Student bank account

[Shyposter]

DS went into Nationwide yesterday following securing his place at Uni oping to open a new Student Bank account (followed the advice from Money Saving Expert). During the process, he gave the 4 digit UCAS code required by the bank (well, Building Society) but it came up on their system that they could not verify this with UCAS and to wait 24 hours following acceptance onto the course and try again.

He's tried again today online and had the same message.

Has anybody else had this problem? Is there something he hasn't done on UCAS which means the code isn't active? Is there a button click or something that he hasn't done? He has had a couple of e-mails yesterday quoting this code so we're sure it's the correct one (he also has a 16 digit code but Nationwide require the 4 digit one). We really want to get his student account sorted so we can give the Student Loans his a/c number so it doesn't delay his loan being paid in.

Any advice? Anybody? Please?

We had this too. Ds went into branch and after a couple of calls to and from UCAS the lady in the branch was able to override the system. He went in at 4 yesterday and his account is already online, I think its something to do with them wanting the 4 digit rather than the other one

Thanks for the reply - I might get DS to call UCAS before they close at 6pm tonight to see if there's a problem. I need to get his a/c sorted!

Update (should anybody be in the slightest bit interested!) - UCAS just e-mailed DS out of the blue (before we had chance to contact them) to say they'd got some information wrong regarding his code and sending him new info.

The code in this new e-mail was one digit different to all the previous codes and he's just successfully applied for a bank account! Just got to wait for the paperwork now as it was all online.

Such a relief though!

What is this code called?

I'm hoping to get my DD to open her student account at the Nationwide tomorrow. Which code is it she needs?

Your DD should have received an email from UCAS with 2 codes one is 4 digits and the other is longer. The banks need one of these code to open a student account. Nationwide wants the 4 digit one.

Just check whether she's had multiple emails (which DS did) and the latest one revised the code with an apology for the previous ones being wrong.
Failing this, UCAS have said that you can take your AS12 letter (available via the UCAS website when logged in) which the bank can also use if the code is wrong/doesn't work.

Ooh, wonder if this is why DS had problems upgrading from an ordinary current a/c to a Student one? He had both codes, but wasn't asked for them.

The person at his bank said it was because he hadn't activated his current a/c and then had to order a new PIN for him as he's 'lost' his original paperwork (probably under the pile of 'stuff' strewn over his bedroom floor...)

Got to wait for the new PIN to arrive now and use the a/c before he can get it changed to a Student a/c.

Ok thanks. Dd still isblooking confused re a four digit code but im sending her to the branch on Monday to close her child account and get a student one so hopefully it will all click into place.

We had this issue too but worked yesterday

Santander give a free 3 year rail card when you open a Student account. Looks like a good deal to me.

That's the one DS is going for.

Could someone tell me the title of the email that has the codes

Ds' account is up and running card and pin received and overdraft activated. He also received an unexpected box of goodies in the post to wish him well at Uni!

Ds went with hsbc for £60 amazon voucher and a yr of student prime account. Dropped in local branch and they sorted it all for him. Cards arrived within a 2 days and pins day after.

You can use tesco clubcard vouchers to get railcards, might be worth looking at for some people.

Likewise dc went for HSBC for the Amazon voucher alone (we have Amazon prime family so the student version wasn't of interest), and I have an annual Goldcard which means I can buy her a student railcard for only £10.