?

Sorry its Co-Op

Have you tried using the app?
Social media?

The dds were for charity.

They know I live abroad

They've just sent me a letter telling me I'm overdrawn again. I've just transferred money from my other account to pay off that balance

But there should be no direct debits etc because I don't use that account for anything.

And they obviously are ignoring my letters.

Letters which I sent registered.

Contact the charities and cancel the direct debits with them

The companies control the direct debits whereas it is the account holder that controls standing orders.

In the past I have been able to cancel both direct debits and standing orders on my bank account with no bother at all.

This is all I ever get when I try to log in online.

It's all very rum and annoying.

And is that the number you cant get through on?

Click on this link which is what comes up when I giggle Co-operative bank closing account form

What do you see?

Yep. That number.

I'm going to have to ask my ancient dad to go into a branch. I've had enough of their appalling customer service.

The co-op website gives that number as the Fraud number

When I go to that link there are a few screens to get through, they don't want you to close your account but this is the form you need:

www.co-operativebank.co.uk/assets/ns/bank/pdf/business/customerservices/business-account-closure-form-Customer-Service.pdf

Is it possible they are responding to an old address in the UK? When you write again tell them again to cancel the DDs and SOs as well as filling in the firm.

Although it gives that number for closing the account too

Except I can't because there's now no branch in his city.

That's a business account closure link not a personal account

(you don't need to contact the charities for the DDs, the bank can do it too. I cancel DDs online all the time, with the bank, not the organisation).

@dementedpixie

That's a business account closure link not a personal account

well there doesn't appear to be one for a personal account. I'll have another look.

@poppycat10 you found the form! Thank you. Brilliant.

I will send this off today a d the buggers can bugger off!!