Looking to Switch Banks, Need Recomendation

ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 15:35

Just had a very negative experience with Westpac where I had applied for a Low Fee CC. I got an email and 2 SMSs saying that 'Congratulations, your Card is approved and on its way' I was then able to see the card in my app as well. I was 100% honest in my application, I was approved at 4pm on Monday. At 1am the following night I get an SMS saying that the CC is suspended and then the next day another SMS saying that please call the Support Team.

When I speak to the Support Team, I find out that my CC application is now in a declined status! I have received no other communication from Westpac, no emails, nothing in the banking application, nothing in my NetBank messages, just an SMS and I call to find out its been cancelled. They said that the team did a reassessment and it was turned down. My question to them was, why wasn't I notified in any manner that the application was declined? Why wasn't any additional evidence asked? Why wasn't the credit limit lowered/offered? Till now there still hasn't been any update on the Application Page. Its still showing as 'Approved'. They then told me that a declined CC application doesn't look good on your credit rating. But I didn't get any communication that this was going to happen so you just decide to screw with someone's credit rating randomly.

Now to get an answer from them, I have to lodge a compliant which is again steps that I have to take for a negligence on the them. It take one nonsense move to loose a customer. So I'm now going to be moving banks, I already have CBA, any other suggestions? I've gotten ING, Macquarie till now. Hopefully something with better customer service and maybe more rewards.

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • rektrading on 15/03/2022 - 16:05
    -1

    I was 100% honest in my application

    That's the problem. Honest customers isn't their type.

    Westpac mantra is Money laundering "R" Us.

    Westpac's record $1.3 billion AUSTRAC money laundering fine explained

    By business reporter Michael Janda
    Posted Thu 24 Sep 2020 at 1:06pmThursday 24 Sep 2020 at 1:06pm, updated Thu 24 Sep 2020 at 1:15pm
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-24/westpac-money-launder…

  • rektrading on 15/03/2022 - 16:09
    -1

    You're better off getting a CDC.

    No credit checks and minimum paperwork.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 16:11
      +1

      What's a CDC?

      • Godric on 15/03/2022 - 17:33
        +6

        They meant KFC

      • payless69 on 15/03/2022 - 18:48

        Center of veneral Decease Control?

      • donga100 on 15/03/2022 - 19:54
        +3

        Complying Development Certificate. Instead of getting a credit card just build a new house. @rektrading is all about those physical assets!

  • Tily on 15/03/2022 - 16:25
    +1

    I had similar issues with Westpac about 5 years ago. Had another card with them but it was a no frills $500 limit one and wanted a new rewards one with higher limit. Declined me twice within a 6 months period because I was a casual and according to them wasn't earning enough.

    Got frustrated and applied with NAB who I bank with, their customer service person couldn't understand why Westpac would decline me since he can clearly see my pay coming into my accounts and it was more than sufficient to get a card. I was approved automatically for more than the limit I was asking for with Westpac. Till this day I have only been declined by Westpac and I have had various cards from Amex and other banks.

    Like you, Westpac has lost me. I recommend NAB if you want to move your accounts. They are great and you don't have to wait long to speak to someone on the phone. We moved to CBA in Dec when we refinance our home loan. Trying to get thru to a human just takes forever. The last few times we needed to talk to someone it was over a 2 hour wait.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 17:15

      Thanks! It makes no sense! I got approved from CBA and CC on the way already within the same business day. I just found it super annoying and weird that one second you approve it and within a few hours you decline it? But thanks for sharing your experience, I will consider NAB as well now.

  • Caped Baldy on 15/03/2022 - 16:27
    +1

    ING used to be good.

    Macquarie is good, their app and website are really good.

    I just signed up to HSBC for the sweet sweet 2% paywave cashback. I'm finding their apps to be terrible in terms of user-friendliness and UI.

    • jv on 15/03/2022 - 18:54
      +1

      ING used to be good.

      But now they are still doing business in Russia, so give them a miss…

  • tsunamisurfer on 15/03/2022 - 16:52
    +5

    I have shared this previously.

    The customer service staff do not know why you were declined, virtually all personnel across all lending institutions are trained to believe in 'the system'. This system is based on very intimate knowledge of you, your finances, people 'like' you, the current economy to name just a few.

    The system just says Yes or No, does not and does not need to tell you why.

    If the staff are 'unhelpful' its because they legitimately do not know the reason and are leaning on generic responses that normally placate all but the most p!ssed off customers. Insisting on speaking to a manager will simply get you their 1 up who has the same level of knowledge (Zero) about the data and algorithms that use that data to reach your No answer.

    It was very unfortunate that you were told you were successful then declined after that.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 17:18

      Thanks for this insight, I get all of the points above. If I was declined by their system I can live with it. But I was really annoyed with the way it was communicated with me. By a measly SMS at 1am?. Like when I was approved at the start I got 3 SMSs and 2 Emails Congratulating me and what not. But when I was declined, it was a SMS asking me to call them and then I find out. If it was communicated me by Email, Notification and even if my Application status on the site was updated to say declined I'd not be bothered. But I only find out its declined when I call them and no where else do I have visibility that it has been declined.

    • QuickdraW on 15/03/2022 - 17:53

      is the system often known to change its mind at the drop of a hat?

  • this is us on 15/03/2022 - 18:31
    +2

    For banking, I like UP… Straightforward, smart, essentially no fees, Osko transactions…

    For credit card, I have had good experience with AMEX, for many years, here and overseas. Unfortunately, ANZ demanded I cancelled my AMEX a few months ago to have mortgage approved. I cancelled, and now I regret (ended up not using the approved credit, and don't have a decent credit card at the moment).
    Applied for a Westpac Altitude Black, they said my Amex account was still open and asked for proof of closure, which I sent one week ago. They haven't replied and haven't contacted me, so I can't say that's a good start with Westpac.

    HSBC (Premier) was not bad for credit card either, but the banking is like being in the 90's. I left them years ago as there was no reason to have that account. HSBC Premier customer service was impressivelly good, they seemed to be much more knowledgeable and keen to solve the problems, not stupid as ANZ/Westpac (they seem to be reading the exact sentences they have to tell you, even when the sentences don't apply to your situation).

    I've had to contact ANZ a few times in the last years, which is not a good sign per se, and all the creatures on the phone seem to be completely imbeciles without thinking capacity. It's like talking to terribly programmed robots, or to a door… No thinking capacity, it's infuriating. Also, I'm so sorry but the truth is that I had to learn English and sit for tests and exams to make sure I was able to communicate with people before I was able to work in Australia (even if I still make mistakes LOL). I have no idea where the call centres are but some of these people who talked to me not only have poor English, but also no communication skills to be talking to people.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 19:22

      Thanks! I wish I could apply for Amex but I'm not a PR in Australia and that's one of thier requirements. Otherwise Amex was going to be my first choice.

      • this is us on 15/03/2022 - 19:32
        +1

        Not sure if that's something new, but I applied for AMEX long before I became a PR.

  • AustriaBargain on 15/03/2022 - 18:44
    +3

    I like NAB, they have regular accounts with no fees and no conditions like depositing a certain amount per month. I don't know about credit though, but for regular debit card accounts they seem fine.

  • jv on 15/03/2022 - 18:53

    nothing in my NetBank messages

    Westpac don't send messages to CommBank accounts.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 19:18

      Excuse the terminology, but I meant in thier own Net Banking Inbox.

  • Miss B on 15/03/2022 - 19:19

    The issue isn't that they declined to offer you a credit card. The issue is that they told you you had been approved and then changed their minds. If they needed to do more checks to make a decision they should have taken the time. They are well within their rights to refuse people credit, but they're not very good at their jobs if they don't do all the checks first.

    • ronitdias on 15/03/2022 - 19:21

      Absolutely spot on! I told the very same thing to the guy on the phone. I'm not at all concerned about the declined application. But approving and then declining mere hours later and then only notifying me by an SMS and no other means is huge trouble to cause a customer.

    • jv on 15/03/2022 - 19:38

      If they needed to do more checks to make a decision they should have taken the time.

      Keep in mind that you're only hearing one side of the story here…

      • Miss B on 15/03/2022 - 20:26
        -1

        That's almost always the case with the forums, just have to go with the information available. Funnier when both sides fight it out in the forums, but it's so rare.

        You defending poor little Westpac?

        • jv on 15/03/2022 - 21:26
          +3

          You defending poor little Westpac?

          Not really, but more often than not with these posts, not 'all' of the truth of the matter has been revealed..

  • Squizz on 17/03/2022 - 07:41
    +2

    Consider downloading a free credit check score app like finder in case any unexpected activity impacting your credit score.

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