Just when most of you finally thought thing were slowly but surely getting back to normal, huge swathes of the UK are now waking up to find they are back in lockdown. I know you will all have different views on that, but one thing is for sure, some businesses are going to find it impossible to trade and operate as they once did for the foreseeable future.
That fact coupled with not being able to access a Bounce Back Loan due to not having an account with an accredited lender or being declined a such and account or a BBL is without a shadow of a doubt negatively affecting the mental health of many business men and women across the land.
I know this as I speak to many people day in day out over on Twitter via direct message, many of whom have no one else to talk to about Bounce Back Loans and their situation, for lets face it, its is such an alien environment and such a new scheme the only history of how the whole scheme works is a short one and it has only been up and running for three months.
Its not an easy topic to talk to others about, but if you are now working your way through the maze that is the Bounce Back Loan scheme and just know deep down it is taking its toll on you, please reach out to someone, keep in mind those that follower me on Twitter have been where you find yourself, some finally got a BBL and some are still in your position, chat to some of them or even me, its good to talk and will give you an channel to vent your worries, fears and whatever else is worrying you.
Will things change in the final 3 months of the BBL scheme (its due to end on Nov 4th by the way), to make it easier for those unable to open a suitable bank account and then get a BBL? Well, the British Business Bank have just changed the state aid requirements for the Cbils scheme, and they are more than aware many people still cannot get a BBL so things could also change regarding the BBL scheme too, but time will tell.
Please do not give up hope, even if you have no hope left, I see people day in and day out finally getting a BBL after weeks or months of trying, and sadly some of you are going to have to fight every step of the way and enlist the help of others such as your MP (some good at helping some sadly not so good).
Visiting a branch as I have said before can work wonders in some cases, I have had people who have been declined for a bank account get one (with the bank that declined them) by throwing themselves at the mercy of the branch staff, so be prepared to try everything, you shouldn’t have to do so of course but these are unique times.
Been Declined a Bank Account or BBL?
Please read below for some reasons as to why you may be declined a bank account and/or a Bounce Back Loan with some lenders.
Many people who are declined tend to fear it is their credit rating/score that is the cause of a decline, and whilst that can and may play a part obviously, there can be a whole host of other reasons, some of which can be sorted out, and when the latter is the case you may find it much easier to open a bank account and/or obtain a Bounce Back Loan.
Some Lenders can and will and are in within their rights to decline anyone for an account and/or BBL based on their own criteria in additional to that laid down by the British Business Bank.
With that in mind, if you have checked all of the following and/or have been declined by one lender then you are also within your rights, and encouraged to apply to any other lender that is part of the Bounce Back Loan scheme.
Potential reasons not relating to credit score/rating
SIC Code – Not matching on companies house vs what you put in your application.
SIC Code – considered a reputational risk – you would be surprised how many business types fall into this category.
Directors/owners name(s) not matching companies house and/or
Voters roll e.g. Chris vs Christopher, as your middle name.
Business address not matching, has your accountant used their address to register? What is your correspondence address at companies house?
Business name not matching e.g. Ltd v limited
Recent changes of directorship and/or ownership – red flag at the moment due to BBL fraud
Markers registered against the company or director
Previous financial relationship with the bank or one its subsidiaries that did not end well
Free Advertising on the Website if You Are Interested
It’s been twelve weeks since the Bounce Back Loan scheme was launched, and in that time well over a million businessmen and women have applied for and been paid out a loan.
There are of course plenty of you out there reading this that are still waiting, either for the chance of opening a business account with an accredited lender or waiting for an application you have made to be processed then paid out.
In that time my once small band of Twitter followers and “lurkers”, the latter being those who prefer to DM me their feedback/problems rather than become a follower has grown, and this website is now getting a huge number of visitors each day, which continues to grow.
As we have all been told to “get back to work” by the powers that be, I have decided to unleash the popularity of the website to hopefully help as many of you get your business noticed. Therefore, I am going to be ever so slightly tweaking the website to include reviews and write-ups about businesses that are trying to bounce back.
As such expect to see a new section on the website being given prominence moving forward, and if you have a business, it doesn’t matter what it is, then I want to help you in your quest to bounce back by promoting in.
I therefore invite you to get in touch, feel free to send in a small write up about your business, where you are based, what services/goods etc you offer, contact details, including any social media accounts you have and wish to promote, and a photo of your business premises, business vehicle, display stands, website, whatever, and I will get you listed on the website.
If you are one of the many businesses that have received a BBL and need goods or services of any type then keep in mind and consider using the businesses/services of those that you will soon see promoted on the website, as they have all been in the same position as you are/have been and are eager to keep their businesses going.
Send your write-up and any photo to info@mrbounceback.com or DM via Twitter.
Compensation
Many Bounce Back Loan applicants that have been through hell and still are experiencing problems have been offered compensation from a bank ranging from £50 up to £2500 for the more complicated problems.
It is your choice as to whether you accept any offer of compensation and the amount you accept too.
Bank and Lender Updates
Be aware things can change in an instant at any bank and as such I will now give you an overview of how things are going with each bank, and let you know how and where to contact if you want to try and chase up your Bounce Back Loan application and find out where things stand with each bank.
Each bank will have their own criteria for opening accounts, and some lenders also have their own set of rules regarding who they will allow to open an account and/or apply for a Bounce Back Loan.
HSBC
They appear to have now launched their online Feeder Account Portal, which hopefully does away with the exceptionally long and drawn out process for applying for such an account.
Many people who had previously applied for a Feeder Account are still waiting for their call backs to set up the account, and/or to receive all related documents and many people are still waiting for payment.
HSBC Feeder Account Portal Link
Be aware many people have been declined for such an account when using that portal, and also when they have applied for a feeder account during the telephone interview for such an account.
Link to the HSBC BBL section of their Website
Useful Email Addresses for Contacting HSBC:
feeder.account.team@hsbc.com
Ian.Stuart@hsbc.com
Sally.A.Williams@hsbc.com
commercial.executive.complaints@hsbc.co.uk
amandamurphy@hsbc.com
marissa.k.adams@hsbc.com
julienapier@hsbc.com
feeder.account.team@hsbc.com
oliver.james.exley@hsbc.com
Lloyds
Lloyds continue to do what they do best, process, and pay out BBL applicants quickly and with no fuss or hassle.
Be aware that if you hold a Bank of Scotland or a Halifax or Lloyds personal bank account you can use the Onboarding Portal to get a Lloyds Business Account and then can apply for a Bounce Back Loan.
Be aware though the dates listed on the website, as you will have had to have a personal bank account in operation before those dates to be able to onboard with Lloyds, if you have opened an account after the dates you will not be able to use that onboarding system.
Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Lloyds Onboarding Link
Lloyds CEO Email Address
vim.maru@lloydsbanking.com
Metro Bank
Metro Bank have now launched their Bounce Back Loan scheme, which is a sight to behold.
Due to the speed at which applicants are processed, and the rapid pay-outs too, many people wish they had an account with them, as their Bounce Back Loan journey would be an easy one for sure.
Metro Bank will let you register an interest in opening an account with them online and they will then make contact with you to arrange an appointment in one of their banks or ”stores” as they like to call them.
Applicants simply join an online queue and when it is their turn to apply for a Bounce Back Loan (which can be after a few hours), they then fill in the application form and once done they are then either approved on the spot, declined or told whether any additional information is required.
The feedback from many people is that Metro Bank are the game changer, as unlike most other banks people get to know at the end of their application their fate, without having to wait for days or weeks to discover what is going on with their application, as has been the case with other banks.
Visit the Metro Bank BBL Section of their Website
Email the CEO of Metro Bank Dan.frumkin@metrobank.plc.uk
Tide
Tide have run out of money to lend and are desperately scrambling around trying to raise more to increase the number of applications they can process, as such you can expect a huge delays before any application you have put in will be processed.
Visit the Tide BBL Section of their Website
Co-Op Bank
To be fair to the Co-Op not many people have been complaining about them, I have had a few here and there and some have been sorted out but every now and then I get someone appearing and asking for help.
Co-Op Bank CEO Email Address
chris.davis@co-operativebank.co.uk
Visit the Co-Op Bank BBL section of their Website
Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank
I get the odd complaint about both Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale and it is always worth checking out their respective BBL sections of their websites for updates, seen reports of those banks taking applications for new bank accounts by the way, but check that out as it can change at any time.
Visit the Yorkshire Bank BBL section of their Website
Visit the Clydesdale Bank BBL section of their Website
Yorkshire Bank CEO Email Address
david.duffy@cybg.com
Clydesdale Bank CEO Email Address
david.duffy@cybg.com
Barclays
I am still getting all manner of weird and wonderful complaints about Barclays, it does appear though that many applicants now fly through their Bounce Back Loan system, but many are still experiencing problems with applying, getting paid and contacting the bank.
Visit the Barclays Bank BBL section of their Website
Barclays CEO Email Address
Jes.staley@barclays.com
NatWest and RBS
The usual complaints about NatWest and RBS, including poor communication, problems applying for a BBL and even people being declined. Once again you need to start haranguing the right people to have any chance of your problems being resolved.
They have been paying many applicants out obviously, so if you do manage to have a hassle free experience then you should get paid out fairly quickly, even if it is not in the time scale you had hoped for.
Be aware that you may apply, not hear anything and then out of the blue get an email saying they are so busy your application is being dumped and not looked at.
Visit the NatWest BBL section of their Website
Visit the RBS BBL section of their Website
NatWest / RBS CEO Email Address
Simon.Separghan@rbs.co.uk
Santander
Much like some of the above banks Santander have attracted plenty of complaints, but in all fairness many followers, and many long-time ones too have found emailing their CEO does get a response and their claims processed quickly. They too have also been dumping applicants via a mass cull type of email so be warned.
Visit the Santander BBL section of their Website
Santander CEO Email Address
nathan.bostock@santander.co.uk
Starling Bank
Starling Bank operate a waiting list type of system, however, be aware they have additional criteria of their own as to whom they will supply a Bounce Back Loan to. Therefore, there are no guarantees you will get a loan from them. They have declined many thousands of applicants.
Visit the Starling Bank BBL section of their Website
Skipton Building Society
Skipton Building operate a different business model than most mainstream lenders so you will need to check their website to find out more about what they have on offer to applicants.
Visit the Skipton Building Society BBL section of their Website
TSB
You will be asked to sign away your rights to be able to apply for a Bounce Back Loan if you try to open a new account with TSB. As such do not waste your time trying to get such an account with them if your intention is to apply for a TSB Bounce Back Loan.
Visit the TSB BBL section of their Website
TSB CEO Email Address
debbie.crosbie@tsb.co.uk
Other Bounce Back Loan Lenders
The following are other Bounce Back Loan Lenders, be aware I receive very few if any complaints about any of the following.
Visit the AIB BBL section of their Website
Visit the Bank of Ireland BBL section of their Website
