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.

That's because it tells you to phone them

Oh yes. Business account form.

See? It's very tricky.

@poppycat10

(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).

But if the bank isn't doing it for her when she has asked them then she can go directly to the companies that are claiming them

And I call them and can't get through.

I work in complaints for a bank, I would think that there are pending charges on the account which is why they may not close it. Most banks have a charging period for overdrafts - so when you get your notification that you are over drawn, you pay that back however interest has already been acured. Try and email their complaints team and raise that way, if they don't respond then the FCA should be able to get them moving x

Your dad won't get any joy going into a branch as they won't speak to him about your account, so don't send him on a wasted journey. Have you contacted the charities to cancel the dd's? You need to do that in order for them to stop processing the dd. Is there a live chat option on their website? Or are they on twitter? Try making contact on any platform you can.

Is there a time difference between where you are and the UK?
Have you tried contacting them on twitter or fb?

You could still use that form though OP and tell them you couldn't find the one for personal accounts.

At worst they will send you the personal account form. Well, maybe. I think it's one of those situations where they want you to phone (at massive expense) so they can persuade you out of it. And of course you have to get through the security first.

Might be one for the Times consumer pages. They can usually get things done.

Cancel the DDs so that the account stops going into overdraft. Use the live chat to get in touch or just sacrifice an hour to sit in the phone until you get through.

Judging by twitter you're not the only one with issues!

The advice to get your present bank to close it for you seems good.
Try asking them.

Or
At least contact the charities and ask them to cancel the direct debits.

(If you haven't notified them of your change of address, they will still be using the old one.)

They know my address abroad. They keep writing to me at my current address.

I am not sure which direct debits are left on the account now as I cannot access my account at all.

I have written to the bank asking them to cancel everything and to close the account. I have written with a registered letter three times now.

I will try calling them again but I can never get through.

Can I recommend you very bank with The Co-Operative Bank? They are the worst.

@notaroadrunner, I thought he could just pop in and pick up an account closure form. He wouldn't have to say for which account etc. They're just forms.

[quote KinseyWinsey]@notaroadrunner, I thought he could just pop in and pick up an account closure form. He wouldn't have to say for which account etc. They're just forms. [/quote]
Sorry I misunderstood - thought you meant he'd try to close the account.